اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنٰهُ فِيۡ لَيۡلَةِ الۡقَدۡرِ
[Surely, We sent it (i.e. the Quran) down in the Night of Destiny (Surah al-Qadr, 97:2)]
Although this Lailatul-Qadr [Night of Destiny] is commonly interpreted as a blessed night, there are references in the Holy Quran which also indicate that the gloomy condition of the world is like a Lailatul-Qadr on account of its hidden qualities, and truthfulness, steadfastness, devotion, and worship during this period of darkness have tremendous value in the estimation of God. And it was that very dark condition that—having reached its ultimate point during the advent of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, demanded the descent of the Glorious Light. In view of the dark condition of the time, and as a mercy for those afflicted with darkness, there was an upsurge of the attribute of rahmaniyyat and heavenly blessings addressed themselves to the earth. Thus, this dark condition became a blessing for the world, and because of it, the world received a magnificent mercy in that the perfect man, Sayyidur-Rusul [the Chief of the Messengers]—the like of whom has never been born, nor ever will be—came for the guidance of the world and brought the Radiant Book, the like of which no eye has ever seen. Thus, it was a grand manifestation of God’s perfect rahmaniyyat that He sent down, at the time of gloom and darkness, the Magnificent Light that is called the Furqan [the Discrimination, i.e. Holy Quran], which distinguishes between truth and falsehood and which demonstrably established truth and uprooted falsehood. It descended upon the earth when the earth had died a spiritual death and great corruption had spread over land and sea. Thus, through its descent, it accomplished that which Almighty Allah has Himself indicated in the words:
اِعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحۡيِ الۡاَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا
[Know that Allah is now quickening the earth after its death. (Surah al-Hadid, 57:18)]
(Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part 4, pp. 187-188)