“On that night every matter of wisdom is determined.” [al-Dukhān: 4]
It has also been said that lifespans are transcribed on the middle night of Shaʿbān, but the first view is more correct. Allah, exalted is He, knows best.
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Allah Most High says:
“And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is?” [al-Qadr: 2]
This expresses wonder at it and magnifies its importance. Wherever the Quran says, “And what will make you know?”, He has made it known to him; wherever it says, “And how can you know?”, He has not made it known to him. This was stated by al-Farrāʾ, Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah, and others. Allah, exalted is He, knows best.
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As for His words, Mighty and Majestic is He:
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” [al-Qadr: 3]
There are differing interpretations of this. It has been said that performing deeds pleasing to Allah on that night, such as prayer and other acts of worship, is better than performing them over a thousand months at other times. [It has also been said that this means the Night of Decree is better than a thousand months] in which there is no Night of Decree. This is similar to the first interpretation, since the night’s superiority over other nights is not due to any distinctive quality apart from the multiplication of rewards for good deeds performed on it.
It has also been said that this refers to a man among the Children of Israel who would pray at night and fight in Allah’s cause by day. He continued doing so for a thousand months, which is eighty-three years and four months. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wished that his community might attain the same and said, “My Lord, You have given my community the shortest lifespans and the fewest deeds.” Allah therefore granted him the Night of Decree, which is better than a thousand months—meaning better than those thousand months during which the Israelite prayed at night and fought by day—as a special favor to him and his community.
This is the meaning of the hadith related by Mālik: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was shown the lifespans of the people before him—or as much of that as Allah willed—and it was as though he