Throughout Ramadan, people are encouraged to contemplate, pray, and abstain from evil. While fasting during daytime hours is the core of Ramadan, it is also a time to enhance one’s connection with Allah (SWT) through adoring His magnificence and praying to Him. Although Ramadan as a whole is a significant period in Islam, there is one night specifically that is significant, and that night is Laylat al-Qadr.
What is Laylat al-Qadr?
On the 27th night of Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, Laylat al-Qadr, also known as ‘Shab-e-Qadr,’ the ‘Night of Fate,’ or the ‘Night of Glory,’ is honored. In Holy Quran, Allah says,
“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)
This signifies that every act of worship you perform that evening is the same as if you had performed it for a thousand months. If you make dua that night, for instance, it’s as if you’ve been praying for a thousand months!
That’s why many Muslims remain up very late during the last ten nights of Ramadan, hoping to find this night in order to get such a recompense.
For Muslims, it is the holiest evening of the year, since it commemorates the night when the Prophet Mohammed received the first verses of the Quran.
According to Anas ibn Malik, When the month of Ramadan came, the Messenger of God remarked,
“This month has arrived to you, and in it there is a night that is greater than a thousand months. Whoever is bereft of it is devoid of all righteousness, and no one is completely deprived unless they are truly destitute.”
Real worship is not only praying a few times but also enabling our prayers to influence our lives. As a result, Islam provides possibilities for powerful spiritual insights that need a separation from worldly life and its temptations. The wonderful nights of Ramadan are one of the best of these possibilities.
The Prophet Muhammad remarked,
“Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the expectation of recompense, he will be forgiven his prior sins”.
When Laylat al-Qadr happens?
Although the Quran does not mention the day of Ramadan the Night of Destiny occurred, most Muslims believe it occurred on an odd-numbered night during Ramadan’s last 10 days (21st, 23rd, 25th, or 27th). Many Sunni Muslims think it occurred on the 27th night, but most Shiites believe it occurred on the 23rd.
Many individuals try to find the night of destiny on the 27th of Ramadan just because it has happened before on the 27th. Narrations are available for it, as well as narrations for subsequent evenings. Scholars claim that this is due to knowledge; otherwise, why would you do acts of worship on any other night if you knew it was going to be on the 27th?
So, Laylat al-Qadr varies from year to year, but it is always in the last ten nights on the odd nights, to ensure that Muslims continue to strive hard for their rewards.
How Laylat al-Qadr is observed?
Laylat al-Qadr requires a lot of introspection and devotion. During this night, Allah (SWT) is said to see and answer your prayers when you perform good actions and beg for mercy.
Ramadan causes us to contemplate, and the significance of this night is amplified. The ideal method to appreciate what Allah (SWT) does is to spend your entire day reciting the Holy Quran.
On the Night of Decree, you should also be tempted to recite the Holy Quran. Simply repeating its principles takes on a whole new significance when you grasp the meaning. The blessings of 1,000 months might be yours if you gain better awareness.
Importance of Laylat al-Qadr:
This is one of the auspicious nights of Ramadan, and its significance may be gauged by the fact that Allah devotes a whole Surah to it, Surah Al Qadr, in the Holy Quran. The importance of Laylat al-Qadr can be noticed from a hadith narrated by Abu Huraira. According to him, the Messenger of Allah said,
“Whoever offers prayers on the night of Qadr out of strong faith and expecting for a recompense from Allah, then all his prior sins would be forgiven,” – Bukhari Sahi
When Hazrat Ayesh asked the Prophet (PBUH) “O Messenger of Allah if it is Laylat al-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.”)
Shab e Qadr, also known as Laylat al-Qadr, is an important night for Muslims since it is this night when Allah revealed the Holy Quran from heaven. As stated in the verses of the Quran, Allah states in verse 1 of Surah Qadar,
“Indeed, we sent the Quran down in the Night of Decree.”
Worship during the fortunate night of strength, also known as Shab e Qadr, is extremely valuable because Allah states in Surah Al-Qadar, verse 3:
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”
Importance of the third Ashra:
The nights of the last Ashra of Ramadan are the most important of these prospects.
Hazrat Ayesha said,
“When the final ten nights began, Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) remained awake at night (for devotion and worship), wakened his family, and readied himself to observe salah (with more strength).”
It’s no surprise that i’tikaf (masjid isolation) is likewise advised throughout Ramadan. I’tikaf was practiced by the Prophet Muhammad throughout the full 3rd Ashra of Ramadan.
Conclusion
The Night of Power, also known as Shab e Qadr (Laylat al-Qadr), occurs on odd evenings throughout the last Ashra of Ramadan, although it is most commonly associated with the 27th night of Ramadan. Muslims believe that Allah’s blessings and compassion are abundant on this night, and sins are forgiven, thus they usually conduct extra nawafils, recite the Holy Quran, and make dua for others throughout the night.
