Laylatul Qadr/The Night of Decree
Let's take a closer look at Laylatul Qadr, also known as The Night of Decree, which is the most sacred night of the year in the Islamic calendar.
What is Laylatul Qadr?
Laylatul Qadr, also known as The Night of Decree or The Night of Power, is the most sacred night of the year in the Islamic calendar. This is the night when God/Allah (SWT) sent down the first verses of the Quran as a source of guidance to mankind. Allah (SWT) sent down the Quran through the Angel Jibril/Gabriell (A.S.) and revealed it to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH/ﷺ) .
It is a night that is better than a thousand months, and it is a night of peace, purification, forgiveness, hope, and mercy. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said in a hadith/narration that, “ whoever stands for the prayers in the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
The word Qadr means divine decree or destiny, and in addition to being the night when the Quran was sent down, Laylatul Qadr is also the night when the destinies or fates are being written. Many people dedicate themselves to prayer and supplication on this night in the hopes of attaining mercy, forgiveness, and peace. This night is one of immense blessings and mercy where goods are multiplied and where the angels descend from the heavens until dawn.
When is Laylatul Qadr?
While the exact night of Laylatul Qadr is unknown, there many hadith/narrations from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that give a sense of when Laylatul Qadr is. The most famous hadith about the timing of Laylatul Qadr is the hadith from Aisha (R.A.) that states that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said to, “search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan."
However, there are other hadiths that attempt to pinpoint possible options for the Night of Laylatul Qadr . For example, there is a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (R.A) that states that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan ,' on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan (i.e., 21, 23, 25, respectively)”. Another narration by Ubada bin As-Samit states that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said that Muslims should “search for it on the 29th, 27th, and 25th (of Ramadan).”
Due to this narration by Ubada bin As-Samit and other narrations, many Muslim countries typically celebrate the 27th night of Ramadan as the Night of Decree, but it's advised to seek Laylatul Qadr on all of the last ten nights of Ramadan, particularly the odd nights.
The Signs of Laylatul Qadr
Even though the exact night of Laylatul Qadr is unknown, there are signs from the Quran and from the hadith, or narrations from the Prophet Muhammad ( ﷺ ), that describe some signs that suggest that a particular night could be Laylatul Qadr:
Peaceful Night: The Night of Qadr is peaceful, and this peace lasts until dawn. This night starts after Maghrib prayer (the prayer just after sunset) all the way until Fajr ( the prayer just before dawn)
Clear Sky: The Night of Qadr is a night where the skies are generally clear.
The Possibility of Rain: There is a chance that there could be rain on the Night of Qadr
A Unique Sunrise: On the Night of Qadr, the sunrise the next morning has no rays in it.
The Moon Looks Like a Piece of a Plate: On the Night of Qadr, the moon looks like a piece of a plate.
What activities do Muslims do during Laylatul Qadr?
During the last ten nights of Ramadan, Muslims stay up late at night and exert themselves in worship in the hopes of catching the blessed night of Laylatul Qadr. There are many acts of worship that Muslims do during these ten nights in the hope of catching this blessed night. Here are some of them listed below:
Recite the Quran: Many Muslims recite a lot of the Quran during these last ten days because the Night of Qadr is the night when the Quran was first sent down. Many Muslim countries host communal prayers and gatherings where they try to finish the Quran during these ten days.
Perform Extra Prayers: In these nights, Muslims offer voluntaryprayers, including the night prayer before dawn, in the hopes of seeking forgiveness from Allah (SWT). There is a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that says, “Whoever stands for the prayers in the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
Seeking Forgiveness: The Night of Qadr is a night of forgiveness, and Muslims spend the night seeking forgiveness from Allah (SWT).
Charity: Muslims give charity on this night in the hopes of seeking reward from Allah (SWT), as every good deed on this night carries the weight of more than a thousand months. Nowadays charity organizations such as Islamic Relief and others allow Muslims to schedule their payments automatically for these ten nights ( by selecting the dates and the amount they want to give each day) so that it's easier for them to give charity without worrying about missing a night.
Making Dua/Supplicating: Muslims spend this night supplicating to Allah (SWT) for forgiveness and goodness in this world and the next. This is the night when Allah writes all the destinies. Muslims increase in their supplications during this night, and according to a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ( ﷺ ), the best supplication for the night is, “ O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me.”
Sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) : Muslims send peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in various forms because Allah (SWT) says in the Quran, "Indeed, Allah showers His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him, O believers! Invoke Allah’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy greetings of peace.” Sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ( ﷺ ) is a way for Muslims to receive blessings and mercy from Allah (SWT).
Making Dhikir/Remembrance of Allah (SWT): Muslims spend this time remembering Allah (SWT) in various ways; whether it is through seeking forgiveness, glorifying Allah (SWT), or praising Allah (SWT), this night is filled with the remembrance of Allah (SWT).
The last ten nights of Ramadan are the ones when Muslims exert themselves in worship in the hopes of attaining mercy, peace, blessings, and forgiveness, particularly on the Night of Qadr. The exact Night of Qadr is unknown, but it is a night worth more than a thousand years, and it is a night of blessings, forgiveness, destiny, mercy, opportunity to do good, and peace until dawn.
If you want more information about Ramadan, check out the rest of my Ramadan series here:
