What happens on the night of Laylatul Qadr?

Laylatul Qadr also known as the Night of Decree or Night of Power is one of the most important nights for Muslims.

Laylatul Qadr meaning

It occurs on one of the last ten days of Ramadan, on Laylatul Qadr the holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him).

One reason why this night is of great importance to Muslims across the world is that on that specific day, Allah grants us his mercy and forgiveness.

Allah says in the Holy Quran, “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months,” (Qur’an, 97:3).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever prays on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven,” (Hadith, Bukhari, and Muslim).

Also, Allah says in the Holy Quran:

“We have indeed revealed this 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 by Allah’s permission, on every errand. “Peace!…This until the rise of Morn!” [Surah Al-Qadr]

Signs of Laylatul Qadr:

What happens on the night of Laylatul Qadr? Well, here are the signs of Laylatul Qadr:

1-     When the sun rises in the morning it will have no rays.

From Ubayy, (RA), who said that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “On the morning following Laylatul-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]

 

2-     It will be a calm and pleasant night:

Ibn ‘Abbaas (RA), said that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Lailatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its morning being feeble and red.” [ Ibn Khuzaimah and al-Bazzaar with a Hasan Isnad]

 

3-     The taste of the seawater will be sweet:

One Sahaabi, Ab’da bin Abi Lubaaba says: “On the evening of the 27th, I tasted the water of the sea and it was sweet.”Ayub bin Khalid said: ‘I once had to bathe myself with seawater, and on tasting it, found, it sweet. This was on the 23rd night.”

 

4-     Rain might fall during the night or during the day that night.

5-     The sky will be clear or slightly foggy.

6-     The sky is lighted with no reflection and rays.

What time does laylatul Qadr start and end?

laylatul Qadr starts from the maghrib and ends as soon as the Fajr starts.

It was narrated by Abu Salama (r.a):” Once I went to Abu Said al-Kudri and asked him,” Won’t you come with us to the date-palm trees to have a talk? “So Abu Said replied, “Once Allah’s Apostle (peace and blessing be upon him) performed Iktikaaf on the first 10 days of the month of Ramadhan and we did the same with him. Gabriel came to him and said, “The night you are looking for is ahead of you.” So the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) performed the Iktikaaf in the middle (second) 10 days of the month of Ramadhan and we too performed I’tikaf with him. Gabriel came to him and said, “The night which you are looking for is ahead of you.”

Aisha narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.”

Abu Saeed al Khudri reported that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: ‘And he who desires to observe i’tikaf along with me should spend the night at his place of i’tikaf. And I saw this night (Lailat-ul-Qadr) but I forgot it (the exact night) ; so seek it; In the last ten nights on odd numbers. ‘

 

Supplication during the night of decree:

On the night of decree, one should spend his time praying Qiyaam, Asking Allah for forgiveness, reciting Quran sending Salawat (blessings upon the Prophet), and wishing for everything he wants.

Laylatul Qadr dua:

When Lady Aisha (may Allah be well pleased with her) asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) “O Messenger of Allah if it is Laylatul Qadr, then what should I supplicate with?” he replied with the famous dua: “Allahumma, innaka Afuwwun Karimun, tuḥibbu al-afwa fa‘afu anna” – “O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning and Generous; You love to pardon, so pardon us.”

 

laylatul Qadr prayer:

The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Whosoever stands up for prayer during Laylatul Qadr, believing in and expecting his reward from Allah Almighty, his past sins will be forgiven.” [ Agreed upon.]

So, make sure to pray Qiyaam.

Also, Aisha reported that she said to the Prophet: “O Prophet of Allah! If I am blessed to witness Laylatul Qadr, what should be my prayer?” The Prophet replied: “Say: ‘Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’,”

 

meaning: O Allah Almighty! You are Oft-Forgiving and You love Forgiveness. Please forgive me. [ Source: Tirmidhi.]

Which day is Laylatul Qadr night?

What day is the Night of Decree? No one knows when the exact date of Laylatul Qadr, what we know about it is that it occurs on an odd night in the last ten days of Ramadan.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Seek it in the last ten days, on the odd nights,” (Hadith, Bukhari, and Muslim).

What happens on the Night of the Decree?

1-     On the night of power Allah forgives all our sins and mistakes:

Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim reported that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Whoever establishes Salah on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

2-     It was the night on which the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)

Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Verily, we have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree).” [Surat Al Qadr: 1].

3-     On this Day a person’s Qadr is recorded:

Allah said in the Holy Quran: “Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.” [Surat Ad-Dukhan: 4].

4-     It is a blessed night:

Allah described the night of power in the Holy Quran:

 “We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed night in the month of Ramadan. Verily, we are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship].” [Surat Ad-Dukhan: 3].

What are the rewards of Laylat al-Qadr?

On the night of power, the reward for any good deed we do is increased, so, one should spend the night doing all kinds of worshiping Allah. Pray, recite Quran, read supplications and Dua, ask Allah for forgiveness, and wish for anything you want.  

Allah said in the Holy Quran:

“We have indeed revealed this 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 by Allah’s permission, on every errand. “Peace!…This until the rise of Morn!” – Surah Al-Qadr

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