Islam offers great opportunities for believers to gain intense spiritual experiences, experiences that involve setting aside the dunya (worldly life) and its distractions. One of those great opportunities is Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Glory).
Here we will learn the following:
- What is Laylatul Qadr ?
- What is the importance of Laylatul Qadr ?
- What is the virtue of Laylatul Qadr?
- What are the benefits of Laylatul Qadr?
- What to do on Laylatul Qadr?
- Why Laylatul Qadr duaa is so special ?
- What is the best duaa for Laylatul Qadr ?
- When is Laylatul Qadr ?
- Is Laylatul Qadr on odd nights ?
- What time does Laylatul Qadr start and end ?
- What are the signs of Laylatul Qadr?
- The conclusion
What is Laylatul Qadr ?
Laylatul Qadr is an Arabic term that means the Night of Glory. Laylatul Qadr is a night of great blessing in which Allah(swt) Shows His Mercy upon those of His believers who sincerely and faithfully love, worship Him and wisely obey His Will.
Laylatul Qadr is a night associated with the revelation of the Holy Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The revelation of The Holy Quran was the most important event which is why Muslims were commanded to fast during Ramadan, as it is the month in where The Holy Quran was revealed.
The Holy Quran contains the words of Almighty God, the book of guidance, mercy, and glad tidings. It is a constitution that Almighty Allah Had sent not only to be taught but also to be applied.
Read also:
What is the importance of Laylatul Qadr ?
The importance and significance of Laylatul Qadr is that it constitutes a unique opportunity for a believer to come closer to Almighty Allah. As serious worship requires not just taking some moments to pray, or performing such solid rituals but it helps to give rise to the spiritual emotions to change the soul of the believer positively, so that he can acquire more and more strength and wisdom help him to define his direction in life or redirect him to a better route.
Almighty Allah Says:
قال الله تعالى:” إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ (3) فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ (4) أَمْرًا مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ (5) رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ (6) ” سورة الدخان
Quran [44:3- 6]
“Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night, for We always warn ‘against evil’. On that night every matter of wisdom is ordained. By a command from Us, for We have always sent ‘messengers’. As a mercy from your Lord. He ‘alone’ is truly The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing”
What is the virtue of Laylatul Qadr?
There is a prophetic Hadith that mentions Laylatul Qadr.
Anas ibn Malik told of God’s messenger saying when Ramadan began:
“This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, but only those who are denied prosperity are deprived of it.”
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ قَدْ حَضَرَكُمْ وَفِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْ مَنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ وَلَا يُحْرَمُ خَيْرَهَا إِلَّا كل محروم».
So, everyone should make the most of this significant occasion by gaining as much reward as possible.
For more about Ramadan and fasting meaning, read:
Hadiths and Quran verses about Ramadan
What are the benefits of Laylatul Qadr?
Laylatul Qadr is a great night, If one executes any acts of goodwill on this night, they reap the rewards of having performed the good deed for a thousand months (83 years). Allah Says in the Holy Quran:
قال الله تعالى : ” إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ (1) وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ (2) لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ (3) تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ (4) سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ (5) ” سورة القدر
Quran [97: 1-5]
“Indeed, ‘it is’ We ‘Who’ sent this ‘Quran’ down on the Night of Glory. And what will make you realize what the Night of Glory is? The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months. That night the angels and the ‘holy’ spirit1 descend, by the permission of their Lord, for every ‘decreed’ matter. It is all peace until the break of dawn.”
What to do on Laylatul Qadr?
There are plenty of things you can do on this auspicious night to maximize your blessings and reward. We have detailed some of these below:
4. Perform supplications (Duaa)
Why Laylatul Qadr duaa is so special ?
Laylatul-Qadr may signal that final opportunity to change one’s fate (Qadar). After that, it will be only changed if it was written before that it would be changed. The hadith scholar, Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani notes the difference between the contingent decree (al-Qada’ al-Mu’allaq) which God has given the angels and the irrevocable decree (al-Qada’ al-Mubram) which is with God. The recording of one’s fate which the angels possess can be subject to change, as the Qur’an states:
قال الله تعالى : “يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِندَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ (39) ” سورة الرعد
Quarn [13:39]
“God erases and confirms what He wills”
And the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
قال رسول الله: ” لاَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْعُمْرِ إِلاَّ الْبِرُّ وَلاَ يَرُدُّ الْقَدَرَ إِلاَّ الدُّعَاءُ وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُحْرَمُ الرِّزْقَ لِلْخَطِيئَةِ يَعْمَلُهَا ”
“Nothing extends one’s life span but righteousness, nothing averts the Divine Decree except supplication, and nothing deprives a man of provision but the sin that he commits”.
“Nothing averts the Divine Decree except supplication”. One’s record with God in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfudh) is immutable. Thus, a person praying on Laylatul-Qadr may result in their records with the angels being altered, before those records seal one’s fate for the coming year. Duaa on this night has the greatest power to change decree. Hence, the night is both The Night of Glory and Power. There is also a special link between this night and seeking forgiveness from Almighty Allah.
What is the best duaa for Laylatul Qadr ?
The best duaa for Laylatul Qadr is to say “O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me”.
A’isha ( may Allah Be Pleased with her) asked the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say during it? he (PBUH) replied You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).”
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قلت: يا رسول الله أرأيت إن علمت أي ليلة القدر ما أقول فيها؟ قال: “قولي: اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعفُ عني” .
Laylatul Qadr can also be taken as an opportunity to plan for the upcoming year, contemplating both your short- and long-term ambitions. Vow to worship more frequently and have good intentions to attain rewards from Allah (SWT).
