Allah سبحانه وتعالى informed the Muslims that He sent down the Quran, the revealed words of Allah as guidance to humankind, during the Night of Power, Laylut ul-Qadr.
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَـهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
وَمَآ أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ
“Verily, We have sent it down (The Quran) in the Night of Al-Qadr (Power).”
(Al-Qadr, 97:1-2)
And He سبحانه وتعالى further informed the Ummah that this night occurred within the most blessed of all months, Ramadhan. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says,
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِى أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an.”
(ad-Dukhan, 44:3)
And in His Mercy, He سبحانه وتعالى blessed this Night which witnessed such a momentous event, with abundant reward, for the one who seeks it.
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
“And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is? The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.”
(Al-Qadr, 97:3)
Thus, during these, the last ten nights of Ramadhan, particularly in its odd nights, this vast Ummah, from Indonesia to Tunisia, seeks the Night of Power. The Ummatis of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم whose lives span but mere decades, tirelessly seek to invest this night within which worship is worth more than a thousand months, over eight decades. A night of such blessing about which the first one charged with conveying the Book that this night yielded, RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِه
“Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and expecting reward (from Allah), he will be forgiven for his previous sins.” (Bukhari)
So let us earnestly seek Laylatul Qadr, forsaking rest and striving with tired limbs. Let us seek the Night blessed by Allah سبحانه وتعالى with such immense reward and of such momentous occasion. A night about which the foremost of the commentators on the Quran, Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) declared, “Allah sent the Qur’an down all at one time from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) to the House of Might (Baytul-‘Izzah), which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allah based upon the incidents that occurred over a period of twenty-three years.”
And whilst we seek this night, striving and restless, let us remember, even if it were for a little while, how the life of the one صلى الله عليه وسلم who was charged with conveying this Quran changed, as the very first verses of the Quran were revealed to him. Let us consider the consuming restlessness and tireless striving of the most beloved of all humankind, RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم, over those subsequent twenty-three years. Let us honor, with tears in our eyes and Darud on our lips, how he صلى الله عليه وسلم gathered the Companions (ra) and marched with them far and wide to convey this Quran, laying the strong seeds of a vast Ummah that is to embrace the entire world, its Easts and its Wests before the end of time. Let us remember, consider, honor and let us take heed.
Let us be in no doubt, the beginning of the revelation of the Quran heralded a long and tireless struggle. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم had to convey this Quran to the people who have not heard of it before and were steeped in ignorance. When the Mother of the Believers, Khadija Bint Khuwaylid (ra) saw her husband burdened with the huge responsibility to convey the Message of Islam, she tried to console him by saying, اِرتحْ “Rest easy.” However, deeply aware of the mammoth task ahead, he صلى الله عليه وسلم solemnly replied,
لا راحةَ بعدَ اليومَ يا خديجة
“There is no rest after today, O Khadija”
Sadaqa RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم, indeed, he spoke the truth. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم rose, as commanded, to his feet and measured up to the new task. There was no rest for him, our most beloved. It had been decided by the Lord of the World’s سبحانه وتعالى that he would have to shoulder this burden of all burdens. Sleep, comfort, cool shade in the summer or warm beds in winter became items that were now alien to his life. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم arose quickly for the strife awaiting him. Grave responsibility had fallen upon his most beautiful of all beings, driving him into the turmoil of life to raise the word of Allah as the highest. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم went ahead in a spirit of complete selflessness, relentlessly striving and never relaxing in carrying the burden of the great Trust. He صلى الله عليه وسلم shouldered the burden of enlightening mankind and the heavy weight of twenty-three years of striving, nothing distracting his attention from this mission.
No rest at a time when over the age of forty, men would think about settling in their business and households. Whilst others would rest in the company of their wives, RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم left the Mother of the Believers, Khadija (ra), to face hardship and rejection when he called upon the tribes with the Message of Islam. When other men found relief in the delightful antics of their young children, RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم would spend hours discussing and teaching the handful of new Muslims so that they would meld with Islam. No rest at the age of fifty, when men focus upon the marriage and means of earning livelihood of their children. For Allah سبحانه وتعالى had chosen that Islam was to be established as a state and there would be no rest for him صلى الله عليه وسلم as a ruler, inviter of nations to Islam and the Faatih (Opener) of lands. And no rest at over sixty, when men retire to tend gardens and plan the lives of their grandchildren, he صلى الله عليه وسلم would stand tall to invoke the people.
