27th NIGHT OF RAMADAN – QADR (KADIR GECESI)

Posted date: July 10, 2014 In: TACA Events

The 27th night of Ramadan is called Kadir Gecesi (Lailat al Kadr), the Night of Power.

It’s a very special night for the 1.2 billion Muslims all around the world and this is no ordinary night for them. It’s the night in which the first verses of the Koran are believed to have been revealed to Prophet Muhammed in Mecca (Mekke) in the year 610 AD.

Muslim tradition holds that when Prophet Muhammed received the first revelation in a cave on the mount of Hira, it was the 27th night of the month of Ramazan(Ramadan). The anniversary of that night, or, say, the birthday of the Koran, became the holiest moment in the Muslim calendar (Kadir Gecesi).

The reference to it comes from the Qoran itself. One of the shortest chapters of the Muslim scripture is named “Qadr” and it tells why this evening is so special.

“Truly We sent [the Koran] down on the Night of Power” God says to the Prophet. It is “better than a thousand months.” and “the angels and the Spirit descend by their Lord’s authority with every ordinance.”

The greatest night of the Muslim year, this is the sanctified night when the history of Islam began. The gates of heaven are opened wide, angels walk the earth and the demons of Hell are chained in their fiery pits.

It is also a night of forgiveness, when good deeds performed are “better than the deeds of 1000 months which do not contain a Night of the Decree.” The faithful Muslim can hope not only to have his sins forgiven by Allah(God) if he spends the night in prayer, but to have his death-throes eased, and to receive “four pillars of light upon which rest 1000 palaces.”

Allah’s Apostle said “Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven.” Hadith, Bukhari Vol 1, Book 2:34

In Turkey Kadir Gecesi it’s celebrated on 27th of every Ramadan. This year it will be 27/28 September(Eylul), beginning — as the traditional Islamic day does—at sunset in the evening 27th and lasting until the following evening 29th.

Don’t forget to send your Turkish and Muslim friends your wishes.