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97: Al-Qadr - القدر
Introduction
The chronology of this Surah has no significance. It is probably Makkan, though some hold that it was revealed in Madinah. The subject matter is the mystic Night of Power (or Honour), in which revelation comes down to a benighted world---it may be to the wonderful Cosmos of an individual---and transforms the conflict of wrongdoing into Peace and Harmony---through the agency of the angelic host, representing the spiritual powers of the Mercy of Allah.
97:1
[ Original ]
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
Tafseer Commentary
6217 Cf. 44:3 and n. 4690. The 23rd, 25th or 27th night of Ramadan, as well as other nights, have been suggested as the Night of Power. See, however, the Introduction to this Surah. It is best to take this in the mystic sense, which also accords with verse 3 below, which says that the Night of Power is better than a thousand Months. It transcends Time: for it is Allah's Power dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance, by His Revelation, in every kind of affair . (R) .
97:2
[ Original ]
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?
97:3
[ Original ]
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months.
Tafseer Commentary
6218 "A thousand" must be taken in an indefinite sense, as denoting a very long period of time. Cf. notes n. 3632 and n. 3634 to 32:4-5, and n. 5678 to 70:4. This does not refer to our ideas of time, but to "timeless Time". One moment of enlightenment under Allah's Light is better than thousands of months or years of animal life, and such a moment converts the night of darkness into a period of spiritual glory.
97:4
[ Original ]
تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah.s permission, on every errand:
Tafseer Commentary
6219 The Spirit: usually understood to be the angel Gabriel, the Spirit of Inspiration. (R).
97:5
[ Original ]
سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Peace!...This until the rise of Morn!
Tafseer Commentary
6220 When the Night of spiritual darkness is dissipated by the glory of Allah, a wonderful Peace and a sense of Security arise in the soul. And this lasts on until this life closes, and the glorious Day of the new spiritual world dawns, when everything will be on a different plane, and the chequered nights and days of this world will be even less than a dream.
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