In each of the daily prayer weoffer, we solemnly declare to Allâh, “Iyyaka na’budu” (You alone do weworship). While the intelligent and committed believer realizes thathis very lifestyle spells worship, he knows, remembering the words ofour Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam that “Du’aa’ (supplication) is worship”[Tirmidhi, Abu Dawûd] Allâh, the Most Merciful, has encouraged thebelievers to take advantage of certain times during the year to makedu’aa’. Such an occasion presents itself annually during Ramadhân —especially on the Lailatul Qadr, the Night of Power. On this night, thesingle most important event in human history unfolded as, after theGlorious Qur'ân was preserved in the Protected Tablet, Jibril descendedwith the blessed book to reveal it, upon Allâh’s command, to HisMessenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. Accentuating its significance,Allâh says "and how would you know (the value of the) Night of Qadr" [97:2]
"Allâh's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights." [Muslim]
So valuable is this Night of Qadr that the Qur'ân devotes a special Sûrah to it “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months”[97:3] This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. The mostauthentic account of the occurrence of the Night indicates that it canoccur on any one of the last ten, odd numbered nights of Ramadhân. Thefact that the exact night is unknown reflects Allâh’s will in keepingit hidden. Indeed, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam wasprevented from telling us its precise time. One day, he came out totell the companions the exact night. On the way he saw two men arguingwith each other. By the will of Allâh, he sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam forgot and subsequently remembered it. Afterwards the Prophetsallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was instructed not to divulge thisinformation. “Had I been allowed,” he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam remarked once, “I would have told you (of its exact time).”[Ahmad] The Almighty in His wisdom kept this hidden from us for manyreasons (wa Allâhu 'Alam). Perhaps He wants us to strive hard in ourworship during the last ten days of Ramadhân so that we don’t becomelazy, worshipping hard on just that one night and denying ourselves thebenefit of doing the same on the other nights. “Had people not left their salah except for that (one) night, I would have informed you (of its exact date).”[Al-Tabarani] The sincere believer who worries day and night about hissins and phases of neglect in his life patiently awaits the onset ofRamadhân. During it he hopes to be forgiven by Allâh for past sins,knowing that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam promised thatall who bear down during the last ten days shall have all their sinsforgiven. To achieve this, he remembers the Prophet’s sallallaahu'alayhi wa sallam advice in different sayings wherein he used wordslike “seek”, “pursue”, “search”, and “look hard” for Lailatul Qadr (seetomorrows Post). Moreover, Allâh and His Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhiwa sallam provided us some signs of its occurrence.
Allâh subhanahu wa ta'ala describes the night as “..peace until the rise of the morn.”[97:5]In various sayings, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam describedthe night as serene, tranquil, and peaceful. The sun at sunrise wouldappear reddish and without its normal blazing and sharp rays. Ubayyradiallaahu 'anhu said : "On the morning of the night of Qadr the sun would rise without any beams; (it is like) a wash basin until it raises."[Muslim]
Abu Hurairah radiallaahu 'anhu said :"We mentioned the night of Qadr to the Messenger of Allaah (S) and hesaid: "Which of you remembers when the moon rises and it is like half abowl." [Muslim]
Ibn Abbaas radiallaahu 'anhu said that the Messenger of Allaah (S) said : "Thenight of Qadr is a night of generosity and happiness, it is not hot andneither is it cold. The sun comes up in its morning weak, reddish." [Tabaranee, Ibn Khuzaimah and Bazzaar]
The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam added that “the angel of earth on that night of Qadr will be more numerous than all the pebbles of the earth.”
What should one do during thelast ten days in pursuit of Lailatul Qadr? The devoted servant of Allâhmakes these nights alive with prayer, reading and reflecting on Qur'ân.The long qiyaam prayer has been particularly recommended during thenights on which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in manyhadeeths, such as the following:
Abu Tharr (radhiAllâhu `anhu) relates: "Wefasted with Allâh's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam inRamadhân. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven(nights of Ramadhân) left. Then he stood with us (that night - inprayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray withus on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half ofthe night had passed. So we said, 'Allâh's Messenger! Wouldn't you praywith us the whole night?' He replied:
'Whoeverstands in prayer with the imaam until he (the imaam) concludes theprayer, it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.'…"[Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi (who authenticatedit), an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, at-Tahawi (in Sharhu Ma`an il-Athar, IbnNasr, al-Faryabi, and al-Bayhaqi. Their isnad is authentic.]
