The Twenty-Third Night, the Night of Destiny
The 23rd night of the holy month of Ramadan is one of the true Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadr), a night that is better than a thousand months. On this monumental night, annual destinies are decreed, and angels descend in groups to the earth to circumambulate the living proof of God, the Imam of the Time (a.t.f.s.).
When Imam Baqir (a.s) was asked how they know the Night of Destiny, he (a.s) replied, “How could we not know it while the angels circumambulate us on this night”
قِيلَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ لَا تَعْرِفُونَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ وَ كَيْفَ لَا نَعْرِفُ وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَطُوفُونَ بِنَا بِهَا
It was said to Abu Ja’far [Imam al-Baqir]: “Do you not know [when] the Night of Qadr [is]?” He said: “And how could we not know, when the angels are circumambulating us during it?”
Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 94, p. 14
Practices of the Night of Destiny
Every moment of this night is incredibly precious. The greatest deeds to perform are the visitation (Ziyarat) of Imam Husain (a.s) and continuously praying for the reappearance of the Imam of the Time (a.t.f.s) (Dua al-Faraj).
Imam Sadiq (a.s) advised that if one cannot physically visit Karbala, they should go to their roof, look right and left, look up to the sky, and say: “Peace be upon you, O Aba Abdillah; peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings”
قالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ عليه السلام يا سَدِيرُ ما عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَزُورَ قَبْرَ الْحُسَيْنِ عليه السلام فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مَرَّةً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِداكَ إِنَّ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَهُ فَراسِخَ كَثِيرَةً فَقالَ تَصْعَدُ فَوْقَ سَطْحِكَ ثُمَّ تَلْتَفِتُ يَمْنَةً وَ يُسْرَةً ثُمَّ تَرْفَعُ رَأْسَكَ إِلَى السَّماءِ ثُمَّ تَحَوَّلُ نَحْوَ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ ثُمَّ تَقُولُ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا أَبا عَبْدِ اللهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَ بَرَكاتُهُ تُكْتَبُ لَكَ زَوْرَةٌ وَ الزَّوْرَةُ حَجَّةٌ وَ عُمْرَةٌ قالَ سَدِيرٌ فَرُبَّما فَعَلْتُهُ فِي النَّهارِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ عِشْرِينَ مَرَّةً
Abu ‘Abd Allah [Imam al-Sadiq], peace be upon him, said: “O Sadir, what prevents you from visiting the grave of al-Husain, peace be upon him, five times every Friday, and once every day?”
I [Sadir] said: “May I be your ransom, indeed between us and him are many parasangs [a great distance].”
He said: “Go up to your roof, then turn right and left, then raise your head to the sky, then turn towards the grave of al-Husain and say: ‘Peace be upon you, O Abu ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.’ It will be recorded for you as a visitation, and [this] visitation is [equivalent to] a Hajj and an ‘Umrah.”
Sadir said: “So I would sometimes do it during the day more than twenty times.”
Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 98, p. 365
The Imams instructed believers to repeatedly recite the prayer, …اَللَّهُمَّ كُنْ لِوَلِيِّكَ (“O Allah, be for Your representative, the Hujjat (Proof), son of Al-Hasan…” on the 23rd night of Ramadan, in all states whether standing, sitting, or prostrating.
عَنِ الصَّالِحِينَ عليه السلام قَالَ تُكَرِّرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ هَذَا الدُّعَاءَ سَاجِداً وَ قَائِماً وَ قَاعِداً وَ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَ فِي الشَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ وَ كَيْفَ أَمْكَنَكَ وَ مَتَى حَضَرَكَ مِنْ دَهْرِكَ تَقُولُ بَعْدَ تَحْمِيدِ اللهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ اَللَّهُمَّ كُنْ لِوَلِيِّكَ
From the Righteous Ones [the Imams], peace be upon them, who said:
“On the twenty-third night of the month of Ramadan, repeat this supplication while prostrating, standing, sitting, and in every condition. [Repeat it] throughout the entire month, however it is possible for you, and whenever it occurs to you during your life. After praising Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), you say:
‘O Allah, be for Your representative…’ “
Al-Kafi, Vol. 4, Chapter on Supplications in the Last Ten Days of the Month of Ramadan, Hadith 4
Four Groups Are Not Forgiven Even on the Night of Destiny
Despite the vast mercy of God on this night, four specific groups are denied divine forgiveness unless they repent: those who are cursed by their parents, those who consume alcohol, those who sever family ties, and those who harbor personal grudges against others.
