fasting during it, nothing has been authentically reported from the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—beyond what applies to all other months, such as the merit of fasting three days of every month (1), specifically the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth, which are the White Days.

Regarding His statement, Exalted is He, ﴿on the Night of Decree﴾, some scholars say that qadr means honor, as when it is said, “So-and-so is a person of great standing,” meaning that he possesses great honor. Other scholars say that what is meant by qadr is determination, because what will occur during the year is determined on that night, as Allah Most High says, ﴿Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night, for We have always been warners. On that night every matter of wisdom is made distinct﴾ [al-Dukhān: 3, 4]—that is, it is set apart and made clear.

The correct view is that it encompasses both meanings. There is no doubt that the Night of Decree possesses immense standing and great honor, and that what will occur during that year—including the giving of life, the causing of death, provisions, and other matters—is determined on it. He then said, Glorious and Exalted is He, ﴿And what will make you realize what the Night of Decree is?﴾ This form of expression conveys grandeur and exaltation, and it is consistently used in this sense throughout the Noble Quran. Allah Most High says, ﴿And what will make you realize what the Day of Judgment is? Again, what will make you realize what the Day of Judgment is?﴾ [al-Infitār: 17, 18]. He also says, ﴿The Inevitable Hour! What is the Inevitable Hour? And what will make you realize what the Inevitable Hour is?﴾ [al-Hāqqa: 1–3], and ﴿The Striking Calamity! What is the Striking Calamity? And what will make you realize what the Striking Calamity is?﴾ [al-Qāri'a: 1–3].

Thus, this form of expression conveys grandeur and exaltation. Here He says, ﴿And what will make you realize what the Night of Decree is?﴾—that is, what could make you comprehend the Night of Decree, its significance, its honor, and its greatness? He then explained this by saying, ﴿The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.﴾ This sentence serves as the answer to the preceding question, ﴿And what will make you realize what the Night of Decree is?﴾ The answer is: ﴿The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months﴾—meaning a thousand months in which there is no Night of Decree. What is meant here by its being better is the reward for deeds performed during it and what