Seeking Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree)
Seeking Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree)
- It is the greatest night of the year like the Day of `Arafah is the greatest day of the year.
- It is a night about which Allah 
reveled a full Surah, Suratul-Qadr [97:1-5] and the 3rd to the 6th verses of Surat ad-Dukhan [44:3-6]
- It is the night when the Qur’an was revealed.
- It is the night when the Message (the Final and seal of all messages) sent to Mohammad, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, started
- It is the night when the light, that would illuminate mankind to the end of life, started
- It is the night when every matter of ordainment is decreed Allah says in what can be translated as :
“Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Decree (Lailatul-Qadr). And
what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a
thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (ie. Jibreel [Gabriel]) by
Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees, Peace! until the appearance of dawn.” [97:1-5]
and in Surat ad-Dukhan :
“We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed Night. Verily, We are ever warning (mankind
of Our Torment). Therein (that Night) is decreed every matter of ordainment. Amran (i.e. a
command or this Qur’aan or His Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever
sending (the Messenger). (As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is the All-Hearer, the All-
Knower. [44:3-6]
A person who misses Laylatul-Qadr is really a deprived person!
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said ” The blessed
month has come to you. Allah has made fasting during it obligatory upon you. During it the
gates to Paradise are opened and the gates of Hellfire are locked, and the devils are
chained. There is a night [during this month] which is better than a thousand months.
Whoever is deprived of its good is really deprived [of something great]. [Ahmad, an-Nisa'i
and al-Bayhaqi]
One who misses this blessed night then he has missed much good for no one misses it
except one from whom it is withheld. Therefore it is recommended that the Muslim who is
eager to be obedient to Allaah should stand in Prayer during this night out of Eemaan and
hoping for the great reward, since if he does this, Allaah will forgive his previous sins (1).
What happens to the person who witnesses Laylatul-Qadr? and what
should one do?
Abu Hurairah Radhiya Allahu `anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah , salla Allahu alaihi
wa sallam, said : “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Eemaan (faith and
sincerity) and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven”. [Bukhari]
It is recommended to supplicate a lot during this night, it is reported from our mother
‘Aishah radhiya Allahu `anha, that she said: “O Messenger of Allah ! What if I knew which
night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?” He said.- “Say.- (Allahumma innaka
‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee.)
“O Allaah You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.”. [at-
Tirmithi and Ibn Majah with a Sahih Isnad]
When is Laylatul-Qadr ?
It is preferred to seek this night during the last ten odd nights of Ramadan, as the Prophet
salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam,, strove his best in seeking it during that time. We have already
mentioned that the Prophet would stay up during the last ten nights, would wake his wives,
and then would remain apart from them to worship.
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet,salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said, “Look for the Night
of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan ,’ on the night when nine or seven or five nights
remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan (i.e. 21, 23, 25, respectively).” [Bukhari]
`Aishah radhiya Allahu `anha said: “Allah ’s Messenger used to practice I`itikaf in the last ten
nights and say: ‘Seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the (odd nights) of the last ten of Ramadan.”
[Bukhari and Muslim]
However if the servant is too weak or unable, then he should at least not let the last seven
pass him by, due to what is reported from Ibn ‘Umar, who said: Allah ’s Messenger said:
“Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to
make him miss the final seven.’ [Bukhari and Muslim]
This explains his saying: “I see that your dreams are in agreement (that it is in the last
seven) so he who wishes to seek it out then let him seek it in the last seven.’ [Bukhari and
Muslim]
It is known from the Sunnah, that knowledge of the exact night upon which Lailatul-Qadr
falls was taken up because the people argued, ‘Ubaadah ibn as- Saamit, radiyalloahu ‘anhu,
said: The Prophet came out intending to tell us about Lailatul-Qadr, however two men were
arguing and he said: “I come out to inform you about Lailatul-Qadr but so and so, and, so
and so were arguing, so it was raised up, and perhaps that is better for you, so seek it on the
(twenty) ninth and the (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth.’[Bukhari]
Some of the ahadeeth indicate that Lailatul-Qadr is in the last ten nights, while others
indicate that it is in the odd nights of the last ten, so the first are general and the second
more particular, and the particular has to be given priority over the general. Other
ahadeeth state that it is in the last seven – and these are restricted by mention of one who is
too weak or unable. So there is no confusion, all the ahadeeth agree and are not
contradictory.
In conclusion: The Muslim should seek out Lailatui-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten:
the night of the twenty-first, the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the
twenty-ninth. If he is too weak or unable to seek it out in all the odd nights, then let him
seek it out in the odd nights of the of seven: the night of the twenty-fifth, the twentyseventh
and the twenty-ninth And Allah knows best. (1)
What are the signs of laylatul-Qadr?
Allaah’s Messenger , salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, described the morning after Lailatul-
Qadr, so that the Muslim may know which day it is. From Ubayy, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, who
said: that he, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said: “On the morning following Lailatui-Qadr
the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up.”[Muslim, Abu
Dawud, Tirmithi and Ibn Majah]
Abu Hurairah, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, said : “We were discussing Lailatul-Qadr in the
presence of Allah ’s Messenger so he said : ‘Which of you remembers [the night] when the
moon arose and was like half a plate?… [Muslim]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, radhiya Allahu ‘anhuma, said: Allaah’s Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa
sallam, said: “Lailatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its
morning being feeble and red.” [at-Tayaalisee, Ibn Khuzaimah and al-Bazzaar with a Hasan
Isnad]
We pray to Allah All Mighty Most Merciful to bless us this Ramadan by witnessing Laylatul-
Qadr.
