Laylatul Qadr: The Night of Power
As we are about to enter the last Ashura of Ramadan, let's do our best to gain as many rewards as we can. In the last ten days of Ramadan, we look forward to Laylatul Qadr, a significant night dedicated to prayer and worship, the night when sins are forgiven and Allah ( swt) blesses us with His mercy and Barkah.
What is Laylatul Qadr?
Laylatul Qadr is often referred to as, The Night of Power, due to its spiritual merits and blessings for those engaged in charity, worship and prayer. It marks the sacred occasion when the initial verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the Angel Jibril.
The Qur’an describes this night as 'better than a thousand months' (Al-Qadr 97:3).
When is Laylatul Qadr?
Many believe it falls on the 27th night of Ramadan, but the blessed night can fall on any one of the last ten nights of Ramadan.
This year (2024) 27th Ramadan, is expected to fall on the evening of April 5th. Since there is debate about which day it falls on, we should commit to performing extra acts of worship on all ten nights. By doing so, we will not only gain rewards, but we’ll not risk missing the holiest night of the year.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Look for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.”
(Bukhari)
What are the signs of Laylatul Qadr?
Contrary to popular belief, there are no specific signs for this night. However, some people have experienced the following on this night.
- Some claim the angels descend on this night, so we may feel tranquility in our hearts and peace of mind
- The night is neither very hot nor very cold but a temperate one
What are the rewards of Laylatul Qadr?
- Abu Hurayrah relates that The Prophet (saw) said: 'Whoever spends the night of Laylatul Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.' (Sunan an-Nasa’i)
- Any action done on this night such as reciting the Qur’an and remembering Allah is more worthy of reward than doing the same actions for a thousand months.
What should I do on Laylatul Qadr?
There are many ways to gain rewards on this blessed night:
1. Remain in I'tikaf: If possible, remain in I’tikaf, this is the best way of not missing this night
2. Perform Ibadah: Concentrate on prayer and worship. The best du’a for Laylatul Qadr is:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni
(O Allah, You are most forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me)
3. Give Charity: The reward for any righteous act performed during this night is equivalent to performing the same act for over 83 years!
On Laylatul Qadr, it's highly rewarding to give Sadaqah to those who need our help. Remember, offering Zakat or Sadaqah during Ramadan is multiplied by 70 times.
Take advantage of Muslim Hand's automated tool, The Best Ten Nights, to schedule your donations evenly across the last ten nights of Ramadan so you don't miss giving charity on Laylatul Qadr, Inshallah.
4. Treat Others with Respect and Dignity: Follow the actions of our Prophet ( peace be Upon Him) and show empathy, humility, and compassion towards everyone, no matter one's social status, religion or race. Continue being a better version of yourself every Ramadan. Read, our Blog, Six Islamic Quotes About Kindness.
5. Eat Lightly: The more you eat, the harder it will be for you to stay up and pray.
SubhanAllah! There are immense rewards in these blessed 10 nights. Allah (swt) has hidden knowledge of the exact night out of mercy. This enables us to increase our worship throughout the ten days, by praying, making dhikr and du’a, and in turn having our sins forgiven and gaining as many rewards as possible, Insh'Allah.
For those of you who have yet to pay your Zakat, please take advantage of our Zakat Calculator.
If you have any questions, please call us at +1 289 722 7272, or visit the Muslim Hands office in Mississauga.
Our staff members will be happy to answer any queries.
May Allah (swt) accept our prayers and bless us all.
