Laylatul Qadr

Laylatul Qadr occurs during the last 10 nights of Ramadan. It is such an important event that there is a whole chapter of the Quran dedicated to it:

Surah Qadr

“We have sent it [the Quran] down in the Night of Qadr. And what may let you know what the Night of Qadr is? The Night of Qadr is much better than one thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend in it, with the leave of your Lord, along with every command. Peace it is till the debut of dawn” (Surah 97).

Laylatul Qadr is a blessed night in the blessed month Ramadan, during which the Qur’an was revealed. Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) told us that Laylatul Qadr occurs during the last ten nights of Ramadan; however, Allah has not revealed the exact date to encourage us to strive and search for it during all of the ten nights. Anas ibn Malik reported that, “Ramadan approached, so the Messenger of God said: ‘This month has come to you, and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it is deprived of all goodness, and no one is deprived of its goodness except one who is truly deprived’” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 1644). In addition, the importance of this night can be seen in the explanation of Ibn Abbas that on Laylatul Qadr, the entire Qur’an was revealed and moved from the highest heaven to the lowest heaven and placed in Bayt al-`Izzah (the House of Honour), which is a special chamber. From there, it was gradually revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) over the course of 23 years (Sunan al-Nasa’i 1162518).

Therefore, we should make every effort to stay up late and pray during the last 10 nights of Ramadan to ensure that we have completed at least some salah and dua during this blessed night. If it is difficult for you to stay awake all night, get up 15 minutes earlier than usual and perform salah, but the more you can do, the better, as Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) said:

“Whoever stands the night of Laylatul Qadr in prayer, with faith and anticipation, all of their previous sins shall be forgiven” (Sunan an-Nasa’i 2192).

Hence, Laylatul Qadr provides the perfect opportunity to seek forgiveness, and Aishah (RA) reported: I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realise Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?"

He (SAWS) replied, "You should supplicate: O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me (Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni)." Importantly, forgiveness is closely related to qadr, which means destiny, because Allah says in the Quran: “And whatever strikes you of calamity, it is because of what your hands have earned, although He pardons a great deal” (42:30). Therefore, do not miss this opportunity to seek forgiveness and make dua, because the results will be far reaching inshaAllah.