Part 3
Question: The nights of power or decrees (Qadr) is of great significance and hold a great status in the month of Ramadan. Please shed a light on existence philosophy of such nights and enlighten us about the close association of these nights with the martyrdom of Imam Ali (a.s.).
Answer: The night of power (Qadr) had existed since very beginning of this world. “The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.” (The holy Quran 97:4) The angels inform and submit the event of a year to the Guardian. Once the guardians were Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses or the holy prophet of Islam, the commander of faithful Imam Ali, Imam Hassan or Imam Hossein ….but now this Guardian is Imam Mahdi (a.s.) may God the Almighty hasten his appearance and emergence.
They (angels or the Holy Spirit) inform or submit events of one year to the Guardian, the devotee of God.
“The night of Qadr is better than a thousand months.” (The holy Quran, 97:3) This night is of great significance to such an extent in which the destiny of humanity or humans is determined at least for one year.
So the existence of night of Qadr is an authentic fact and a reality. If we glance back on human history, we will come to these conclusions that the night of Qadr had existed since very beginning of this world and cosmos.
Question: How much the human beings are effective in determining the fate of destiny of their own future?
Answer: If humans pray God Almighty, express their regret and repentance, show their extreme dislike toward bad deeds, and really turn to God, ask for forgiveness and seek for God’s mercy; this all will be effective in determination of their fate and destiny.
Of course I must mention that the decrees and destines of one year which are submitted to the Guardian and devotee of God (Waliullah A’azam) are still not final and the possibility of change does exist.
This has been illustrated in the holy Quran as under:
"Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the source of ordinance." (The holy Quran, 13:39)
The possibility does exist that some happenings were designed and destined for someone during the night of power (Qadr); however, the bad happenings or destiny can be changed or altered by giving charity, extending help to poor people, showing affections to parents, doing good deeds and performing worships.
This is called the state of alterations and changes. The Guardian may not be informed about some of these changes and decisions on final alteration remains with God the Almighty.
There is a narration that the holy prophet was once sitting along his companions in front of a mosque. A Jewish man passed by there and uttered a malicious expression and said in Arabic: “down with you and death to you”. The holy prophet replied very gently: “on you”. After a while the man left there and the holy prophet told his companions that a snake will bite this man today and he will die on the impact. However,the man returned after some hours safely and unharmed despite the prediction of his death and all the companions were astounded. Then the holy prophet asked the man to put his baggage and belongings on the ground. All were shocked to see that a snake was staining on bunch of woods he was carrying on his shoulders.
Then the holy prophet asked him what good deeds he had carried out on that certain day. He explained that he had shared his meal with a needy person. At this the holy prophet said that the snake was destined to bite him but the charity functioned as a shield and prevented him from this bad happening.
It is quite right that the events of the whole year are submitted to the Guardian or devotee of Aallah. However,these decrees and destinies are not final and are subject to a change or alteration by saying prayers, reciting supplications, turning towards God, doing charities and extending hands to poor and needy persons