Surah Al-Qadr 97:1
سُورَةُ القَدۡرِ · Meccan · Verse 1 of 5
بِّسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ
Translation
We sent it down on the Night of Glory.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This opening verse of Surah Al-Qadr, "إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ" (Indeed, We sent it down in the Night of Al-Qadr), holds profound weight in its concise declaration. It's Allah speaking, affirming His divine hand in a momentous event, primarily to believers, to convey the immense honor of the Quran and the night of its revelation.
Proclaiming Divine Majesty
The verse begins with "إِنَّآ" (Inna), a powerful Arabic particle that means "Indeed, We." The "We" here, as scholars like Al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain, signifies divine majesty and grandeur, not plurality. It is Allah, in His supreme glory, making a firm and undeniable statement. Immediately following is "أَنزَلْنٰهُ" (anzalnāhu), meaning "We sent it down." What is "it"? The verse doesn't explicitly name the Quran, but refers to it with the pronoun "هُ" (hu, meaning 'it'). Al-Zamakhshari and Al-Razi point out that this omission is a form of immense praise. The Quran is so famous, so central to the hearts and minds of the believers, that its mention by name is unnecessary; everyone instantly knows what "it" refers to. It highlights the Quran's unparalleled status, already established in the collective consciousness.
The Special Act of Sending Down
The verb "أنزلنا" (anzalnā), "We sent down," is also significant. Scholars like Al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur explain this refers to the Quran being sent down *in its entirety* (jumlatan wāhidah) from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) to the lowest heaven on Laylat al-Qadr. From there, it was revealed gradually to Prophet Muhammad over 23 years. This initial, complete descent to the lowest heaven was a singular, momentous event that marked the beginning of its journey to humanity. It underscores the divine completeness and pre-ordained nature of Allah's speech.
The Night of Distinction
The revelation occurred "فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ" (fī Laylat al-Qadr), "in the Night of Al-Qadr." The word "Al-Qadr" itself carries deep meaning, explored by scholars from two main angles. Firstly, it refers to *decree* or *estimation*. Al-Razi and Al-Zamakhshari explain it as the night when Allah manifests His divine decrees and judgments for the coming year to the angels, concerning matters like sustenance, life, and death. Secondly, "Al-Qadr" also signifies *honor, majesty, and greatness*. Ibn Ashur highlights how the definite article "Al-" (the) in "Al-Qadr" makes "Laylat al-Qadr" a unique, designated name for a night of unparalleled distinction. As Abu Bakr Al-Warraq beautifully put it (as cited by Al-Razi), it is called Laylat al-Qadr because a book of great *qadr* (value) was revealed, by an angel of great *qadr*, to a nation of great *qadr*. This specific naming elevates the time of revelation, reflecting the immense honor of the message itself.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Qadr 97:1 is discussed in 7 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Qadr 97:1 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.