“We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibraeel) by Allah’s permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn!”
(Qur’an – Chapter 97)
Laylatul Qadr is known as the Night of Power.
The best night not only of Ramadan but of the whole year. It was in this night that the Qur’an was revealed. Muslims believe that the revelation of the Quran occurred in two phases, with the first phase being the revelation in its entirety on Laylat al-Qadr to Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) in the lowest heaven and then the subsequent verse-by-verse revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) over a period of 23 years.
As stated in the Qur’an, this night is better than a thousand months – or 83 years – an entire lifetime. So an act of worship in this night receives the same reward as though that act had been done every night for a thousand months. It is also stated that the Angels descend on this night to greet and pray for the believers who are busy in worship.
In the ahadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he is reported to have said concerning the Night of Power:
“Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a night which is better than a thousand Months. Whosoever is deprived of it is deprived of all good; and none is deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person”.
(Ibn Majah)
“Whosoever stands up (in prayer) at the Night of Power out of faith and hopeful of reward, all his past sins will be forgiven.”
(Targhib)
Better than a thousand months
A thousand months is equivalent to 83 years and 4 months. Fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer. The man or woman, who prays for the whole night during this Night will deserve blessings and reward for the period as if he or she had been praying for an entire lifetime. Since the Night of Power is in fact better than one thousand months no one can actually measure the extent of its blessings.
The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote their time to fasting, praying, reciting the Quran, remembering God and giving charity. However, because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims put more effort into the last ten days of Ramadan since the Laylat al-Qadr could be any one of the odd-numbered nights in these last ten (the first, third, fifth, seventh or ninth).
Which Night is it?
Although there are different reports in different traditions regarding the exact night, it is unanimously understood that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten nights of Ramadan and more probably in one of the last ten odd nights i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th 27th or 29th night.
The popular opinion is in favour of the 27th Night of Ramadan. The traditions indicate that it is to be sought in one of the last ten nights and preferably in the last three odd nights. It was therefore the practice of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and his companions to make I’tikaaf in the Mosque for the duration of the last 10 nights, worshipping Allah (swt) abundantly.
Aisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reported that the Apostle of Allah said:
“Search for the Blessed Night in the odd (nights) from the last ten (nights) of Ramadhaan”
(Bukhari).
Aisha (ra) also narrates: “I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me if I were to find a Night of Power, what should I recite therein?”
The holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) advised her to recite:
“Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee”
O Allah! You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me. (Bukhari).
Special attention should therefore be given to the excessive recitation of this dua on the blessed night. Furthermore one may engage in lengthy rakaats of Tahajjud salaat, Tilaawat of the Qur’an, Dua, Zikr, etc.
It is a night that we CANNOT miss out on so here is how we can maximise this blessed night:
1. Recite the Qur’an abundantly
Laylatul Qadr is the night the Qur’an was revealed so we should spend much of the night reciting it.
2. Pray for forgiveness
One should strive and do their utmost to gain the mercy of Allah especially in the odd numbered nights of the last ten days. If one leaves Ramadan without gaining the mercy of Allah then surely they are the most unfortunate ones and are the biggest losers in this world and the next.
3. Perform many Voluntary Prayers (Nafil)
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadaan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.” – Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887.
In this most blessed month of Ramadhan all good deeds are multiplied by 70 or more. Every Nafil one prays one will gain the reward of a Fard (obligatory) Salaah and every Fard Salah is the reward of 70 Fard salaah. Subhan’Allah, what other time of the year is this possible? NONE! So let us make the best of these precious seconds and pray as many Nawafil prayers as is possible!
4. Increase in Dhikr (Rememberance of Allah)
We should glorify Allah night and day, especially in the last odd nights.
5. Make much dua
We should be very busy in Dua as much as we can especially in the last 10 odd numbered days and nights.
May Allah enable us all to make the most of these last few blessed days of Ramadan!
