Shaykh ʿUbayd al-Jābirī [arabic]رَحِمَهُ اللهُ[/arabic] posed the question:
If a Muslim sees the signs of Laylat ul-Qadr, is it permitted to spread what he saw? Also, what is said regarding those who are infatuated with and yearn to see the signs of Laylat ul-Qadr, and then take a picture to spread what they saw?
We say to these people:
Did any of our righteous predecessors do this before you? If you say yes, then we say: ascribe your statement to a recognised scholar. If you say no, then we say to them: why do you burden yourselves?
Al-Ḥāfidh Ibn Ḥajr [arabic]رَحِمَهُ اللهُ[/arabic] said:
“Al-Subkī derived that it is recommended to keep it secret if you see [the signs of] Laylat ul-Qadr. This is because Allah [arabic]سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى[/arabic] decreed for his Prophet [arabic]صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ[/arabic] to not inform us of it, and all good is in what was decreed for him. So, it is desirable to follow him in that. Also, he mentioned in Sharḥ al-Minhāj’ from al-Ḥāwī that the wisdom behind that is because seeing the signs of Laylat ul-Qadr is a karāmah (an honour from Allah), and the scholars agree that one should hide a karāmah [if he is honoured with it by Allah].”1
Al-Māwardi [arabic]رَحِمَهُ اللهُ[/arabic] from the Shāfiʿī madh’hab said:
“It is recommended for the one who sees [the signs of] Laylat ul-Qadr to keep it secret.”2
(Source: Isʿāf Dhawil-Baṣīrah wal-Baṣar bit-Taḥdhīr min Amr Khaṭīr Yushāʿ Ḥawl Laylat ul-Qadr)
Originally published: 20 May 2020
