Characteristics of Those Who Attain LailatulQadr and The Obligation to Pay Zakat

 

29^th March 2025

Characteristics of Those Who Attain LailatulQadr and The Obligation to Pay Zakat

 

Prophet Khidr AS came to me with a gentle greeting, awakening me from my sleep, and then he said:

"O Ahmad, rise and listen to what I am about to convey, and then write it down!"

"O Ahmad, inform your companions about LailatulQadr. Indeed, if you were to see how pure and pristine the snow that descends from the sky and spreads over vast and towering mountains, that is how one’s record of deeds is cleansed of all past sins—so pure, so immaculate. On LailatulQadr, a servant’s book of bad deeds is wiped clean without exception by Allah. Therefore, strive to attain it in the final days of Ramadan."

"O Ahmad, tell your followers about the events of LailatulQadr, about how Allah manifests it to His true servants who fast in Ramadan with joy, patience, and steadfastness. It is revealed in five ways:

1. A person dreams of looking at the sky filled with beautiful stars, with a radiant yet soothing light that does not dazzle, accompanied by magnificent colors surrounding the heavens. This is LailatulQadr for the elect, for at that moment, Allah 'holds' their soul, bringing them very close to Him and near the gates leading to the Arsh.
2. Dreaming of meeting the Prophet Muhammad SAW during the nights of Ramadan is also a sign of LailatulQadr, even if the dream occurs during the day. This may happen to those who are patient in poverty, the oppressed, the impoverished who are wronged, orphans who strive to earn a lawful livelihood, wives who conceal their husband's shortcomings and secretly set aside a portion of their husband's sustenance for charity to preserve his honor, patient husbands, trustworthy employees who please their superiors with righteous deeds, children who obey their parents despite their poverty, students who are devoted to their teachers, generous individuals who are humble and patient, and those who repent sincerely from major sins—such as disobedience to parents, corruption, adultery, murder, envy, slander, aiding immorality, drug abuse, or facilitating drug-related activities."
3. Dreaming of performing ablution and prayer in a mosque with perfect movements and recitations, then seeing a light in front of them—this is also a sign of LailatulQadr.
4. Dreaming of sitting among the righteous and receiving clear, meaningful advice (even just a few words), while witnessing a gathering engaged in dhikr—this too is a sign of LailatulQadr.
5. Witnessing with one's own eyes, during the night, a radiance in the sky and trees bowing in stillness and tranquility. This is also a sign of LailatulQadr, but it is of a lower degree than those who receive it through dreams."

(Then I asked Prophet Khidr AS why witnessing LailatulQadr in reality was of a lower rank than receiving it in a dream.)

"O Ahmad, truly, for one to experience LailatulQadr while asleep during Ramadan—whether by day or night—is the most authentic state, because it happens solely by Allah’s will, not by their own doing.

Who is it that holds the souls of humans when they sleep? Say: It is Allah, the Almighty, who seizes the souls of His servants, returning some and withholding others. This is His decree over all humankind."

"O Ahmad, some of your followers have already attained LailatulQadr. Let them restrain themselves from sharing this experience with those outside your circle. Let them hold their tongues from excessive speech about it, except in praise of Allah—through dhikr, istighfar, and tahmid—when they remember that night. And let them guard themselves from sinful deeds throughout their lives. Verily, those whom Allah has granted Al-Qadr in Ramadan are elevated in rank, but Iblis despises them immensely. Let them be cautious."

"O Ahmad, you and your family must adhere to the official determination of Eid al-Fitr by the ruling authorities of your land. Let all those in your circle follow it, for this is more pleasing to Allah and His Messenger. If their ruling happens to be incorrect, you bear no sin, for Allah is All-Knowing and Most Wise."

"O Ahmad, let the leaders in your circle ensure that Zakat al-Fitr is paidby all your followers, and let it be distributed in their place of residence before dawn.

If one of them has already paid Zakat at their location but later travels to another city and stays there until the dawn of 1st Shawwal, they must pay Zakat al-Fitr again in that city. This is the best course of action and aligns with the guidance of your noble grandfather, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad SAW."

- Ahmad F. Bin A. AlwiSyams -