What is Laylatul Qadr – The Night of Power?

Laylatul Qadr photo of space with man standing.

The Night of Power, Decree and Determination

Laylatul Qadr is one of the odd-numbered nights in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan and is translated as the ‘The Night of Power’ and ‘The Night of Decree’ in the English language. Laylatul Qadr is mentioned in a Surah of the Holy Quran named after itself – Al-Qadr ; Determination – and is one of the most sought out nights for worship in the Holy month of Ramadan.

Holy Quran; Surah: 97; Verses 1-5:

1. We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the night of Power:

2. And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?

3. The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months.

4. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission on every errand:

5. Peace!… This until the rise of Morn!

Laylatul Qadr and Revelation of the Quran

God Almighty (Allah as named in Arabic) caused the Quran to descend from the Protected Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuth) to the lowest heaven. In this revelation, the entire Quran was sent down in totality to a station in the lowest heaven referred to as Bayt al-Izzah (The House of Honor or Power). The blessed night on which this descent took place is Laylatul-Qadr. Thereafter, from the lowest heaven, sections of the Quran were then taken down by angel archangel Gabriel (Jibril) to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). This revelation of the Quran continued over the twenty-three years of Muhammad’s (ﷺ) prophethood and is recorded in it’s original form in Arabic, available today in hundreds of translations in hundreds of languages.

Laylatul Qadr in the Hadith

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad ﷺ spoke about Laylatul Qadr, in the following words as reported by Bukhari:

I asked Abu Said Al-Khudri, “Did you hear Allah’s Apostle talking about the night of qadr?” He replied in the affirmative and said, “Once we were in Itikaf with Allah’s Apostle in the middle ten days of (Ramadan) and we came out of it in the morning of the twentieth, and Allah’s Apostle delivered a sermon on the 20th (of Ramadan) and said, ‘I was informed (of the date) of the night of qadr (in my dream) but had forgotten it. So, look for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. I saw myself prostrating in mud and water on that night (as a sign of the night of qadr). So, whoever had been in Itikaf with Allah’s Apostle should return for it.’ The people returned to the mosque (for Itikaf). There was no trace of clouds in the sky. But all of a sudden a cloud came and it rained. Then the prayer was established (they stood for the prayer) and Allah’s Apostle prostrated in mud and water and I saw mud over the forehead and the nose of the Prophet. Narrated by: Abu Salama bin Abdur Rahman; Sahih Bukhari; Chapter No: 33; Hadith no: 252.

Laylatul Qadr is one of the odd-numbered nights in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. The exact date of this night is unknown since Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) indicated that it falls within the last ten days of Ramadan. The date was indeed revealed to him (in a dream), however due to the quarreling of two people Rasool Allah (Muhammad ﷺ) forgot it:

The Prophet came out to inform us about the night of qadr but two Muslims were quarreling with each other. So, the Prophet said, “I came out to inform you about the night of qadr but such-and-such persons were quarreling, so the news about it had been taken away; yet that might be for your own good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramadan). Narrated by Ubada bin As-Samit; Sahih Bukhari; Chapter No: 32; Hadith no: 240.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) informed us about forgiveness during this night through establishing worship and standing in prayer:

Allah’s Apostle 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.” Narrated by Abu Huraira; Sahih Bukhari; Chapter No: 2; Hadith no: 35

The Prophet said, “Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the night of qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” Narrated by Abu Huraira; Sahih Bukhari; Chapter No: 32; Hadith no: 231

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Institute Al Islam helps you come closer to Islam as a religion. We aim to incorporate Islam as provided by the Quranic Law and Sahih Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah’s Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him). Institute Al Islam went online on the 5th of November 1998 with a view to establish a very professional Islamic Forum to provide quality Islamic propagation through the Internet.

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