Abu Dawud mentioned: "I heardAhmad being asked, 'Do you like for a man to pray with the people or byhimself during Ramadhân?' He replied, 'Pray with the people' I alsoheard him say, 'I would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the imaamand to pray witr with him as well, for the Prophet (sallAllâhu `alayhiwa sallam) said: "When a man prays with the imaam until he concludes, it is recorded that he prayed the rest of that night." [Masaa'il]]
Abu Hurayrah (radhiAllâhu `anhu) narrated that the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Whoeverstands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr [and it is facilitated for him]out of faith and expectation (of Allâh's reward), will have all of hisprevious sins forgiven." [Al-Bukhârî and Muslim; the addition "and it is facilitated for him"is recorded by Ahmad from the report of `Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it meansthat he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during thatblessed night.
He makes du’aa’ to Allâh,penitently beseeching Him for His forgiveness. He is inspired by theProphet’s sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam words “Our Lord, most Exalted,Most high comes down to the lowest heaven during the last third of eachnight and announces (reassuringly): Whoever makes du’aa’, I shallanswer it. Whoever asks (for something halal) I shall grant it; andwhoever seeks forgiveness, I shall forgive him.” [Bukhârî] Thebeliever, conscious of Allâh and their sins, will continue to beseechAllâh, in and out of prayer, during his prostration.
`A'ishah (radhiAllâhu `anha)reported that she asked Allâh's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam, "O Messenger of Allâh! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr,what should I say during it?" And he instructed her to say:
"Allâhumma innaka `afuwwun tuh, ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee - O Allâh! You are forgiving, and youlove forgiveness. So forgive me." [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi]
Aa'isha radiallaahu 'anhu said: "When the (last) ten started, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallamwould tighten his izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order tohave more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer),and wake up his family." [Bukhaaree and Muslim] For a time, the onlyconcern will be cleansing oneself of the forgetfulness that this lifepropagates in one’s heart, the sins that accumulate, darkening theheart, making it insensitive to disobeying Allâh. He begs Allâh to keephim away from misfortunes in this world, the punishment of the grave,and the torment of Hell. He asks Allâh to make him patient andsteadfast in struggling to maintain his Islam in this world and asksHim to overlook his shortcomings, periods of laziness and neglect.Sincere devotion on that night will render the believer forgetful ofthe time, until he is surprised by the Adhan of Fajr. After Fajr, asthe sun creeps above the horizon, reddish and weak in its appearance,without any rays, the effort at night will have been worthwhile. Thebeliever rejoices, knowing that this was quite possibly Lailatul Qadrand “Whoever stays up (inprayer and remembrance of Allâh) on the Night of Qadr fully believing(in Allâh’s promise of reward for that night) and hoping to seek reward(from Allâh alone and not from people), he shall be forgiven for hispast sins.” [Bukhârî, Muslim]
It is narrated from Aa'isharadiallaahu 'anhu that she said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allaah, if Iknow what night is the Night of Qadr what should I say?." He said: "Say: O Allaah you are pardoning and you love to pardon so pardon me. " [Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhee]
It is also the Night when all ordainments for the year are decreed. Allâh ta'ala said, which means:
{Bythe manifest Book (the Qur'ân) that makes thing clear. We sent it (thisQur'ân) down on a Blessed Night (i.e. the Night of Qadr) in the monthof Ramadhân. Verily We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torments willreach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in OurOneness of Worship]. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter(amran) of ordainment} [The Smoke 44:2-5]The virtue of the last ten days of Ramadaan and Laylat al-Qadr
Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessingsbe upon the Trustworthy Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family andcompanions.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used tostrive hard (in worship) during the last ten days of Ramadaan in a waythat he did not strive at any other times. (Muslim, 1175, from ‘Aa’ishah). Among the things he did weresecluding himself in I’tikaaf and seeking Laylat al-Qadr during thistime. (Al-Bukhaari, 1913; Muslim, 1169). In al-Saheehayn it is reportedfrom the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) thatwhen the last ten days of Ramadaan came, the Prophet (peace andblessings of Allaah be upon him) would stay up at night, wake hisfamily and gird his loins. (al-Bukhaari, 1920; Muslim, 1174). Muslimadded: he strove hard and girded his loins.
