Syed Kaleem Geelani

Laylatul Qadr through Facebook Live in Kashmir

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Among the nights of Ramadan is one special night, which is better than a thousand months. Good deeds performed on that single night are equal to those performed over a thousand months. It is the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr), when the Qur’an was revealed. Some commentators believe it was the night when the Qur’an was brought down from Baytul M`amur (Heavenly abode), for Jibrael to reveal in parts to the Prophet (s). Others say it was the night when the Prophet received the entire Qur’an, but was asked to transmit it as and when the occasion demanded.

Laylatul Qadr is a celebration to commemorate the arrival of the final guidance for humans. It is a tribute to the commencement of the message revealed to mankind by their Creator, a message which shows them the way to achieve happiness in both the worlds. Just as the arrival of a child is celebrated, on its birth and then every year, as a bringer of joy and fulfilment for the family, Laylatul Qadr is celebrated as a bringer of light and guidance for mankind. Unlike the birthday which is celebrated with a feast for the senses, Laylatul Qadr includes a feast for the spirit, a feast of worship and prayers.

Some Ahadith indicate that the fate of every believer for the coming year is decreed on this night. That is why the Du`as for this night ask for special favours in the decree for the year. Believers are encouraged to stay awake the entire night, and pray for blessings and forgiveness. It is the holiest night of the year, and it would be unwise to be heedless of the tremendous benefits of this night.

With the world moving closer & closer to online world, our religious occasions & events are too moving towards online mode. The night of Laylatul Qadr which is called the night better than thousand nights was probably turned into a night better than thousand “Facebook Live’s” in Kashmir. It is nothing less than a surprise that 50% of people out of 100% using social media in Kashmir were seen stick to their smartphones telecasting Live on their social media accounts especially Facebook in the intervening night of Laylatul Qadr. After the culmination of Taraweeh & other objectives of Laylatul Qadr, I saw a huge number of Live notifications flashed in the notification panel of my phone. I was surprised to see the concern of muslims towards social media tactics & the level of getting driven into the river of social media.

People wait eagerly for the blessed month of Ramadan & then after the most blessed days of Ramadan called Laylatul Qadr to praise their Allah & get their sins wiped away by pleading with broken hearts due to the sins performed in our lives. Emotional scenes are seen throughout the world as muslims seek forgiveness from Allah with tears rolling down from their eyes but on the other hand, some people of the same muslim community are arrogant & non serious on this auspicious day. These people were seen more curious about their Live videos than praising Allah & making the fullest out of this blessed night. They were physically present on the occasion but not mentally. This is the extreme level of dependence of muslims on social media that even on the blessed & year long awaited occasions we are praising while being online on social media sites. God knows better, the person who is alive this Ramadan maybe not on the next Ramadan. Its is a shame for us being so called Muslims & respecting the etiquettes of Deen, we have converted our religion & its auspicious occasions into online occasions.

A fate of every muslim for the year upto next Ramadan is decreed on this blessed night, i wonder that what will be the fate of that muslim who had sacrificed his whole night while being Live & praising Facebook instead of Allah. So, our online heroes have missed out the blessings of Laylatul Qadr. They have left it without taking its advantage. We have become non serious to such extent for our Deen that we having started making fun of our auspicious occasions, the occasion is being seen by everyone Live either the maybe doing any forbidden or disrespectful activity at that time. A true muslim should had been heartbroken, shattered, crumbling & with weeping eyes in the court of Allah. A muslim should forget all his wordly desires when it comes to praise Allah & that too on such a blessed day. We can never even think of letting these days go away without getting blessed from it. Allah has given us many chances through the grace of his beloved Prophet Muhammad(SAW) as we are the Ummati of our beloved Prophet but unfortunately we unintentionally left out all the chances due to the lust of world.

A person will come & go & his wordly desires will also stay in the world here not with his hereafter. Our social media profiles & live videos will not be with us on the day of judgement. Our fear & praise towards Allah & his beloved Prophet will be surely with us on the day of judgement. Dont waste your hereafter for the sake of world & take the good advantage of opportunities & chances given by Allah for seeking his forgiveness & blessings.

May the peace of Allah be upon the month of fasting and night prayers! May the peace of Allah be upon the month of the Qur’aan and the remembrance of Allah!

It has now passed like the twinkling of an eye, yet while it was here it was an arena for those who race to do good deeds. Endeavour then, to utilise the remaining days of it by performing good deeds for Ramadaan can never be substituted by any other any month.

It is a month in which hearts are refined and sins are forgiven. It is a month of security and peace for the frightened. In this great month, many hands have been raised in supplication, many a tear has been shed and many a heart has been struck with the fear of Allah. Allah has showered his Mercy and Favour on many of his slaves in this month – particularly in the last ten days of it.

Fellow Muslims! Let us look at our present condition in light of the effects Ramadan had on us. Let us compare our condition at the start of Ramadan to our condition now: Was the advent of Ramadaan something that made us become pious? Did it reform our actions and conduct? Did it unify our ranks against our enemies? Did it remove the hatred and rancour between us? Did it eliminate the evil deeds committed by our communities?

Brothers in faith! You have responded to the call of your Lord by fasting so respond to His command in all other matters and at all times. Humble your hearts for the remembrance of Allaah and be united in adherence to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of his Prophet so that the Muslim nation may be saved from calamities. Brothers in Islaam! It is appropriate for us, while we are bidding farewell to this blessed month, to also try to bid farewell to all the calamities that have come to characterise the very essence of this nation.

The author is a Freelance Writer & can be reached at [email protected]

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