Philosophy of Qadr Nights and preparing for it

Signs of Qadr nights
 
As far as the signs of Night of Qadr are concerned:
1. The sun rises early in the morning without rays.
2. Rain may fall either during the night or during the day of that night.
3. During night the sky will be lightly foggy and the air will be cooler.
4. The sky will be slightly lighted without reflections and without rays.
5. The angels and Gabriel all descend down onto earth for many purposes.
 
Imam Baqir (as) said:

"The weather is splendid on Qadr nights. In winter, those nights are warmer than other nights and in summer, vigil nights are cooler,"

Things that we can and should do on Qadr nights especially 23rd Ramadhan

1.  Dua (prayers) and Istegfar (Seeking forgiveness) -
In these nights Allah (swt) asks His servants to come back to Him so it is completely wrong to despair and lose hope in His forgiveness for the sins we have committed. Equally one should not be overconfident or complacent about the things he has done.

Pray earnestly for those who have gone astray as Allah wants His servants to go back to Him.

2. Stay awake on this night - even small children should be encouraged to spend the night in listening to Quran. Do not force them, rather encourage them that there is an unknown time (known only to Allah (swt)) when the revelation took place so those who stay awake will receive the Mercy at that unknown hour and will receive Quranic guidance in all their affairs.

Some hadith by our Aimma on staying awake on this night

Imam Musa Al-Kazem (as) said that the faithful can come closer to God by observing vigil on the nights of Qadr.

Imam Ali (as) said that his wife Hazrat Fatemah (sa) used to say that those sleeping on Qadr nights, are depriving themselves of the virtues of the sacred nights.

Imam Baqer (as) said that on the nights of Qadr, the angels come down to the earth watching the faithful worshipping and fasting.

3. Starting good deeds on this night -

If you intend to do any khairat (good deed) like helping a needy during the year, writing a book, starting a project - then one should start on this night. Success is guaranteed.

Our thoughts on this night should be "how will I benefit in wisdom tonight?" Many scholars start writing their books on night of Qadr.

4. Try to eat less on this night and do a'amal with a broken heart - We should pray  like one who is in desperate need of forgiveness

5. Recite Ziarat of Imam Hussain (makhsoos) on Shab e Qadr - the rewards of this are anbundant.
Why Ziarat of Imam Hussain (as) on this night? This is because Imam Hussain is WITR UL MAUTUR - meaning his station is unique in the eyes of Allah (swt).

6. Do neeyat of Sadaqa - truly help someone in need

7. Tasbeeh of Bibi Fatema (sa)

Bear in mind the 24hr cycle and not just the night at the place where you are - your day is QADR night elsewhere.

8. Recite Dua for safety of Imam e Zaman (afts) - ALLAHUMA KULLE WALEYAKA HUJJAT IBN UL HASAN
Remember Imam e Zaman (as) much in this night and also recite Dua e Nudba

9. Engage in reciting/listening to duas so as to gain true proximity to Allah (swt).

Philosophy of the Aamaal we do on the Qadr Nights
 
a. The Ghusl is purifier for the rest of your actions on that night

b. The 2 rakaat namaz with 7 times Surah Tawheed is purifier from shirk of this world. This will also help us not be associated too much with worldly desires.
Why 7 times? The number 7 is known as ADADUL-KISRA - meaning when you want to declare something abundantly you do it 7 times

c. Aamal of Holy Quran -
Dua with the open Quran - the dua starts off with swearing by the Quran of what is to be feared and what is to be desired

Putting the Quran on your heads - means this book is my RAEES , (i.e leader) so you are swearing by the Masoomeen that this book will be my only guidance in all my affairs.

(Reference: Notes from lectures by Sheikh Mohammed Khalfan in Dubai on Philosophy of Qadr Nights and preparing for it)

Last Friday of Ramadhan Month

Sayyid Ibn Tawus and Shaykh al-Saduq have both narrated the following on the authority of Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari:
I visited the Messenger of Allah (a.s) on the last Friday of Ramazan. As he saw me, he said:
Jabir: This is the last Friday of Ramazan. You should thus bid it farewell by saying the following:

Allahumma la taj alhu akhira al ahdi min siyamina iyyahu, fa in ja altahu faj alny marhuman wa la taj alny mahruman

O Allah: (please) do not make it the last of our fasting in this month; but if You decide so, then (please) make me enjoy (Your) mercy and do not make me deprived (of it)