The Night of Power: laylatul Qadr

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

The Night of Power or Laylat al-Qadr is an extremely important night for Muslims. This is a night of unique honor, dignity and glory, so much so that it is better than a thousand months. It is the most blessed night of the year. Laylat al-Qadr is the night that the first verse of Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad.In Surah Al-Baqarah verses no.185 Allah says:
2:185. “Ramadan is the (month) in which it was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you, who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.”

Muslims believe that the month of Ramadan is the holiest month of the year, the month when worshipers are closest to their Creator, and the Night of Power (Laylat Al-Qadr) is the holiest night of Ramadan as well as of the year.
 In Lailat-ul-Qad’r or the Night of decree, the decisions are conveyed for the year to the concerned angels about the life and death, continuance and soon occurring in the lives of people. The Prophet (SAW) said; “Explore the (occurrence of) night of decree in the odd nights of the last Ashra (1/3rd) of Ramadan.” -- (Bukhari)
The 23 rd, 25 th, or 27 th night of Ramadan, as well as other odd nights, have been suggested as the Night of Power. This Night is better than a thousand Months. Here, a thousand must be taken in an indefinite sense; as denoting a very long period of time. This does not refer to our ideas of time, but to ‘Timeless Time.’ 
One moment of enlightenment under Allah’s light is better than thousands of months or years, and such a moment converts the night of darkness into a period of spiritual glory. The night that a massage descends from Allah is indeed a blessed night like a day of rain for a parched land.
When the Night of spiritual darkness is dissipated by the glory of Allah, a wonderful peace and a sense of Security arise in the soul. And this lasts on until this life closes, and the glorious day of the new world dawns, when everything will be on a different plane, and the chequered night and days of this world will be even less than a dream.

The exact date of Laylat al-Qadr is unknown (the Night of Power), but it is known to have occurred in one of the last ten nights of Ramadan;. The Almighty made the Prophet forget the exact date of the night of decree, he told. “The identification of the night of decree has been withdrawn and it is perhaps better for you.” -- (Bukhari)
The popular belief is that the night falls on 27th of Ramadan but in the books of Hadith, there are different versions favouring different nights.

“Narrated Abu Saeed Khudri that the Prophet (Pbuh) said; I was shown the night of decree but later I forgot it. (I only remember that) on the morning after the night. I prostrated on water and mud. Now that I have forgotten, you should seek it among the odd nights of the last 1/3rd of Ramadan.

The narrator further says that (the Prophet meant that) it rained on the night of Qad’r (that year). As the roof of the Mosque was made of date-branches, the water seeped through (resulting in mud on the floor). My eyes observed that there was mark of mud and water on the forehead of the Prophet (SAW) on the morning following the 21st night.” -- (Bukhari)

Most of the time in Shab-e-Qad’r should preferably be devoted to reciting and trying to understand the meaning of the Qur’an as the glory of the Night is associated with the revelation of Qur’an. Qur’an is Afzal-uz-Zikr (The best of remembrance).

Muslims are encouraged to seek this night and spend it diligently in devotion including performing voluntary salah (ritual Prayer), reciting Qur’an, and supplicating. The Prophet Muhammad said, “He who spends the night in prayers on the Night of Power as a sign of his devotion and seeking rewards from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven.”  --  (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Allah has also described about laylatul Qadr (in Ramadan) in many places in the Qur’an, so let us now take a look at what He has in store for the believers.
Laylatul Qadr (in Ramadan)—from the view of The Al-Qur’an:
In Surah Ad- Dukhan verses no. 2- 5 Allah relates:

44.2. “By the Book that makes things clear;- 
44.3. We sent it down during a Blessed Night: for We (ever) wish to warn (against Evil). 
44.4. In the (Night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom, 
44.5.    By command, from Our Presence. For We (ever) send (revelations), 
In Surah Al- Qadr verses no. 1- 5 Allah mentions:
97.1. We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: 
97.2. And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? 
97.3. The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. 
97.4. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah.s permission, on every errand:
97.5. Peace!...This until the rise of morn!”

It is said that when one seeks the Laylat al-Qadr, his/her sins will be erased, and it will be as if he/she has just been reborn. Many hadiths also affirm the great value of praying during Laylat al-Qadr. So let us now take a look at what Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said for the believers.