When it is the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, commands Gabriel, and he descends to the earth in a squadron of angels, carrying a green banner which he plants on top of the Kaaba. He has six hundred wings, two of which he does not spread except on the Night of Decree; he spreads them on that night and they span across the East and the West. Gabriel dispatches the angels on this night, and they send greetings of peace upon everyone standing, sitting, praying, and remembering [Allah]. They shake hands with them and say ‘Amen’ to their supplications until the dawn breaks.
When dawn breaks, Gabriel calls out: ‘O gathering of angels, departure, departure!’ They ask: ‘O Gabriel, what has Allah the Exalted done regarding the needs of the believers from the nation of Muhammad?’ He replies: ‘Indeed, Allah the Exalted has looked upon them on this night, and He has pardoned them and forgiven them, except for four.’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: وَهَؤُلَاءِ الْأَرْبَعَةُ: مُدْمِنُ الْخَمْرِ، وَالْعَاقُّ لِوَالِدَيْهِ، وَالْقَاطِعُ الرَّحِمَ، وَالْمُشَاحِنُ
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: ‘And these four are: the one addicted to alcohol, the one who is disobedient to his parents, the one who severs family ties, and the one who harbors enmity/malice.
Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 93, p. 337
The Highest Instance of Kinship
While severing worldly family ties is a grave sin, the most crucial form of kinship (Silat al-Rahim) that must be maintained is the bond with the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) and the Imam of the Time (a.t.f.s). Disconnecting from them is the ultimate severance of ties.
The Holy Quran says:
وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ
And those who establish the connections that Allah has commanded to be established
Surah Ar-Ra’d (13): Ayat 21
When Imam Sadiq (a.s) was asked about this verse, His Eminence said:
مِنْ ذٰلِكَ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ وَ عايةٌ تَأْوِيلُهَا صِلَتُكَ إِيَّانَا
Among its examples is maintaining family ties, and the interpretation of it is your connection with us.
Tafsir al-Ayyashi, Vol. 2, p. 208
Enmities Will End with the Reappearance
Personal grudges block the path to divine mercy. Believers are urged to clear their hearts of worldly enmities toward one another,. Ultimately, when the Imam reappears, all these disputes and grudges will completely vanish from the hearts of humanity, replaced by profound trust and fellowship.
لَذَهَبَتِ الشَّحْنَاءُ مِنْ قُلُوبِ الْعِبَادِ وَ اصْطَلَحَتِ السِّبَاعُ وَ الْبَهَائِمُ حَتَّى تَمْشِيَ الْمَرْأَةُ بَيْنَ الْعِرَاقِ إِلَى الشَّامِ لَا تَضَعُ قَدَمَيْهَا إِلَّا عَلَى النَّبَاتِ وَ عَلَى رَأْسِهَا زِينَتُهَا لَا يُهَيِّجُهَا سَبُعٌ وَ لَا تَخَافُهُ وَ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا لَكُمْ فِي مُقَامِكُمْ بَيْنَ عَدُوِّكُمْ وَ صَبْرِكُمْ عَلَى مَا تَسْمَعُونَ مِنَ الْأَذَى لَقَرَّتْ أَعْيُنُكُمْ
…hatred would vanish from the hearts of the servants [of God], and predators and beasts would make peace, to the extent that a woman could walk from Iraq to Syria, placing her feet on nothing but vegetation, with her adornments upon her head; no predator would provoke her, nor would she fear it. And if you only knew what [reward] is yours for remaining among your enemies and your patience over the harm you hear, your eyes would surely be comforted….
Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 10, p. 104
The Rights of Others (Haqq al-Nas), an Unforgivable Sin
Sins that infringe upon the rights or debts of others (Haqq al-Nas) will not be forgiven by God unless the wronged person explicitly pardons the transgressor. Worldly debts carry a heavy spiritual burden into the afterlife. One narrative tells of a deceased man whose soul suffered greatly until his son paid off his debts,. Finding relief from such heavy burdens often requires seeking the powerful intercession of Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (s.a).
The First Way of Repentance – One traditional path to repentance involves enduring severe physical and emotional penance. Historically, individuals like Abu Lubabah who realized he had betrayed the Prophet (s.a.w.a) tied himself to a pillar in the mosque, weeping continuously day and night, refusing to be untied until God finally revealed His forgiveness,.
The Best Way of Repentance – A much faster and superior approach to repentance is seeking the intercession of the Prophet (s.a.w.a) and his Ahl al-Bayt (a.s). For example, a Bedouin successfully sought forgiveness by bringing the Prophet’s young grandsons, Imam Hassan (a.s) and Imam Husain (a.s), as intercessors, which the Prophet (s.a.w.a) joyfully accepted (Cited in Tafsir Kanz al-Daqa’iq, Vol. 3, p. 457).
As reflected in the Quran:
وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
and had they, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Apostle had (also) asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful.
Surah An-Nisa (4): Ayat 64
On the Night of Destiny, believers should similarly use the Imam of the Time (a.t.f.s) as their intercessor.
The Father Bears the Burden of the Child
Just as a worldly father feels disgraced by his child’s wrongdoings, the spiritual fathers of the Ummah the Prophet (s.a.w.a) and the Imams (a.s) bear the heavy burden and shame of the sins committed by their followers.
Imam Sadiq (a.s) stated:
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ إِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ تَعْمَلُوا عَمَلًا يُعَيِّرُونَا بِهِ فَإِنَّ وَلَدَ السَّوْءِ يُعَيَّرُ وَالِدُهُ بِعَمَلِهِ
I heard Abu Abdillah saying: ‘Beware of doing any deed for which they might reproach us, for indeed, the father of a bad child is shamed by his [child’s] actions.
Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, Bab al-Taqiyyah, Hadith 11
Imam Hadi (a.s) said
حَمَّلَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ ذُنُوبَ شِيعَةِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ثُمَّ غَفَرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْهَا وَ مَا تَأَخَّرَ
He (s.w.t) placed the sins of the followers (Shia) of Ali (a.s), upon Muhammad (s.a.w.a), and then forgave him for those [sins] that had passed and those that were yet to come.
Ta’wil al-Ayat al-Zahirah, p. 575
The Imam of the Time (a.t.f.s) is Ashamed of Our Sins
Because the Imam (a.t.f.s) is our true spiritual father, the sweat of shame appears on his forehead for the sins his followers commit. Despite persistent wrongdoings, he (a.t.f.s) continuously weeps, prays for his followers’ well-being, and asks Allah (s.w.t) for their forgiveness.
In Ziyarat Aal Yasin, the Imam is addressed:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ حِينَ تَحْمَدُ وَ تَسْتَغْفِرُ
Peace be upon you when you praise [Allah] and when you seek forgiveness.
Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 53, p. 171
The Imam of the Time (a.t.f.s) Has Become Restless
The Imam suffers deeply from a thousand-year-old pain of exile and the immense hardships faced by his people. He is deeply restless and passionately implores Allah (s.w.t) to end the suffering of the oppressed and hasten his reappearance.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ يَا رَاحِمَ الْعَبَرَاتِ وَ يَا كَاشِفَ الْكُرُبَاتِ … أَنْتَ الَّذِي لا يُخَيِّبُ آمِلُكَ وَ لا يُرَدُّ سَائِلُكَ إِلَهِي إِلَهِي أَيْنَ رَحْمَتُكَ الَّتِي هِيَ نُصْرَةُ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الأَنَامِ وَ أَيْنَ كِفَايَتُكَ الَّتِي هِيَ جُنَّةُ الْمُسْتَهْدَفِينَ لِجَوْرِ الأَيَّامِ إِلَيَّ إِلَيَّ بِهَا يَا رَبِّ نَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَ أَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ مَوْلايَ تَرَى تَحَيُّرِي فِي أَمْرِي وَ انْطِوَائِي عَلَى حُرْقَةِ قَلْبِي وَ حَرَارَةِ صَدْرِي فَجُدْ لِي يَا رَبِّ بِمَا أَنْتَ أَهْلُهُ فَرَجاً وَ مَخْرَجاً وَ يَسِّرْ لِي نَحْوَ الْيُسْرِ مَنْهَجاً … إِلَهِي عَبْدُكَ عَبْدُكَ أَجِبْ دَعْوَتَهُ وَ ضَدَّ عَيْفَكَ ضَدَّ عَيْفَكَ فَرِّجْ غُمَّتَهُ فَقَدِ انْقَطَعَ بِهِ كُلُّ حَبْلٍ إِلَّا حَبْلُكَ وَ تَقَلَّصَ عَنْهُ كُلُّ ظِلٍّ إِلَّا ظِلُّكَ مَوْلايَ دَعْوَتِي هَذِهِ إِنْ رَدَدْتَهَا أَيْنَ تُصَادِفُ مَوْضِعَ الإِجَابَةِ
O Allah, I ask of You, O Merciful One to tears, O Reliever of distresses… You are the One who never disappoints those who hope in You, and never turns away those who ask of You. My God, my God, where is Your mercy which is the victory for the oppressed among mankind? And where is Your sufficiency which is the shield for those targeted by the tyranny of time? Grant them to me, grant them to me, O Lord! Save me from the wrongdoing people. Indeed, harm has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.
My Master, You see my confusion in my affairs, and how I am hunched over the burning of my heart and the heat in my chest. So grant me, O Lord, as only You are worthy of: a relief and a way out, and make easy for me a path toward ease…
My God, Your servant, Your servant answer his call. Relieve his grief, for every rope has been severed for him except Your rope, and every shade has shrunk away from him except Your shade. My Master, if You reject this prayer of mine, where else could it possibly find acceptance?
Muhaj al-Da’awat, p. 342
Do Not Forget His Hardships
Believers should not selfishly focus solely on their own personal desires and worldly needs. It is essential to remember the tremendous pain, exile, and struggles of the Imam (a.t.f.s). It is a grave ingratitude to forget him while he bears such a heavy burden for the sake of humanity.
The Imam of the Time (a.t.f.s) Does Not Forget Our Needs
Even if believers completely forget to pray for their own worldly needs because they are entirely focused on praying for the Imam (a.t.f.s), the Imam (a.t.f.s) never forgets them. He remembers his followers and ensures their needs are met, just as Imam Reza (a.s) once fulfilled the unspoken requests of a follower who had forgotten to ask for them.
A person came to the presence of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) and thought to himself that when saying goodbye, he would ask for one of the Imam’s garments to use as a shroud (kafan), and also request two coins minted in the Imam’s name to use as gemstones for his daughters’ rings. However, at the time of departure, he forgot his requests. Suddenly, Imam Reza (peace be upon him) said:
“Wait a moment!” Turning to his servant, he said:
“Bring one of my robes so that he may use it as his shroud, and also two coins so he may make them into ring settings for his daughters!”
Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 49, p. 41
The Best Deed
The absolute greatest and most profitable deed on the Night of Destiny is to set aside personal self-interest and sincerely pray for the reappearance (Faraj) of the Imam of the Time. By praying for his return from the bottom of our hearts, we are ultimately asking for the complete and permanent solution to all human suffering and hardships.
May Allah (s.w.t) hasten the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s)