Her phrase “girded his loins” is a metaphor for his preparinghimself to worship and strive hard in worship, more than usual. It hasthe meaning of “rolling up one's sleeves” to worship (i.e. gettingready to make a great deal of effort).
It was also said that it was a metaphor for keeping away from women and abstaining from sexual relations.
The phrase “stay up at night” means that he would stay awake,spending the night in prayer, etc. It was reported in another hadeeththat ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “I never saw theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recite the entireQur’aan in one night, or spend a whole night in prayer until themorning, or fast an entire month, except in Ramadaan.”
(Sunan al-Nasaa’i, 1641). The words “stay up at night” may mean thathe spent most of the night in worship, or that he did not stay up forthe entire night, but he did that at the times of ‘Ishaa and Suhoor,and other times, in which case it would mean that he stayed up for mostof the night.
The phrase “and wake his family” means that he would wake his wivesto pray qiyaam. It is known that he (peace and blessings of Allaah beupon him) used to wake his wives all year round, but he used to wakethem to spend part of the night in qiyaam. In Saheeh al-Bukhaari it isreported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)woke up one night and said, “Subhaan Allaah! What tribulations havecome down tonight! What treasure has come down tonight! Who will wakeup the dwellers of the apartments? There may be women who are clothedin this world and naked in the Hereafter.”
(al-Bukhaari, 1074). It was also reported (in Saheeh al-Bukhaari)that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to wake‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) when he wanted to pray Witr.(al-Bukhaari, 952). But when he woke his wives during the last tennights of Ramadaan, this was more persistent than at other times of theyear.
The fact that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) didthis indicates the importance he attached to worshipping his Lord andmaking the most of this special time.
The Muslim should follow the example of the Prophet (peace andblessings of Allaah be upon him), for he is the best example, and heshould strive hard in worshipping Allaah. He should not waste the hoursof these days and nights. For we do not know, perhaps this time willnever come again, for the spoiler of pleasures, i.e., death, which mustcome to all men, may come and snatch him and his life will end; then hewill feel regret at the time when regret will be of no avail.
Among the unique virtues of these special nights is that Laylatal-Qadr is among them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Haa-Meem. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’aan and none but Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings.]
By the manifest Book (this Qur’aan) that makes things clear.
We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Nightof Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadaan].
Verily, We are ever warning[mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in OurOneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship].
Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.
As a Command (or this Qur’aan or the Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers),
(As) a mercy from your Lord. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” [al-Dukhaan 44:1-6]
Allaah sent down the Qur’aan on this night which the Lord of theWorlds has described as blessed. It was reported from a group of theSalaf – including Ibn ‘Abbaas, Qutaadah, Sa’eed ibn Jubayr, ‘Ikrimah,Mujaahid and others – that the night on which the Qur’aan was sent downwas Laylat al-Qadr.
The phrase Therein (that night) is decreed every matter ofordainments means, on that night the destiny of all creatures for thecoming year is decreed. On that night it is written who will live, whowill die, who will be saved, who will be doomed, who will be destinedfor Paradise, who will be destined for Hell, who will be grantedhonour, who will be humiliated, where drought and famine will occur,and everything else that Allaah wills in that year.
What is meant by the idea that the destiny of all creatures iswritten on Laylat al-Qadr is – and Allaah knows best – that on Laylatal-Qadr they are transferred from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz. Ibn ‘Abbaas said:“You may see a man furnishing his home or plowing his field, and he isone of those who are going to die,” i.e., it has been decreed on Laylatal-Qadr that he is one of those who are going to die (in the comingyear). And it was said that on this night, the destiny of people isshown to the angels.
The meaning of “Qadr” is veneration or honour, i.e. it is a nightthat is venerated because of its special characteristics, and becausethe one who stays up during this night becomes a man of honour. And itwas said that Qadr means constriction, in the sense that the knowledgeof precisely when this night is, is hidden. Al-Khaleel ibn Ahmad said:it was called Laylat al-Qadr because the earth is constricted by thegreat numbers of angels on that night, and Qadr means constriction.Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “But when He tries him, bystraitening his means of life [fa qadara ‘alayhi rizqahu]…” [al-Fajr89:16], i.e., by constricting or reducing his provision.
And it was said that Qadr means Qadar, i.e., that on this night thedecrees for the coming year are ordained, as Allaah says(interpretation of the meaning):
“Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments” [al-Dukhaan 44:4]
· and because Allaah’s decrees are decided and written down on this night.
