THE NIGHT OF REWARD
A portion of an authentic Hadith reported by Abu Hurairah and recorded in Musnad Ahmed is as follows: “During the last night of Ramadan, the sins of all the believers who have been fasting are forgiven. It was asked, ‘O Prophet of God, is this night the one known as the ‘night of power’?’ The Prophet replied, ‘No, but as soon as the deed is done, the reward for the deed is immediately bestowed’.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 7917)
According to this Hadith, on the last night of Ramadan, those amongst the followers of the Prophet who have fasted in the true spirit will be rewarded for their deeds, and this will be noted in their records. This night of Ramadan is referred to in other Hadith literature as the ‘night of reward’. (Shu’abul Iman by Al-Bayhaqi, Hadith No. 3421)
God rewards His believers for every good deed. Due to the special significance of worship during Ramadan, this reward has been specifically mentioned by the Prophet.
In reality, those who have spent the month of Ramadan in its true spirit can never even contemplate that they can spend the last night of Ramadan in frivolous activity.
It has been generally noted that when the month of Ramadan is completed, the night before Eid is spent by most people in careless indulgence and entertainment. They throng shopping centres and marketplaces. The above Hadith is a warning against all such frivolities. This is the night of reward and should be used in prayer and supplication.
The ‘night of reward’ is best utilized in more prayer and supplication, in introspection of the whole month of Ramadan that has just passed and in making fresh resolutions for the new year to come.
To spend this night in frivolous shopping and entertainment is to ignore its importance and lose this great opportunity to earn rewards. In reality, those who have spent the month of Ramadan in its true spirit can never even contemplate that they can spend the last night of Ramadan in frivolous activity. To such people, this last night will be one of prayer and supplication and not of negligence or entertainment.
Another authentic Hadith regarding Ramadan has been reported by Anas ibn Malik. One part of this Hadith is: “When the day of Eid al-Fitr dawns on them, then God is pleased and proclaims to the angels, ‘O my angels, what is the reward for the doer who has completed his deed?’ The angels reply, ‘Our Lord, such a person should be given the complete reward for the deed done’.” (Shu’abul Iman, Hadith No. 3444)
After the end of Ramadan, the day of Eid al-Fitr appears with glad tidings, with tidings of everlasting happiness as reward. This reward is for those believers of God who have proved themselves deserving of it by reviving the true spirit of all kinds of good deeds during the month of Ramadan.
