The night takes us beyond the mundane and the material world where seeking the mercy of Allah the beneficent is the noble goal of man -- His greatest creation. It comes at a time when the devotees have already spent 27 days of self-abstinence and purification. The night has been given greater dignity than that of a thousand months. So it is the finest time for the devotees to seek communion with the Almighty and reach a higher plane of spiritual advancement. It is time to seek Allah's forgiveness.

Islam has laid maximum emphasis on developing the human qualities that can elevate man to the level of the most blessed humans in the reckoning of Allah. And this can be achieved by sacrificing a bit of worldly pleasures and comforts even when a human being is endowed with enough wealth in this transitory life. Ramadan teaches us to feel the pangs of hunger and self-inflicted deprivation. So it is a month of great religious significance and Lailat-ul-Qadr is the greatest of the nights of Ramadan, as the Holy book that would shape the destiny of Muslims and change the world in a perceptible way descended on earth on this night.

Muslims observe the day with the same devotion and faith as they have done over the centuries. However, the world is now a different place as peace and tranquility is threatened in many places and violence and bloodshed have become the order of the day. So the message of Islam is now even more relevant -- the well meaning and the righteous have to raise their voice against all evils.

The violence and evil acts that some fanatic elements are resorting to in the name of Islam must be condemned unequivocally. Let the spirit of Lailat-ul-Qadr and the teachings of the Holy Quran help mankind overcome the crisis that it is passing through.