So Allaah has called it Laylat al-Qadr, because of its great valueand high status with Allaah, and because so many sins are forgiven andso many faults are concealed during this night. For it is the night offorgiveness, as it was reported in al-Saheehayn from Abu Hurayrah (mayAllaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings ofAllaah be upon him) said: “Whoever stays up during Laylat al-Qadr outof faith and in the hope of earning reward, all his previous sins willbe forgiven.”
(al-Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760).
Allaah has given this night special characteristics which make it unique:
1. It is the night on which the Qur’aan was sent down, as we havestated above. Ibn ‘Abbaas and others said: “Allaah sent down theQur’aan at one time from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz to Bayt al-‘Izzah in thefirst heaven, then it was revealed to the Messenger of Allaah (peaceand blessings of Allaah be upon him) in stages according to events overtwenty-three years.”
(Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/529)
2· Allaah described it as being better than a thousand months, as Hesaid (interpretation of the meaning): “The night of al-Qadr is betterthan a thousand months” [al-Qadr 97:3].
3· Allaah described it as being blessed, as He said (interpretationof the meaning): “We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night”[al-Dukhaan 44:3].
4· On this night, the angels and the Spirit [al-Rooh] descend, “i.e.,many angels descend of this night because it is so blessed, and theangels come down when Allaah’s blessing and mercy come down, just asthey come down when Qur’aan is recited, and they surround the circlesof dhikr (gatherings where Allaah is remembered), and they beat theirwings for the one who sincerely seeks knowledge, out of respect forhim.”
(See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/531). The Spirit [al-Rooh] is Jibreel(peace be upon him), who is specifically mentioned in this manner as asign of respect for him.
5· This night is described as peace, i.e., it is safe, for theShaytaan cannot do any evil or cause any harm on this night, asMujaahid said.
(See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/531). On this night, many people aresaved from punishment because of what they do to worship Allaah, may Hebe glorified.
6· “Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments” [al-Dukhaan 44:4 – interpretation of the meaning]
, i.e., the affairs of that year are dispatched from al-Lawhal-Mahfooz to the angels who record the decrees: who will live, whowill die, what provision people will be given, what will happen untilthe end of that year, every matter of ordainments is decreed, and itcannot be altered or changed. (See Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/137, 138).All of this is already known to Allaah before it is even written down,but He makes known to the angels what is to happen, and commands themto do whatever they are enjoined to do. (Sharh Saheeh Muslimli’l-Nawawi, 8/57).
7· Allaah forgives the previous sins of the one who stays up andprays during this night out of faith and in hope of earning the rewardfrom Him. It was reported in the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah bepleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah beupon him) said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadaan out of faith andin the hope of earning reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven,and whoever stays up during Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hopeof earning reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Agreedupon). The phrase “out of faith and in the hope of earning reward”means, believing in Allaah’s promise of reward for this, and seekingthe reward, with no other aim or purpose, such as showing off etc.”
(Fath al-Baari, 4/251).
Allaah has revealed a soorah concerning this night which will berecited until the Day of Resurrection, in which He mentions the honourand great value of this night. This is the soorah in which He says(interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).
And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?
The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e.worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him athousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel] by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees,
(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allaah to Hisbelieving slaves) until the appearance of dawn.” [al-Qadr 97:1-5]
The phrase And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr(Decree) is? serves to draw attention to the importance and greatsignificance of this night.
The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand monthsmeans, it is better than over eighty three years, as we have alreadymentioned. This is a great virtue, the value of which no one can fullyunderstand except the Lord of the Worlds, may He be blessed andexalted. This encourages the Muslim to spend this night in prayer andto seek the Face of Allaah by doing so. The Prophet (peace andblessings of Allaah be upon him) used to seek this night, hoping togain some good from it, and he is the example for this Ummah.
