Surah Al-Qadr / Verse 5

After speaking of the Quran's revelation, the Night of Decree's greatness, and the descent of the angels and the Spirit, the surah ends with a reassuring description: “It is peace, all the way until dawn breaks.”

The word salam means more here than a greeting. It is associated with well-being, safety and freedom from harm, whether seen or unseen. The Night of Decree is described as a night filled with divine goodness and mercy.

One explanation understands this peace as a sign of God's special care for servants who turn to Him during the night. His mercy surrounds them, and the night is not singled out for fresh punishment or divine calamity. According to this reading, the influence of Satan's deception and temptation is also diminished, because the night is especially associated with God's mercy and attention.

Other commentaries and narrations understand salam as the greetings of angels to believers and worshippers. The angels mentioned in the previous verse are thus said to greet God's servants with peace. This does not necessarily conflict with the broader understanding of the night as filled with mercy and well-being; it may describe one expression of that divine care.

The verse must not be read as a promise that no painful event, physical hardship or human suffering can occur on the Night of Decree. It speaks of the night's special standing within the realm of divine peace and mercy, not of a rule making every unpleasant event impossible.

The expression hatta matla'i l-fajr shows that this quality continues until the appearance of dawn. The blessing and peace are not confined to a single moment, but extend through the night until morning light arrives.

The surah began with the Quran's descent, a Book sent for human guidance. It then described the night's extraordinary worth, the ordering of affairs and the angels' descent. Now the account reaches its conclusion with “peace”. In this way the closing verse draws a meaningful connection between divine guidance, God's mercy and the opportunity to draw near to Him.

From this perspective, the Night of Decree is not merely an occasion to make requests. It is an opportunity to turn back to God, ask forgiveness, find calm through His remembrance and correct what in our lives and conduct needs to change. A surah introduced through the revelation of the Quran closes by reminding us of divine peace and mercy.