The revelation of the great Quran was commenced in the blessed month of Ramadan, in the night of great value: almost the 27th night of Ramadan
The glorious Quran was not revealed as one piecemeal: not the entire Quran was revealed at one time; but its revelation started in this blessed night of great value
God - be glorified - Himself described the Quran as: the Great Quran, the Precious Quran, the Glorious Quran, and the Admonition
This blessed night of great value: it is preferable to keep vigil with prayers and reciting the Quran during it till dawn
On this night, the angels together with Gabriel come down from heaven to see believers and greet them, while almost these are unaware
Quran Soora 97, which means
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
1. Surely We revealed it on the ‘Grand Night’a
2. But can you imagine what the ‘Grand Night’ is? b
3. To worship God on] the ‘Grand Night’ c is better than [Balaam's d worshipping of God that lasted] one thousand months [then he disobeyed Him]
4. The angels and [Gabriel] the [Honest or Trustworthy] Spirit do descend [from heaven] during it – by the leave of their Lord e – ; [some out] of every Am'r f
5. Greeting of 'Salam!' [by the angels] g it is, till the rising of the dawn
.................................................. ..................
a Which is the 27th Night of the lunar month of Ramadan.
The meaning: Its revelation was commenced in the ‘Grand Night’.
b This is to point out to its high value.
c i.e. to keep vigil on this night for worshipping God, for prayers and glorification of God is better than the worship of a worshipper who worshipped God for one thousand months then he disobeyed Him; this worshipper was Balaam, son of Beor.
d He was Balaam, the son of Beor. [Refer also to our interpretation of the Quran 7: 175-177 and 59: 16.]
e It means: They ask their Lord’s permission to descend down from heaven to the earth, and He permits them.
f i.e. out of every kind of spiritual creatures who are in the paradises; each kind of them is called: Am’r.
As in His saying – be glorified – in the Quran 42: 53, which means:
(Surely all souls [: lit. am'rs] will return to God [after death, and He will judge them justly.])
i.e. the souls of mankind and genie-kind.
g i.e. the angels greet those who keep vigil on the ‘Grand Night’ and stay with them till the rise of dawn, then will go up to heaven to the paradises.
On the 27th night of the Ramadan 1398 AH, I was sleeping in Shaqlawa [in the north of Iraq], when an angel came to me in the dream and said: Salam alykum!
I said: Wa alykum Salam! And I awoke of my sleep, but I did not see anyone.
It is a good work: to keep vigil the night long on this night with prayers, glorification of God and reciting the Quran till dawn
The interpretation is by Mohammed-Ali Hassan Al-Hilly