It is mustahabb to seek it during Ramadaan, especially in the lastten nights of the month. It was reported in Saheeh Muslim that AbuSa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messengerof Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did I’tikaafduring the first ten days of Ramadaan, then he did I’tikaaf during themiddle ten days in a Turkish tent [the word qubbah, translated here as“tent”, refers to a tent or any circular structure] in which a mat wasplaced. He said: so he took the mat in his hand and put it at the sideof the tent, then he raised his head to speak to the people, so theycame closer to him. He said: “I did I’tikaaf during the first ten days,seeking this night, then I did I’tikaaf during the middle ten days.Then someone came to me and told me that it is in the last ten days, sowhoever among you wants to do I’tikaaf, let him do so.” So the peopledid I’tikaaf with him. He said: “I was shown an odd-numbered night, inthe morning of which I was prostrating in mud and water”. Then in themorning of the twenty-first, he got up to pray Subh and it was raining;the roof of the mosque leaked, and there was mud and water. He came outwhen he had finished praying, and there was mud and water on hisforehead and nose. That was the morning of the twenty-first, one of thelast ten days.
(Saheeh Muslim, 1167).
In a report, Abu Sa’eed said: “It rained on the night of thetwenty-first, and the roof of the mosque leaked over the place wherethe Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) waspraying. I looked at him, when he had finished praying Salaat al-Subh,and his face was wet with mud and water.”
(Agreed upon). Muslim narrated a hadeeth from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Unays(may Allaah be pleased with him) that was similar to the hadeeth of AbuSa’eed, except that he said, “it rained on the night of thetwenty-third.”
According to a hadeeth narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas (mayAllaah be pleased with them both), the Prophet (peace and blessings ofAllaah be upon him) said: “Seek it in the last ten days of Ramadaan,when there are nine days left, and seven days left, and five daysleft.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4/260).
Laylat al-Qadr is in the last ten days of Ramadaan, as stated in thehadeeth of Abu Sa’eed quoted above, and as stated in the hadeeth of‘Aa’ishah, and in the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar who said that the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Seek Laylat al-Qadrin the last ten days of Ramadaan.”
(The hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah was narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4/259; thehadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar was narrated by Muslim, 2/823. This wording isthat of the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah).
It is more likely to be one of the odd-numbered nights, because ofthe hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah who said that the Messenger of Allaah (peaceand blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in theodd-numbered nights of the last ten nights.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4/259)
We should seek it especially in the odd-numbered nights, i.e., onthe twenty-first, the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, thetwenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. It was reported in al-Saheehaynthat the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:“Seek it in the last ten nights, on the odd-numbered nights.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1912, see also, 1913. Also narrated by Muslim, 1167, see also 1165).
According to the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased withthem both), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)said: “Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadaan, when there are nineleft, when there are seven left, when there are five left.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1917-1918). So it is more likely to be one of the odd-numbered nights.
In Saheeh al-Bukhaari it was narrated that ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamitsaid: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came outto tell us when Laylat al-Qadr was, and two of the Muslims werearguing. He said: “I came out to tell you when Laylat al-Qadr was, andSo and so and So and so were arguing, so it [the knowledge of whenLaylat al-Qadr was] was taken away from me. Perhaps this is better foryou. So seek it on the ninth and the seventh and the fifth”
(al-Bukhaari, 1919), i.e., on the odd-numbered nights.
This hadeeth indicates how bad it is to argue and fight, especiallywith regard to matters of religion, and that this is a cause ofgoodness being taken away or concealed.
Shaykh al-Islam ibn Taymiyah said: “But odd-numbers have to do withwhat is past [i.e., when one starts counting from the beginning of themonth], so it should be sought on the twenty-first, the twenty-third,the twenty-seventh or the twenty-ninth; or it may be with regard towhat is left, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be uponhim) said: ‘when there are nine left, or seven left, or five left, orthree left.’ On this basis, if the month has thirty days, these will beeven-numbered nights, so on the twenty-second there will be nine daysleft, on the twenty-fourth there will be seven days left. This is howit was explained by Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri in the saheeh hadeeth, andthis is how the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)prayed qiyaam during this month. If this is the case, then the believershould seek it in all of the last ten days.”
(al-Fataawaa, 25/284, 285).
Laylat al-Qadr is more likely to be in the last seven days. Ibn‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that a man among thecompanions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)was shown Laytal al-Qadr in a dream, and that it was one of the lastseven nights. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah beupon him) said: “It seems that your dreams agreed that it is one of thelast seven nights, so whoever wants to seek it, let him seek it in thelast seven nights.”
(narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1911; Muslim, 1165). Muslim reported:“Seek it in the last ten nights, and if any of you are weak or unableto do that, then let him not miss the last seven.”
