THE NIGHT OF POWER

Picture of Mosul by World Press Phtographer winner Lauren van der Stockt courtesy of Le Monde

Laylat al-Qadr falls on the last 10 nights of the Islamic month of Ramadan, and it commemorates the night when Allah revealed the Koran to Mohammad.

This year, 2017, it falls on Wednesday 21 June, and is considered by Muslims to be the holiest night of the year.

Sometimes referred to as the ‘Night of Destiny’ or the ‘Night of Power’; many Muslims believe that this was the time when the Koran’s first verses were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

On the night of Laylat al-Qadr it is believed that God marks ones fate for the following year, so many Muslims will pray during the night for mercy, forgiveness and salvation.

It is believed to be the most appropriate time of the year to pray for salvation and blessings, and if a Muslim prays through the ‘Night of Destiny’ their sins will be forgiven.

Source: Metro.



It was the Night of Power. By one of those uncanny instances, a clairvoyant, luminescent intelligence there to help, it was also Old Alex's 65th Birthday, as well as being the longest night and the shortest day.

Born lovers, he quipped at the early morning Table of Knowledge at the local cafe in Shellharbour.

The silver streams of those who had died in flight and fright transgressed across the border into sight, flickering along the skyline, through startled air. 

The visual plane was fluxing, as if itself in a panic. 

The apostates could say whatever they liked. 

Around him, through the seabed ether, as if underwater, he heard them talking, or dreaming, of traffic, trains, weddings, overseas holidays, and frequently, no wonder the species was so fecund, of sex, tactics, strategies, covert meetings; but in the midst of it all, having already blown their cover, a thing which should not have mattered here in the famous End of Days,  an urgent messaging. 

Jackboots echoed through empty streets. Power cars, police vehicles bristling with new technology, circled constantly.

The government's answer to all dissent had been to crack down further and further. The freedom loving, rambunctious country was no more. 

Old Alex laughed at his evening Table of Knowledge, as if in some retirement village of the soul, but these familiar, pleasant characters, voices, faces, were remnants of a once vibrant scene. And soon, even they would not dare to venture out, in this unprecedented pont in history.

Politics, it was all about politics. And the politicians had stood back and watched it all happen, fruitlessly blind or entirely complicit.

As the Jesuits and Jihadits in politics and bureaucracy clasped hands behind the back fence, destroyed the country in order, as they saw it, to save it, reinstituted the God of the Early Church, the same god as the god of Islamic State, and brought the country to its knees: all in the name of Allah. The Most Merciful. 

God, in his infinite wisdom...

Their God, their Allah, were one and the same. 

It was not wisdom. It was a blatant quest for power across the physical and spiritual planes; as brutal, more brutal than any Khan on the Mongolian steppes.

For it involved the greatest of all deceptions, foisted onto the earnest lives of millions.

The remnants continued to fight, those who were naive enough to believe the propaganda of democracy, open-mindedness, willingness, tolerance, diversity, appreciation of others.

The truth lay elsewhere.

In the increasingly totalitarian, increasingly oppressed, distressed streets, what were they fighting for?

It wasn't a free press. The government either owned, controlled, manipulated or had its sticky little totalitarian fingers through almost every media outlet in the country.

It wasn't freedom of association. That did not exist.

It wasn't freedom of speech. That did not exist.

It wasn't a booming economy which supported the best efforts of the citizenry. It was a dive to the bottom, the ultimate goal, all citizens either dependent on, registered or closely monitored by government achieved.

It wasn't decency and independence in foreign policy. 

In lockstep, pouring tens of billions into more than 400 active military contracts at any one time, Australia had followed America blindly into two wars, the American and Vietnam Wars, based on false evidence concocted by the CIA.

And into numerous other counterproductive quagmires, most particularly America, and Australia's longest war, Afghanistan.

Billions ripped off ordinary working people to feed the military industrial complex.

They did not have the courtesy, dared not have the courage, to show their faces and explain to the people what they were doing with their money.

And so it was, step by terrible step.

Shivers up the spine.

A truly existential threat.

Civilisation, Western civilisation, the human journey, contracting as we speak. The ancient gods truly awake.

The Night of Power.





THE BIGGER STORY:





http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4619894/ISIS-strike-Australia-Ramadan-s-Night-Power.html

Counter-terror forces in Australia are on high alert with fears Islamic State is set to launch a series of attacks around the world on Wednesday, a key date of Ramadan.

