The auspicious night passes

Lailat-ul-Qadr, the night of the Great Revelation when the Holy Quran descended on earth through a divine messenger and reached Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), has been observed by the Muslims all over the world. They sought divine blessings on this glorious night when all doors of beneficence opened for the believers.

The night has great import as the high water mark of the month of Ramadan which is devoted to self-purification and a resolution to be better human beings. It has been given the dignity and greatness surpassing that of a thousand months. So, prayers offered on this night have much greater significance to the Almighty than at other times.

The teachings of this great occasion will have to be understood and placed in the right perspective. It is the night when spirituality in a devotee should get the better of his instincts as a living being. It is the night when the longing for the touch of the divine should find expression in prayers for spiritual ascension above material needs and cravings. Peace of the soul is what they should seek on this occasion. It is stated in the Holy Quran that by praying on this night a devotee can get all his previous sins absolved. It is a special night when the devotees could establish communion with the Creator.

The night has assumed a much greater significance in the present day world embroiled in hostilities, violence and senseless blood-letting. Muslims are subjected to repression in many places and discordant voices are also heard among them. The holy occasion is for seeking divine guidance that can put an end to their confusions and sufferings.

The revelation of the Holy Book has changed the world for the better; and yet the true spirit of Islam is sometimes missed in the blur of stereo-typing in the west. This has to go and the essence of Islam consisting in peace, tranquility, harmony and co-existence between communities grasped in its pristine purity.