The Night or Ordainment and the Process of Decreeing

As we know, the Night of Ordainment [Laylatul Qadr] is right around the corner. One of the reoccurring issues that I have noticed is that people often worry about the exact night on which the Night of Ordainment falls. Since in our communities, almost always, we start the Holy Month of Ramadhan on two different days, people are concerned that the night that they consider to be the Night of Ordainment is not the correct night. In this post, via two traditions I’d like to, in some ways, help in reducing such concerns and worries. I will first present the traditions, then I will follow them with a few comments.

As always, please read and double-check the translations.  If they could be improved, please do not hesitate to let me know.

The following tradition is authentic.

Arabic Text:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ حَسَّانَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع

قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ الْتَمِسْهَا فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ أَوْ لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ

Farsi Translation:

به ابو عبد اللَّه صادق (ع) گفتم: شب قدر كدام شب از شبهاى ماه رمضان است؟

ابو عبد اللَّه گفت: در شب بيست و يكم و يا شب بيست و سوم پذيراى آن باش.

English Translation:

Narrated by a number of our companions from Ahmed Ibn Mohamed from Ali Ibn Al-Hakam from Seif Ibn Omeira from Hassan Ibn Mahran from Abi Abdullah (peace be upon him). 

He [Hassan Ibn Mehran] said: I asked him [Abi Abdillah] regarding the Night of Ordainment. He (as) said: “Seek it on the 21^st night [of Ramadan] or the 23rd night.”

The following tradition is reliable.

Arabic Text:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏

التَّقْدِيرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَ الْإِبْرَامُ فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ الْإِمْضَاءُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ.

Farsi Translation:

ابو عبد اللَّه صادق (ع) گفت:

برآورد و آمار، در شب نوزدهم صورت مى‏ گيرد، و در شب بيست و يكم به ثبت مى ‏رسد و در شب بيست و سوم إمضاء مى ‏شود

.

English Translation:

Narrated by a number of our companions from Ahmed Ibn Mohamed from Ali Ibn Al-Hakam from Ibn Bakir from Zurara who said: 

Abu Ja’afar (PBUH) said: The decreeing [when all measurements of and within the universe are estimated and adjusted and determined] falls on the night of 19^th, the conclusion [or confirmation of these adjustments] falls on the 21^st and they are sealed [and commenced] on the 23d.”

Source:

Al-Kafi, Volume 4, Pages 156, 159, Traditions #1, #9

According to the first tradition, in very clear terms we are informed to seek the Night of Ordainment on the nights of 21^st and 23^rd of the Month of Ramadhan. Therefore, we need to concentrate most of our supplications, energy and deeds on these two nights out of the last 10 nights of this blessed month. But what if we’re off by one night?

According to the second tradition, there is a process in place, which begins on the night of the 19^th and ends on the night of the 23^rd. It is during these nights, when this process is occurring, that destinies for the year are determined, dictated and commenced. In other words, the book is open in these nights, until it is “signed” and sealed on the night of the 23^rd.  It could be said that as long as the book of decree is open, one’s supplications and deeds are taken into consideration for that year, before the book for that year is sealed.

If this understanding is correct, then a one-day difference should not cause much worry, because the book in not sealed until the night of the 23^rd. If, on the other hand, one specific night was given, and we were not aware of this multi-days divine process, then a one-day difference at the start of the month would be a major problem, because only one community (with one point of view) would have the correct starting date and others would not benefit from the Night of Ordainment.

In addition, in my opinion, it is very important to acknowledge the existence of a process, three different stages. It is not the case that everything is done in an instant. There may be many reasons, in addition to my aforementioned opinion, regarding why this process exist, and why our Imam (as) is informing us about it. If you know of other reasons, if you have read more about this divine annual process, please do share your views in the comment section below.

At the end, I hope, in a small way, this post could be used to reduce or remove some of the unnecessary worries regarding the exact date of the Night of Ordainment.