'Night of Power', which falls on the 27th day of Ramadan, has been a notorious target for ISIS terrorists, who slaughtered 20 people in a Bangladesh restaurant last year.

And now, in the wake of last month's Manchester attack and Monday's incident at a London mosque, there are fears ISIS could be set to again ramp up attacks, forcing Australian authorities to be extra vigilant, Nine News reports.

A major date on the Ramadan calendar, 'Night of Power' or Laylat al-Qadr, is the day when Muslims believe Mohammed first revealed the verses of the Quran.

Last year's attack at Dhaka, in Bangladesh, saw nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Indians and an American killed when ISIS soldiers burst into the eatery with knives.

And in the wake of a number of recent attacks in the UK, authorities in Australia are expected to be out in force and on the lookout for suspicious activity.



http://www.pulse.ng/religion/ramadan-day-24-signs-of-the-night-of-power-id6861786.html

The exact night is unknown but Prophet Muhammad enjoined us to seek it in the last 10 days of the holy month. In one of his traditions, the Prophet encouraged us to search for the night of decree in the odd numbers of the latter part of Ramadan.

However, the prophet in one or two traditions mentioned the signs of the night of majesty.

Jaabir ibn Abdullah (RA) who said: the Messenger (SAW) said: “Indeed I was shown Lailatul Qadr then I was made to forget it. It is in the last ten nights of (Ramadan) and it is a bright night, neither hot or cold. In the version of Az Zayaadee it mentions concerning the brightness of the night: “..as though there is in it the type of moon that overpowers the stars (in brightness)..” then in both versions the messenger said: “Devils on that night will not be able to come out until fajr.”

It was also reported that when Ubay ibn Ka’b was asked on another occasion ‘what are its signs’ he responded by saying “its signs are the signs that the messengers (SAW) informed us of. That the sun will rise the following morning having no rays”





http://www.9news.com.au/world/2017/06/19/14/50/war-is-starting-in-your-streets-islamic-state-stoke-fear-ahead-of-night-of-power#MbDikKJ6x8LfFixg.99

Pro-Islamic State propaganda channels have seized upon the deadly van attack on Muslim worshippers outside a London mosque and urged ISIS supporters to "wake up" for war on the streets.

There are unconfirmed suggestions the driver of the white van who mowed down pedestrians causing one confirmed death and a number of casualties was not Muslim.

The incident in London, a city still reeling from the June 3 London Bridge attack, will further stoke fears ahead of a significant day looming in the Ramadan calendar known as the "Night of Power".


If bloody events in 2016 are an indicator, Islamic State will look to double down its campaign of terror on Laylat al-Qadr, also known as Night of Power, which is set to fall on June 21.

Michael S. Smith II, a US counter-terror analyst, has observed activity on pro-Islamic State channels today urging a violent response to the ugly van attack on innocent Muslim worshipers.

Pro-Islamic State propaganda channels have seized upon the deadly van attack on Muslim worshippers outside a London mosque and urged ISIS supporters to "wake up" for war on the streets.

There are unconfirmed suggestions the driver of the white van who mowed down pedestrians causing one confirmed death and a number of casualties was not Muslim.

The incident in London, a city still reeling from the June 3 London Bridge attack, will further stoke fears ahead of a significant day looming in the Ramadan calendar known as the "Night of Power".


If bloody events in 2016 are an indicator, Islamic State will look to double down its campaign of terror on Laylat al-Qadr, also known as Night of Power, which is set to fall on June 21.

Michael S. Smith II, a US counter-terror analyst, has observed activity on pro-Islamic State channels today urging a violent response to the ugly van attack on innocent Muslim worshipers.

One suspect was arrested at the scene in Finsbury Park, north London, after being wrestled to the ground by members of the public, according to early witness reports.

A pro-IS message on encrypted app Telegram contrasted the arrest at Finsbury Park against the 50 rounds fired by police to kill the three ISIS jihadists who carried out the London Bridge attack.

"When your brothers took revenge on the Crusader nationals for the slaughter they are carrying out on the Muslims they were shot on site (sic) by the British Police," the message read.

"Then how come the police never shot a Kafir (derogatory word for non-Muslim)," the post continued, referencing today's arrest.

"You need to wake up the war is starting now in your own streets outside your own Masajids (mosques).

"Your elders could be killed, your sisters could be attacked."