For more about some worships and events of Ramadan that help elevate behavior, read these:
When is Laylatul Qadr ?
Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: “A person would attain the reward of the night, even if he has no knowledge of it. This is because the Prophet said ‘whoever stands (in prayer) during Laylatul Qadr, with faith and hope, will be forgiven,’ and the Prophet did not make knowledge of the night a condition of their forgiveness. And had knowledge of the night become a necessary factor, the Prophet would have made this clear.
In this view, since knowledge of the night is not a prerequisite to prospering from the night, then it is not required for the worshipper to understand concepts of destiny or decree in order to achieve the rewards of worshipping on this night. All they need to do is perform acts of worship on that night.
However, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught the Muslims how to seek it.
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها، قالت: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يجاور في العشر الأواخر من رمضان، ويقول: “تحروا ليلة القدر في العشر الأواخر من رمضان”.
‘Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to seclude himself (in the mosque) during the last ten nights of Ramadan. He would say, “Seek Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree) in the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Is Laylatul Qadr on odd nights ?
Laylatul Qadr could be on odd nights as well as non-odd nights as Allah has concealed this night from the Ummah so that they may strive in seeking it and performing worship throughout the month in the hopes of catching it.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْوِتْرِ مِنَ الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ ”.
Narrated by Aisha that the messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.”
The great scholar Ibn Taymiyyah made the interesting point that the “odd nights” could be counted from the beginning or the end of the month (e.g., the 28th night could be considered the third last night of a 30 day Ramadan and hence also odd), and therefore one should endeavor to strive in all ten nights (Majmu’ al-Fatawa 25/284-285).
So, we should keep in mind that Odd Nights Do Not Necessarily Mean Odd Dates. There is tremendous wisdom behind not knowing exactly when it occurs, so the believer practices a consistent amount of worship for all of these nights.
What time does Laylatul Qadr start and end ?
Laylatul Qadr starts at sunset (Maghrib) time and ends at dawn (fajr) time of the next day. If a believing person is keen to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to spend this night in worship and obedience as much as possible, If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven. That’s what Prophet Muhammad told the Muslims.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:”من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه”
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whosoever performs Qiyam during Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree), with Faith and being hopeful of Allah’s reward, will have his former sins forgiven.”
What are the signs of Laylatul Qadr?
There are several signs of Laylatul Qadr:
1. It is a pleasant and calm night (neither hot nor cold):
عن بن عباس، قال رسول الله:” ليلةُ القدْرِ ليلةٌ سمِحَةٌ، طَلِقَةٌ، لا حارَّةٌ ولا بارِدَةٌ، تُصبِحُ الشمسُ صبيحتَها ضَعيفةً حمْراءَ”
Ibn Abbas reported that the messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:” Laylatul Qadr is a soft and gentle night, it is not very hot nor very cold, it is a cool night. When the sun rises that day it doesn’t have rays, it has a reddish weak ray, it is almost rayless.
2. The moon is like a piece of a plate.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، – رضى الله عنه – قَالَ تَذَاكَرْنَا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ “ أَيُّكُمْ يَذْكُرُ حِينَ طَلَعَ الْقَمَرُ وَهُوَ مِثْلُ شِقِّ جَفْنَةٍ ”
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported:
We were talking about Laylatul Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and he said: He who amongst you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and it was like a piece of plate (at the fag end of the month in a state of waning).
3. The sun rises early in the morning without rays
قَالَ أُبَىٌّ وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ إِنَّهَا لَفِي رَمَضَانَ – يَحْلِفُ مَا يَسْتَثْنِي – وَوَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَعْلَمُ أَىُّ لَيْلَةٍ هِيَ . هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَنَا بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِقِيَامِهَا هِيَ لَيْلَةُ صَبِيحَةِ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَأَمَارَتُهَا أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فِي صَبِيحَةِ يَوْمِهَا بَيْضَاءَ لاَ شُعَاعَ لَهَا .
Ubayy said: By Allah I there is no god but He, that (Lailat-ul-Qadr) is in Ramadhan (He swore without reservation: ) By Allah, I know the night; it is the night on which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to pray. It is that which precedes the morning of twenty-seventy and its indication is that the sun rises bright on that day without rays.
The conclusion
Imam Al-Nawawi concluded his discussion on Laylatul-Qadr by saying: “It was named Laylatul-Qadr, meaning: the night of judgment and discernment (in the affairs of men). This meaning is what is true and popular.
Remember, it’s vital that the true believer makes the most of blessings on this notable night. Consequently, he should limit any other engagements in trivial acts and instead pray and reap rewards.
We thank Allah (SWT) for the beauty of this Holy night whilst praying that He accepts our good deeds on this world and hereafter.
Brothers and sisters, remember, on this auspicious night it is important that we make the most of the blessings whilst we can. Refrain from any other activities of daily life such as watching TV and indulging in trivial worldly acts. The believer should take the most benefit from it, should pray as much as possible, should give as much as he can, and reap a multitude of rewards for the hereafter life (Aakhirah).
On this beautiful night of Laylatul Qadr, we thank Allah (SWT) for bestowing upon us the privilege of this Holy night and we pray that the Lord accepts all of our good deeds and acts, accepts all our prayers and duaa for gaining happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. So the believer should try to do his best in duaa and supplications, especially in the third part of it. Maybe this is the final opportunity for him to change his fate. Dear reader, become a Muslim now and make a turning point in your life! It’s very easy; take your shahadah with our team now!
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