Laylat al-Qadr, the Arabic term means the ‘Night of Power’. As per Islamic beliefs it is of great significance as it was on this night when God first revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, through angel Jibreel. Though the exact night of the event is not known, it is believed to have happened on one of the odd-numbered nights of the final 10 nights of Ramadan in 610 CE.
Surah Laylatul Qadr is the 97th chapter or surah of the Qur’an, in which this event is described. It has 5 ayats or verses. The chapter has been named after the word Al-Qadr in the first verse which mainly emphasizes on power. The Surah 97 in the holy Quran outlines Laylat al-Qadr as the night of the abundant blessings in Ramadan on which the Qur’an was first revealed.
Dua for Laylatul Qadr night
As mentioned in the Quran, the reward of worshiping on the night of power is more than the reward of thousand months of worship or around 83 years of worshiping. The Prophet mentions that Dua or prayer is the basis of worship. Also, since the time of the Laylatul Qadr night is uncertain one should pray during the last 10 days of Ramadan generously which will multiply the blessings.
The Laylatul Qadr prayer as mentioned below is the best dua that can be recited for the last ten days of Ramadan in order to receive Allah’s mercy.
Dua: Allahumma innaka Afuwwun [Karimun ] tuhibbul afwa fafu annee
Translation: O Allah, You are merciful, You love to forgive, so forgive me
What to do on Laylatul Qadr?
Laylatul Qadr night is known by many names, such as the Night of Power, Night of Destiny, Night of Decree, etc. It is believed to be unlike any other night in the history of Islam. Praying or performing a good deed on this night brings blessings, mercy, and rewards from Allah which cannot be equated with any rewards that one gets throughout life. Some of the things that Muslims should do on Laylatul Qadr to maximize their blessings are listed below:
Perform Itikaf or Seclusion
Spending time in isolation gives one an opportunity to connect with God and review his or her actions. During the period of the last 10 days of Ramadan, when the Laylatul Qadr falls, one should isolate in the home if being in a masjid is not possible. He or she must detach from the outside world and spend time in praying, reciting the Quran, and focusing on good deeds.
Making supplications or Duas
On the holy night of Laylatul Qadr, Allah is most forgiving thus it is also recommended to make boundless supplications on this night. As per Hadith on Laylatul Qadr Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessing be upon him) told his wife Aisha to recite the dua for Laylatul Qadr with a whole heart. The dua is as follows:
“O Allah, indeed you are forgiving and merciful; you love to pardon, so pardon us.”
Read the holy Quran
The words of the holy Quran are the direct words of God to humanity so the worshippers should try to translate and understand the chapters to look for enlightenment. Doing so during the last 10 ten days of Ramadan is sure to bring peace, calm, and clarity.
Do Charity or Sadaqah
It is believed that the reward of helping those in need during the month of Ramadan is multiplied by 70 times. In order to repent for past sins and to gain the attention of Allah it is important to do good deeds and perform Sadaqah.
Unite with family
Ramadan aims to bring peace and unity so one should make sure to spend as much time as possible with the family praying, visiting the mosque, and having suhoor and iftar with them.
Prayer by standing
Standing and praying at least a part of the night doubles the guarantee for the night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated that whoever spends the night of Laylatul Qadr praying, their sins will be forgiven.
Laylatul Qadr is the night that marks the coming of the first revelation of the Quran to Earth. The blessings that one receives due to the acts of worship during this night cannot be beaten by even worshiping one’s whole life. Reading Laylatul Qadr Surah during the final nights of Ramadan is of the holiest acts in Islam. And Muslims consider it to be a good time for worship as well as repentance.
