In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful. All Prayers and Blessing of Allah are upon our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم , his households, his Companions and all those who follow his Sunnah until the Day of Judgment.
Allah SWT has glorified and honored Lailatul Qadre (The night of decree). It is the most virtuous night in the whole year for the fact that it has combined many virtues and blessings. Those virtues and blessings are detailed as follows.
1- Quran as a whole had been revealed in Lailatul Qadre from Allah Almahfouz (The Preserved Tablet) to the worldly Heaven. Then it was revealed in a progressive way by the angel Jibril to Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم over 23 years.
Allah SWT says in Surat Al-Qadre:
إنا أنزلناه في ليلة القدر(الآية-1)
We have indeed revealed it (Quran) in Lailatul Qadre (97-1).
In Surat Ad-Dukhan Allah SWT said:
إنا أنزلناه في ليلة مباركة (الآية:3)
We have indeed revealed it (Quran) in a blessed night (Lailatul Qadre) (44-3).
2- In Lailatul Qadre Allah SWT ordains all the matters and affairs of the following year. They are extracted first from Allah Almahfuz (The preserved Tablet) and then revealed to the angles that are designated to put them into effect.
Allah SWT says in Surat Ad-Dukhan:
فيها يفرق كل أمر حكيم (الآية: 4)
In that night all matters of ordainment are decreed (44-4).
Allah SWT says also in Surat Al-Qadre:
تنزل الملائمة الروح فيها بإذن ربهم من كل أمر (الآية: 4)
In that night, will descend the angels and the Spirit (Angle Jibril), by permission of their Lord, with all decrees (97-4).
3- Worship in Lailatul Qadre is equal to the worship of a thousand months (83 years and four-month, not including Lailatul Qadre).
Allah SWT says in Surat Al-Qadre:
ليلة القدر خير من ألف شهر (الآية:3)
Lailatul Qadre is better than a thousand months (97-3).
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said in an authentic Hadith narrated by Ibn-Majah:
إن هذا الشهر قد حضركم وفيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر، من حرمها فقد حرم الخير كله.
This month of Ramadan has come to you, in it there’s a night that’s better than a thousand months, whoever will be deprived of its benefits will actually be deprived of all kinds of goodness.
4- Staying up that night performing acts of worship will be rewarded by Forgiveness from Allah SWT to the previous sins.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said in a Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim:
من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه.
Whoever will stay up in worship during Lailatul Qadre out of faith and hoping for Allah’s reward will have his previous sins forgiven.
5- The angles, led by the angel Jibril, will descend, in huge numbers, during that night with Mercy and Blessings from Allah SWT.
Allah SWT says in Surat Al-Qadre:
تنزل الملائمة والروح فيها (الآية:4).
The angles and the Spirit (Jibril) will descend during that night (97-4).
6- Peace and Goodness from Allah SWT to His believing slaves will prevail all over that night until the break of dawn.
Allah SWT said in Surat Al-Qadre:
سلام هي حتى مطلع الفجر (الآية: 5)
That night will be full of peace until the crack of dawn (97-5).
Pursuit of Lailatul Qadre
There’s a consensus between scholars that Lailatul Qadre occurs in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan, but they differed about which night exactly it is.
On the other hand, the majority of the scholars have agreed that it is to be sought in the odd days nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan. They based their opinion on a statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in an agreed-upon Hadith.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said in a Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim:
تحروا ليلة القدر في الوتر من العشر الأواخر من رمضان.
Seek to reach Lailatul Qadre in the odd days nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.
On the other hand, two famous Companions, Obay Ibn Qa’b and Ibn Abbas, may the pleasure of Allah be upon them, have insisted that Lailatul Qadre occurs in the night of the 27th of the month of Ramadan.
The fact that Lailatul Qadre is hidden in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan is a blessing for Muslims. This will encourage those who wish to reap the great benefits of that blessed night to strive hard in the worship of their Creator, Allah SWT, during the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.
Signs of Lailatul Qadre
According to different statements from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم the night of Lailatul Qadre will be a clear night not hot or cold. The sun in the following day will rise in a yellow-reddish colour without rays.
Recommended Supplication of Lailatul Qadre
It is advised for the Muslim, during Lailatul Qadre, to make as many supplications as possible to their Lord, Allah SWT, in such a night that is full of blessings, mercy and forgiveness.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has recommended a specific Dua’a for that night.
Our mother Aaisha asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about the preferred Dua’a during the blessed night of Lailatul Qadre and he recommended her to say:
اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعفوا عني.
O Allah you are Oft-Pardoning and you like to pardon, so grant me Pardon.
We pray to Allah SWT to give us the chance to witness that night and get His Blessing, Forgiveness and Mercy, Ameen!.
