A NIGHT OF A THOUSAND MONTHS

Alhamdulillah, tonight is the 17th day of Ramadhan. In Indonesia, this night is widely celebrated as Nuzulul Quran (the descending of qur'an).

Ramadhan is so special because it is not only a month when the gate of heaven is widely open, but also because it has two special days: Nuzulul Quran and Lailatul Qadar. Nuzulul Quran falls on the 17th night of Ramadhan. It is always celebrated widely in Indonesia. It is believed that the holy Quran was first granted to the great prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on the 17^th night of Ramadhan. Meanwhile, Lailatul Qadar is a night of a thousand months. Lailatul Qadr means The Night of Power, or the Night of Decree. It is a spiritual glory that is yearned by those who fast. It is a mystical sacred night which is eagerly waited for by those who fast during the month of Ramadhan.

The prophet Muhammad SAW said," The night of Laitul Qadar happens on one night of the last 10 nights of Ramadhan.” It is said that the signs of night of Lailatul Qadar are among others:

- The night is always calm, not too warm and not too cold

- The sun during the day is pale

- On the night Jibril willl greet (Salam) those who stay up during the night to perform the salat, dua or zikir and they will feel kind of sadness and will cry incessantly suddenly

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has explained how special Lailatul Qadr is in the Qur'an:
"Surely we have revealed the Qur'an on the Night of Al-Qadr; The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months;The Angels and the Spirit (Jibrael) Descend in it by their Lords' permission, with every decree. Peace it is, until the break of Dawn."
[Surah Al-Qadr, 97: 1-5]

Therefore, during the last ten days of Ramadhan, muslims all over the world will increase their ‘ibadah’ by staying up late to read The Holy Book, dzikir, and other ibadah. All with one longing…that is to be blessed in the night of power... to get closer to The Lord of all kings.

Malam Seribu Malam

Dalam hening malam, aku bersujud

Menghiba pinta dengan cemas

Mengharap kasih agar berbalas

Menanti kekasih agar bergegas

Dalam sunyinya malam,

larut hati dalam lantunan kalam,

bergetar jiwa dalam basuhan dzikir,

saat bisikan rembulan mengalir,

menguntai simponi dalam melodi ruhani,

bersiap menyambut tamu teristimewa,

Engkaulah bulan terelok sepanjang abad

Engkaulah kekasih ternanti jutaan hati

Engkaulah tambatan cinta paling abadi

Engkaulah pengukir janji sejati

Wajahmu rupawan tiada cela

sinarmu terang tiada noda

pesonamu menggoda setiap mata

tatapanmu syahdu laksana lukisan suarga

Dalam hening aku menanggis

Menghiba pinta dengan cemas

melantunkan alunan kalam sepenuh hati

agar bersua kesempurnaan malam tiada dua