The night that Muhammad is said to have received his revelations
Fatima is excited. Her husband, Salim, has invited the family of his teacher to celebrate the breaking of the fast with them. Leading up to this day, Fatima has had many encouraging conversations with Sarah while the men were talking and the girls were playing. During Sarah’s last visit, she had offered to pray for her. Fatima experienced a strange sense of peace while she was being prayed for by Sarah, and is now hoping for some more prayer. Sarah and her family are followers of the Messiah, Jesus.
Fatima isn’t excited only about Sarah’s visit, but even more about today’s Laylat al-Qadr, the night of power. Fatima intends to stay up praying all night in the hope that her prayers for a son might be answered. With eager anticipation and great relief she is looking forward to being able to pray this year. Two years ago, she started bleeding right at the end of Ramadan which made her unclean and unable to pray. Soon after that, she fell pregnant, which again disqualified her from fasting the following year, due to her nursing the baby. Fatima has given birth to 3 daughters, but Salim has not rejected her; yet her mother-in-law has cursed her for not bearing a son. She has encouraged her son to take another wife. Fatima was greatly worried by that threat and made a pilgrimage to the grave of a holy man to plead for a son. She also has worked very hard at keeping all her religious duties. Today she has great hopes, for this is the night of power.
According to Sura 97 (chapter 97 of the Qur’an), Muhammad received his first revelation of the Qur’an during this night. Muslims believe that prayers offered during this night are particularly well received. Some believe that prayer during this night will compensate for the omission of regular daily prayers. The night of power occurs during the last 10 days of Ramadan and most Muslim clerics believe it is on the 27th day. Each new day starts at sunset.
Fatima is representative for thousands of Muslim women eagerly anticipating the night of power. Unfortunately, there are only few who have a Sarah to introduce them to Jesus.
Hadith recorded by Sahih Bukhari
The Prophet said, “Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the Night of Power out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
Prayer Ideas:
- Pray for supernatural revelation of Jesus in dreams and visions during this night. Think of Muslims in your city, your region or your country or elsewhere. Ask God to guide your prayers. At the same time pray that people who have revelations will soon meet believers who can help them become disciples (Acts 10:1-48).
Listen to the Podcast – DAY 26 – The Night of Power
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pray for the Night of Power on Wendesday:
* for many Muslims to have visions and dreams of Jesus on this night
* for many more Christian workers like Sarah to wittness to Muslims
* for protection and discpleship for converts
* for key leaders in Islamic countries to come to faith
* for a spritiual manifestation of glory so all Muslim lands are affected