Indeed, we witness this even as his death approached him. Recall his last days. When other men would resign to rest amongst their loved ones, cherishing their company in their last moments, RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم strove with every fiber in his aged, ill and dying body. On Monday the twenty-ninth of Safar in the eleventh year of Al-Hijra, he participated in funeral rites in Al-Baqee’. On the way back he had a headache, his temperature rose so high that the heat effect could be felt over his headband. On Wednesday, five days before he died the RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم temperature rose very high due to the severity of his disease. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم fainted and suffered from pain. Even then, there was no rest for RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded,
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في مرضه صبوا علي سبع قرب من سبع آبار شتى حتى أخرج إلى الناس فأعهد إليهم قالت فأقعدناه في مخضب لحفصة فصببنا عليه الماء
“Pour out on me seven Qirab (water skin pots) of various water wells so that I may go out to meet people and talk to them.” So they seated him in a container (usually used for washing) and poured out water on him until he said, “That is enough. That is enough.” Then he felt well enough to enter the Mosque. He صلى الله عليه وسلم entered it band-headed, sat on the pulpit and made a speech to the people who were gathering together around him. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
“لعن الله اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجد”
“The curse of Allâh falls upon the Jews and Christians for they have made their Prophets’ tombs places of worship.” Then RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
” اللهم لا تجعل قبري وثناً “
“Do not make my tomb a worshipped idol.”
Then he offered himself and invited the people to repay any injuries he might have inflicted on them, saying,
” أيها الناس: من كنت جلدت له ظهرا، فهذا ظهري فليجلده، ومن شتمت له عرضا فهذا عرضي فليشتمه “
“He whom I have ever lashed his back, I offer him my back so that he may avenge himself on me. He whom I have ever blasphemed his honor, here I am offering my honor so that he may avenge himself.”
Let us remember the description of Hind bin Abi Halah, “The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was continually sad, thinking perpetually. He had no rest (i.e. for long).” No rest for RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم. It was in his eyes, thinking about the affairs of the Ummah, constantly searching for the best for it. It was in his pace and in the urgency of his movement, restless to complete the good actions and taste the sweetness of the Victory of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. It was in the vigor of his individual ibaadah, when his legs would swell through standing in Qiyyam ul-Layl and when asked about it, he replied أفلا أكون عبدا شكورا “Should a servant not be grateful?” And it was in the seriousness and warmth of his speech, invoking others from their slumber, reviving the tired and creating restlessness in the satisfied to strive for more and more.
The fuel for this activity and urgency was from the Light that is inextinguishable, perfect, free from adulteration, the Nur (Light) of Revelation and the promises that it contains of pleasure of Allah Ar-Rahmaan, Ar-Raheem, His Jannah and the assurance of unparalleled rest in a life that knows no end, no death, no pain, no illness, no trial and no tribulation. Reflect upon the beautiful Ayaat, dear brothers, reflect upon them so the rust is lifted from our hearts and they burn brightly. Allah سبحانه وتعالى said,
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ مَسَّتْهُمْ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ أَلاَ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the Help of Allah?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:214)
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنْ الأَمْوالِ وَالأَنفُسِِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرْ الصَّابِرِينَ
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones)”
(Al-Baqarah, 2:155-157)
لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنْ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنْ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الأُمُورِ
“You shall certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those who ascribe partners to Allah, but if you persevere patiently, and become Al-Muttaqun (the pious) then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs, and that is from the great matters.”
(Ali ‘Imraan, 3:186)
So, it is little wonder that such a man, beloved of all beloved, RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم inspired by such a Deen and the promise it contained, radiated a tireless energy in all those around him, igniting their hearts and minds in the singular, single-minded pursuit of the pleasure of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Remember, the striving for Islam as a state. Remember, Mus’ab (ra) leaving the life of luxury and the love of a wealthy mother to strive in carrying the deen and being honored with the establishment of Islam as a state. Remember the striving to expand the state. Remember, Hanzala (ra), the martyr who left the lap of his new wife for the sake of Jihad and who earned the honor of his body being washed by the angels in preparation for Jannah. And remember the preservation of that state. Remember, Ammaar bin Yassir (ra), at the age of ninety-three, yes brothers, ninety-three, abandoning his grandchildren and perhaps their children too, striding to the battle of Fitna, the Battle of Siffeen, against the rebellious forces of Mu’awiyah who earned the honor of being killed by the tyrant party, lighting the way for others in the time of Fitna. No rest for RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم, or his Companions (ra), except the eternal rest of Firdaus!
O those who yearn for the sweet companionship of RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم in the next life, the life with no end! O those who wish to be the foremost of the foremost! O those who wish to be raised with martyrs! Convey this Quran tirelessly, so you deserve such a companionship and such rewards. Join your nights with your days for the return of the ruling by the Book of Allah, as a state that implements its revealed ayaat. Let not even minutes pass let alone hours in idle pursuits, with sleep only to replenish a need. Turn your faces away from the comforts and luxuries of life, investing your all for the return of the Khilafah, so that you can face your Lord with beaming faces. Strive so that your efforts are added to the material means, strive so that Allah (ra) is pleased with you and multiplies those material efforts in rewards and results. No rest for us, no rest for us, until the eternal rest!