وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ 2
Translations
And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?
Transliteration
Wa mā adrāka mā laylatu al-qadr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses the profound majesty and incomprehensibility of Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), emphasizing that human minds cannot fully grasp its true significance and virtue. The rhetorical question (istifhām) used here is a classical Arabic device to draw attention and awaken awareness, as if to say: 'Do you truly understand the magnificent reality of this night?' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this construction conveys both the unknowability of the night's exact identity and the elevation of its status beyond ordinary comprehension.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qadr, a short Meccan surah entirely devoted to describing the virtues of Laylat al-Qadr. The surah was revealed to honor this blessed night and encourage believers to seek it, particularly during the last ten nights of Ramadan. The rhetorical opening sets the tone for the subsequent ayahs that unveil the spiritual significance of this night.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (1913): 'Whoever prayed during the Night of Power with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins would be forgiven.' Sahih Muslim (1168): 'Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers humility before God's mysteries and encourages us to approach sacred times with reverence and sincere effort, recognizing that some of the divine's wisdom transcends our complete understanding. We should therefore dedicate ourselves earnestly to worship during Ramadan without becoming preoccupied with identifying the exact night, focusing instead on spiritual devotion.