Some  Hadith about Shab-e-Qad’r:

1. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “He who spends the night in prayers on the Night of Power as a sign of his devotion and seeking rewards from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven.”-- (Al-Bukhari)

2. It is reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever stays up (in prayer and remembrance of Allah) on the Night of Qadr, fully believing (in Allah’s promise of reward) and hoping to seek reward, he shall be forgiven for his past sins.”-- (Bukhari & Muslim)

3. Muslims believe that the Lord has concealed the exact date of the Night of Power so they would worship Him fervently during the whole month of Ramadan. It was reported that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “Seek it on the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.” -- (Al-Bukhari)

4.  “Reported Abdullah Bin Anees that he requested the Prophet (SAW) to inform him of that night so that he could stay inside the Mosque on that night, as he lived in the forest (and could not come on alternate nights). The Prophet told him to stay awake for the 23rd night. Later, enquiries were made of his son about his father’s routine. He confirmed that his father entered the Mosque after the As’r prayer on 22nd of Ramadan and did not come out for anything until the Faj’r Salat of the next morning. After the Faj’r he found his horse at the doorstep of the Mosque and went to his house in Jungle.”- (Abu Dawood)

5. “Reported Zir bin Hubaish that when he asked (the companion) Ubai Bin Ka’ab he replied that the night is 27th. Then he swore and did not say Insha Allah and said; indeed, it is the night of 27th. I asked him what made him so sure and Ka’ab replied; On the basis of that sign which the Prophet (SAW) had told us. The morning following the night, there are no sun-rays at sun-rise.” -- (Muslim)

6. There also are some prayers specially recommended by the Prophet (SAW) for The night. One of them is following;

“Narrated Aisha that she asked the Prophet (SAW): If I find the Night of Decree, what should pray in it? He replied, say: Allahumma innaka Tuhibbul Afwa Fa’fu A’nne; O Allah thou art Forgiving and loves the Forgiver, so forgive me.” -- ( Ahmad, Ibne Majah, Tirmidhi)

7. Narrated Abdullah ibn Unays:

I was present at the gathering of Banu Salamah, and I was the youngest of them.

They (the people) said: Who will ask the Apostle of Allah (SAW) for us about Laylat al-Qadr? That was the twenty-first of Ramadan. I went out and said the sunset prayer along with the Apostle of Allah (SAW). I then stood at the door of his house.

He passed by me and said: Come in. I entered (the house) and dinner was brought for him. I was prevented from taking food as it was scanty.

When he finished his dinner, he said to me: Give me my shoes. He then stood up and I also stood up with him. He said: Perhaps you have some business with me.

I said: Yes. Some people of Banu Salamah have sent me to you to ask you about Laylat al-Qadr. He asked: Which night: Is it tonight?

I said: Twenty-second. He said: This is the very night. He then withdrew and said: Or the following night, referring to the twenty-third night.  

-- (Abu-dawud Book-6 Hadith Number 1374)

8. Narrated Abdullah ibn Unays al-Juhani:

I said to the Apostle of Allah: I have a place in the desert where I live and in which I pray, with the praise of Allah; but give me command about a night when I come to this mosque.

He replied: Come on the twenty third night.

I (a sub-narrator, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim) said to his (Abdullah ibn Unays’s) son: How would your father act?

He replied: He used to enter the mosque when he had offered the afternoon prayer, and did not leave it for any purpose till he prayed the Morning Prayer. Then when he had prayed the Morning Prayer, he found his riding beast at the door of the mosque, mounted it and got back to his desert. -- (Abu-dawud Book-6 Hadith Number 1375)

8. Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri:

The Prophet (SAW) said: Seek it (laylat al-Qadr) in the last ten days of Ramadan. Seek it on the ninth, seventh and fifth night. I (Abu Nadrah) said: You know counting better than us, Abu Sa’id. He said: Yes. I asked: What do you mean by the ninth, seventh and fifth night? He said: When the twenty-first night passes, the night which follows it is the night; when the twenty-third night passes, the night which follows it is the seventh; when the twenty-fifth passes, the night which follows it is the fifth.

-- (Abu-dawud Book-6 Hadith Number 1378)

9. Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas’ud:

The Apostle of Allah (SAW) said to us: Seek it (laylat al-Qadr) on the seventeenth night of Ramadan, and on the twenty first night, and on the twenty-third night. He then kept silence. -- (Abu-dawud Book-6 Hadith Number 1379)

10. Narrated Abu Huraira (RA): Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, "Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven." --(Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol 1).

Traditions of the Final Prophet (SAW) mention that, in this night Allah the Al- Mighty directs His mercy towards His slaves, supplications made by His servants are granted and the Al-Mighty forgives large number of people who repent. This night is meant for developing a special connection with one’s Creator, for making contact with the Lord of the universe.

So please your Lord so that He is pleased with you, and there is surely nothing better than the pleasure of your Lord. This is amongst the many bounties that Allah the Most Glorious has blessed us with, we should grasp this opportunity and ask for guidance from the All Forgiving and All Merciful, from which we will achieve a good life in earth and more importantly a better life in the hereafter.

Moreover whole month of Ramadan is a time of renewal and reflection. As the month winds to a close, we pray that the spirit of Ramadan and the lessons learned during it, last for all of us throughout the year.

(This article have published in the ‘Editorial page’ of ‘The News Today’ on

October 20, 2006)