Indeed, We revealed [the Qur’an] during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn. (Surah 97:1-5)
Laylatul Qadr, often translated as the Night of Power, or Night of Decree, or Night of Glory falls in one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.
This is the night in which Allah began the revelation of the Quran.
Worship done in this single night is equivalent to 84 years—basically, a lifetime—of worship outside this night.
It has the potential, when approached with sincerity, to gain a person grand forgiveness and mercy from Allah.
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ
سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ
This sūrah speaks about the promised great night which the whole universe marks with joy and prayer. It is the night of perfect communion between this world and the Supreme society. That night marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’ān to Muĥammad (peace be upon him), an event unparalleled in the history of mankind for its splendour and the significance it has for the life of mankind as a whole. Its greatness is far beyond human perception. There is also the light of the angels and the Spirit moving between the earth and the Supreme society. In addition, there is also the light of dawn which the sūrah represents as perfectly harmonious with the light of the Qur’ān and the angels as well as with their spirit of peace.
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ
فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ
أَمْراً مِنْ عِنْدِنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ
رَحْمَةً مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
The same night is mentioned in Sūrah 44, Smoke: “From on high We bestowed it [i.e. the Qur’ān] on a blessed night, for We would warn [mankind]; on a night when every precept was made plain as a commandment from Us. We have ever sent forth messengers as a blessing from your Lord. It is He alone who hears all and knows all.” (44: 3-6)
شَهۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِىۡٓ اُنۡزِلَ فِيۡهِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡهُدٰى وَالۡفُرۡقَانِۚ فَمَنۡ شَهِدَ مِنۡكُمُ الشَّهۡرَ فَلۡيَـصُمۡهُ ؕ وَمَنۡ کَانَ مَرِيۡضًا اَوۡ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنۡ اَيَّامٍ اُخَرَؕ يُرِيۡدُ اللّٰهُ بِکُمُ الۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيۡدُ بِکُمُ الۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُکۡمِلُوا الۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُکَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰٮكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡكُرُوۡنَ
It is clearly established that it is a night during the month of Ramađān, as stated in Sūrah 2, The Cow: “It was in the month of Ramađān that the Qur’ān was revealed: a guidance for mankind and a self-evident proof of that guidance and a standard to distinguish right from wrong.” (2: 185)
This means that the Night of Power marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’ān to the Prophet and his mission of delivering it to mankind. A number of aĥādīth specifying this night have come down to us: some stress that it is on 27 Ramađān, others on 21; a few others say it is one of the last ten days and still some others do not go beyond saying that it is in Ramađān. Its name, Layalt al-Qadr, or the Night of Power, may be taken to mean deliberate planning, management and organization, or it may mean value, position and rank. It is indeed the greatest and most significant event the universe has ever witnessed. It is the event which explains most clearly how human life benefits by God’s planning, management and organization.
There is no reason to attach any value to the legends circulated concerning this night. It is great because Allah chose it for the revelation of the Qur’ān, so that its light may spread throughout the universe, and divine peace may spread in human life and conscience. That night is great because of -
what the Qur’ān includes: an ideology, a basis for values and standards and a comprehensive code of moral and social behaviour, all of which promote peace within the human soul and in the world at large.
the descent of the angels, and Gabriel in particular, by their Lord’s leave, carrying the Qur’ān. They fill all the space between heaven and earth in such a splendid, universal celebration, vividly portrayed in this sūrah. When we look today in retrospect, after the lapse of numerous generations, at that glorious and happy night, imagine the fascinating celebration the world then witnessed, and ponder over the essence of revelation and its far-reaching effects on human life and values, we appreciate how great this event was.
Humanity, out of ignorance and to its misfortune, may overlook the value and importance of the Night of Power. When humanity does so ignore it, -
It loses the happiest and most beautiful sign of grace which Allah (swt) bestowed on it.
It also suffers the loss of the real happiness and peace gifted to it by Islam, namely, the peace of conscience, family and society.
What it has otherwise gained of material civilization is inadequate compensation for its loss. Humanity is miserable in spite of higher production levels and better means of existence.
The splendid light which once illuminated its soul has been put out;
the happiness which carried it high up to the Supreme society has been destroyed;
the peace which overflowed in people’s hearts and minds has disappeared.
Nothing can compensate for the happiness of the human soul, the heavenly light and elevation to the loftiest ranks.
We, the believers in Islam, are commanded not to forget or neglect this event. The Prophet has taught us an easy and enjoyable way to commemorate it, so that our souls may always be in close communion with it and with the universal event which it witnessed. He has urged us to spend this night of each year in devotion.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ يَقُمْ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ".
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 35; Book 2, Hadith 28; Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 35
It was also narrated from 'Aishah that she said: "O Messenger of Allah, what do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?" He said: "Say: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).'" Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ كَهْمَسِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ وَافَقْتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَدْعُو قَالَ " تَقُولِينَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي " .
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 3850; Book 34, Hadith 24; Vol. 5, Book 34, Hadith 3850
Islam is not mere formalities. Hence, the Prophet specifies that the consecration of that night must be motivated by faith and devotion. This would make its consecration by any individual an indication of his or her full awareness of the far-reaching effects of what took place on that night. The Islamic method of education and character building links worship with faith and establishes truth in our hearts and consciences. By this method, worship is considered a means for maintaining full awareness of this truth, its clarification and firm establishment in our minds, hearts and souls. This method has been proved to be the best for the revival of this truth so that it has an unfailing influence on people’s behaviour. The theoretical understanding of this truth cannot, on its own and without worship, establish it or give it the necessary impetus for its operation in the life of the individual or society. This link between the anniversary of the Night of Power and its consecration in faith and devotion is a part of the successful and straightforward method of Islam.
The exact date of this night is not known. The Prophet Muhammad (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told us in narrations to seek Laylatul Qadr out in one of the last ten nights in Ramadan, specifically odd nights. This means the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th nights of Ramadan all have a high potential of being Laylatul Qadr. There is a beauty in the date not being known, because it gives the opportunity to a person to engage in extra worship throughout the last days of Ramadan in hopes of catching the right date. If one specific night was known, humans would naturally put forth their entire effort on that one night, and likely slack off on the other nights.
The worship done in this night takes on many forms. Extra prayers, recitation of the Quran, heartfelt supplications, and glorifying Allah all have their due place. In particular, the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) advised Muslims to recite a supplication that translates to, “Oh Allah, truly you are The Pardoner, you love to pardon, so pardon me.” A beautiful aspect about this supplication: Muslims are asking Allah to do something He already loves and wants to do, forgive!
Just as a child who sees something scary, and then runs to his mother out of fear of that thing, we should in the same way run to Allah away from punishment. Just as the mother is there for her child with open arms, Allah too is there to receive us with a renewed faith and focus on Him.
To all the Muslims finishing up this blessed month of Ramadan, may Allah (swt) give you the strength to go out on a high note with true faith and sincerity. May this month be a means for you to spiritually cleanse yourself and come out fresh. May Allah (swt) make it easy for you to continue the good habits you developed in this month for the rest of the year and for the rest of your lives! Ameen!
Source: Quran, Sunnah, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, In the shade of the Qur'an, An Explanation of the Last Tenth of the Noble Qur'an [Also with Critical Matters in the Life of a Muslim] Paperback – 2007; www.tafseer.info