We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power; And what will explain to thee what the night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand of Peace. This until the rise of morn!

In just five brief verses, the Qur’an reveals the purpose of the Night of Power – an amplification of our ibadat at the very summit of Ramadan. We submit to its power as we stay awake all night in prayer – every act magnified a thousandfold.

Different schools of thought in Islam disagree on when Laylatul Qadr occurs, but all agree that this is the marathon for which the rest of Ramadan prepared us – not physically, but spiritually and mentally. On this night, we are surrounded by Allah’s angels on their errands of peace. And we strive to join them – asymptotically, towards an ideal of perfection we as mortal humans cannot ever truly attain, but towards which we can always move. Ramadan is the month of Jihad, and Laylatul Qadr is the pinnacle and epitome of our jihad.

I never achieve what I hope to achieve, but I do achieve something. And that is the entire point.

Laylatul Qadr mubarak!