Laylatul Qadr And Its Importance

So valuable is this Night of Qadr that the Quran devotes a special surah to it:

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ - “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months!” [Surah -Al- Qadr:3] 

ليلة القدر is commonly translated as 'Night of Decree'.

Allah (SWT) knows everything. He informs His angels what He has decreed for the people for the upcoming year. قدر  also means nobility, honour and dignity. So it’s called (Laylatul-Qadr) because of its greatness and nobility.

It is made unknown which night of Ramadhān it is. Some said it is the twenty seventh of Ramadhān, while others had the view that it is the twenty first, twenty third, twenty fifth or twenty ninth – meaning that it is one of the odd number nights of the last ten nights of Ramadhān. `Ayshah (RA) said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Look for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights.”

It is not specified in order to help the believers spend more nights in worship and devotion, not remaining content with only one night. And also as Al-Aloosy said: “to remove us from some blame, in comparison to if we knew when the Night of Qadr was, and we become lazy”.

It is not an ordinary night like other nights, but a night in which destinies are made. It marks the revelation of a Book which changed the destiny of not only the Quraysh or Arabia, but of the entire world.

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ: The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.

ليلة القدر The Night of Decree – this is mentioned (in place of a pronoun) to show how important and majestic this Night is in the sight of Allah (SWT).

The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months: The good acts performed during this night are superior in value to the good acts of a thousand months in which the Night of Decree is not included (which is estimated around 83 years and 4 months). The average lifespan of the Muslim nation is 60 – 70 years. Allah (SWT) is offering us a lifetime full of worship's reward, per every year, within one night time.

Abū Hurayrah (RA) said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever spends Laylatu-Qadr in prayer, with faith and seeking Allah’s reward, will have whatever proceeds of his sins forgiven.”

(Al-Bukhārī and Muslim)

It is recorded that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned a man from among the children of Israel who set out for Jihād in the cause of Allah (SWT) for one thousand months. When this was mentioned to his companions they were amazed and wished that they too could do the same good deed. Therefore, Allah (SWT) revealed this Sūrah as a mercy and blessing from Him, saying that spending this night in worship is far better than worshipping Allah (SWT) for a thousand months.”

Others said that this خير (better) – refers not just to worship, but also to doing good with others. So if you have broken up with someone (i.e. a relative, a Muslim friend etc.) - then this is the best night to do the good of uniting with them and removing the hard feelings between each other.

This ayah could mean that The Night of Qadr is better than all times. An infinity context is being implied.

`Aayshah (RA) said, “I asked the Prophet; “O Messenger of Allāh! If I observed the Night of Decree what should I say?” He replied, “Say, “O Allāh! You are the Forgiving; You love to forgive, so forgive me.”

"اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني"

Five things to do on Laylatul Qadr:

1. Recite the Qur'an abundantly.

2. Strive to gain forgiveness.

3. Do much Superogatory Prayers (Nafil).

4. Increase in Dhikr (Rememberance of Allah).

5. Make much Dua'a.

May Allah (SWT) give us the blessing in witnessing and following the Night of Qadr in this year and the upcoming years, and give us love and understanding of the Qur'an, and its implementation. May Allah send peace and blessings upon His Messenger Muhammad (SAW), Ameen!