is composed of a subject and predicate, with the predicate placed first. The underlying order is: “It is peace”—that is, this night is peace. Allah Most High described it as peace because so many people are delivered during it from sins and their punishments. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever stands in prayer on the Night of Decree, out of faith and in hope of reward, will have his previous sins forgiven.” (1) There is no doubt that the forgiveness of sins brings deliverance from their harmful consequences and punishments. ﴿Until the break of dawn﴾ means that the angels continue to descend on this night until dawn breaks. Once dawn breaks, the Night of Decree ends.
Note: We previously stated that the Night of Decree falls in Ramadan. But in which part of Ramadan does it occur: at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end?
In answer, we say that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered devotional retreat during the first ten days and then during the middle ten days, seeking the Night of Decree. He was then told that it was in the last ten days, so he entered devotional retreat during the last ten. (2) Thus, the Night of Decree falls within the last ten days of Ramadan. On which night among them? Allah knows best. It may be the twenty-first night, the thirtieth night, or any night in between. No single night has been specified for it every year. Thus, on one occasion the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was shown that the Night of Decree would be the twenty-first night, and he saw in a dream that on its following morning he would prostrate in water and mud. Rain therefore fell that night—namely, the twenty-first night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed in his mosque, which was a simple shelter made of branches and did not prevent water from leaking through the roof. That morning, during the dawn prayer, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated in the water and mud, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) saw traces of water and mud on his forehead. (3) Thus, on that occasion, it fell on the night of one