Laylahtul Qadr, or the Night of Power, is in our midst and it’s time for Muslims around the world to go in search of what has been described as a blessed gift, a night that is greater than a thousand nights of worship.
The specific date of this powerful night was never confirmed by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), but it is said to fall on one of the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan.
Most people believe it to be the 27th night, however, it is best to increase your ibaadah (acts of worship) throughout the last 10 nights.
Locally, Cape Muslims refer to Laylahtul Qadr as “ kers opstiekaand”.
Back in the day, and I’m told some still do today, Muslims on this night turn off the lights and light candles instead.
This is a cultural thing and not a religious practice.
If you are wondering about the candles, well, it is said that on Laylahtul Qadr, millions of angels walk the earth and keep account of those who are spending the night in any form of worship and prayer.
So I’m guessing the candles were lit to show the angels that they are awake, sort of like an invitation for them to come check in the houses where the candles are burning.
Seeing light at your neighbour’s house meant they too were awake for this night.
But don’t be judgerag, just because my lights might be off, does not mean I am not worshipping the Almighty in another way.
A few years ago I had quite a spiritual experience which ties in with the Night of Power.
I went to audition for David Kramer’s musical, Kat and the Kings, which at that time took place in the month of Ramadaan.
I did quite well in my first audition, and received a final callback.
Then came Laylahtul Qadr, and as always, I searched for it.
On the 27th night, I increased my ibaadah and asked the Almighty to show me if this production was meant for me because I felt uncomfortable having to audition in the pwasa.
I also performed the tahajjud prayers (made in the last third of the night) and my whole body and soul told me not to go to my final callback.
My friends, who later went on to star in the show, came to fetch me but I told them: “Julle kan ma’ gaan, I’m not going.”
Later that same day, my cellphone had over 20 missed calls from the Fugard Theatre, and just to not leave a bad taste in their mouths, I returned the call.
David Kramer asked me to come in, and when I arrived, he gave me a speech and that was the end of it.
In the end, I did not get that role but I could sense it was not where the Almighty wanted me to go.
Later that same week, I got an offer to do a musical with Loukmaan Adams and Alistair Izobell, for a show called Vocal is Lekka.
This production had a two-month run at the Baxter and went on to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland the biggest arts festival in the world for another month.
We came back and did the show at GrandWest, and, yes, it even paid more than Kat and the Kings.
Immediately after this, I had a one-man show at the Baxter, and my personal brand grew in leaps and bounds, algamdulillah.
This all happened because I trusted the feeling in my soul which I believe was placed there by the Almighty in the heart of Ramadaan.
People often tell me, “ ek bid, or I make salaah, but nothing comes right.”
I myself have felt this way, but I can testify that if you make du’ah and believe firmly, then eventually your du’ahs will be answered, in one way or another.
Sometimes the du’ah is answered by means in which you are hurt and only later you realise that you had to get hurt in order for you to achieve the thing you asked the Almighty for.
So once again, make sabr (have patience) and when things don’t seem to go your way, that too is God answering your prayer.
You may think something is good for you when it is, in fact, bad. And you may think something is bad for you, when it is actually good.
Lastly, if you feel like you’ve achieved little this Ramadaan, you still have time to make up for it over these final nights.
Make a sincere effort to seek out Laylahtul Qadr. It is not part of the 30-day Ramadaan package, you have to look for it.
Getting this night is equal to spending 80 years of your life in worship.
Pwasa lekker verder and may we all be rewarded with the Night of Power, ameen.