A3 - The impact of the night of power

What happened on the night of power?

• The first revelation of the Quran

The verse about the night of power

• Verily - surely, definitely

• Decree - will never change

• better than a thousand months, exemplifies how important the night is - it is worth a lifetime.

How is the night of power described in the above verse?

• The night of power is described as an extremely important event as it ‘is better than a thousand months.’

• And the word ‘decree’ shows how this night will never change, shows it holds significant value as it is everlasting.

• Moreover, it is the beginning of Islam, change, and prophethood.

What was the impact of the night of power upon Muhammad

• He initially thought he was possessed and was psychologically and emotionally disturbed by the experience.

• He even contemplated suicide, but a voice from heaven convinced him not to.

• Muhammad was encouraged by Khadija and others close to him.

• It was 3 years before he went public in Makkah with the message from God.

• ‘‘This was a dark night of the soul.’’

What happened after the first revelation?

• ‘‘He was afraid and did not know whether he had a devilish vision or whether he was possessed.’’ - Tariq Ramadan

• He went home to Khadija immediately to express his fear, she comforted him and told him that he is kind, helpful and God will not leave him.

• There was a long period of no revelation and he would doubt himself - he tried to commit suicide by jumping off a mountain but Angel Gabriel informing him he is the messenger - this comforted him.

• Eventually the next revelation came, ‘‘Your Lord has not left you nor does He hate you.’’ - Quran

• From this point on, revelations came regularly.

What does Jafar Subhani say about Muhammad and the night of power?

• ‘‘The cause of fear and agitation was that a great responsibility had been entrusted to him, and he had, on that day, discerned the reality which he had been seeking for a long time.’’

• When he went to Khadija, he expressed fear for himself, i.e. the responsibility on his shoulders.

• Previous prophets never reacted in such a way, Moses should have been afraid after hearing God’s voice but he was calm, he accepted it was God straight away.

• Why did Muhammad need reassurance?
  ‘‘How can a person impress the people when his sense of security and serenity is so limited that he should be ready to commit suicide on hearing the revelation’’

• Possibly the purpose of a pause in the revelation was because his soul is not accustomed to such mysterious perception.

• The next revelation was probably in response to what some people were saying to Muhammad.