It is most likely to be on the night of the twenty-seventh. It wasreported, in a hadeeth narrated by Ahmad from Ibn ‘Umar, and a hadeethnarrated by Abu Dawood from Mu’aawiyah, that the Prophet (peace andblessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Laylat al-Qadr is the night ofthe twenty-seventh.”
(Musnad Ahmad and Sunan Abu Dawood, 1386). The view that it is thenight of the twenty-seventh is the opinion of most of the Sahaabah andthe majority of scholars, and Ubayy ibn Ka’b (may Allaah be pleasedwith him) used to assert, without saying “in shaa Allaah”, that it wasthe night of the twenty-seventh. Zurr ibn Hubaysh said: I said: Whatmakes you say that, O Abu’l-Mundhir? He said: by the signs of which theMessengers of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) toldus: that the sun rises that morning with no visible rays. (Narrated byMuslim,2/268).
Many marfoo’ ahaadeeth were narrated which said that it was on this particular night.
Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) also stated thatit is the night of the twenty-seventh. He reached this conclusion bymeans of an amazing process. It was reported that ‘Umar (may Allaah bepleased with him) gathered the Sahaabah together and included Ibn‘Abbaas even though he was very young. They said, “Ibn ‘Abbaas is likeone of our children. Why have you brought him here with us?” ‘Umarsaid: “He is a youth who has a good mind and who asks lots ofquestions.” Then he asked the Sahaabah about Laylat al-Qadr, and theyagreed that it was one of the last ten nights of Ramadaan. He asked Ibn‘Abbaas about it, and he said: “I think I know when it is: it is thenight of the twenty-seventh.” ‘Umar said, “What makes you think that?”He said, “Allaah made the heavens seven, and the earths seven, and thedays seven, and He created man from seven, and He made Tawaaf seven(circuits), and al-Saa’ee seven, and the stoning of the Jamaar seven.”So Ibn’ Abbaas thought that it was the night of the twenty-seventhbecause of this analysis. This has been soundly reported from Ibn‘Abbaas.
Another of the ways in which the conclusion was reached that it isthe night of the twenty-seventh is by noting that the word fihaa(therein) in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “Thereindescend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel]” [al-Qadr 97:4] is thetwenty-seventh word of Soorat al-Qadr [in the original Arabic].
There is no shar’i evidence (daleel) to support this manner ofanalysis, and there is no need for such calculations, because we havesufficient shar’i evidence available to us.
The fact that it is usually the night of the twenty-seventh – andAllaah knows best – does not mean that this is always the case. Itcould be the night of the twenty-first, as mentioned in the hadeeth ofAbu Sa’eed quoted above, or it could be the twenty-third, as mentionedin the report of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Unays (may Allaah be pleased with him)quoted above. According to a hadeeth narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas (mayAllaah be pleased with them both), the Prophet (peace and blessings ofAllaah be upon him) said: “Seek it in the last ten days of Ramadaan,when there are nine days left, and seven days left, and five days left.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4/260).
Some of the scholars thought that it is more likely that Laylatal-Qadr moves and does not come on a specific night each year.Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “This is the apparentmeaning because of the conflict between the saheeh ahaadeeth on thismatter, and there is no way to reconcile the ahaadeeth apart fromsaying that Laylat al-Qadr moves.”
(al-Majmoo’, 6/450).
Allaah has concealed this night so that His slaves will strive toseek it, and will strive hard in worship, just as He has concealed thehour of jumu’ah, and so on.
So the believer should strive hard during the days and nights ofthese ten days, seeking Laylat al-Qadr and following the example of ourProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he shouldstrive in making du’aa’ and seeking to draw close to Allaah.
It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah said: “I said, ‘O Messenger ofAllaah, what do you think, if I witness Laylat al-Qadr, what should Isay?’ He said: ‘Say, O Allaah, You are Forgiving and Generous, and youlove forgiveness, so forgive me.’”
(Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi (3515) and Ibn Maajah (3850). Its isnaad is saheeh).
Thirdly: a greater virtue is attached to I’tikaaf on this night thanon any other night of the year. I’tikaaf means staying in the mosque toworship Allaah, may He be exalted. The Prophet (peace and blessings ofAllaah be upon him) used to spend these ten days in I’tikaaf, as statedin the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed quoted above. He spent the first ten daysin I’tikaaf, then the middle ten days, then he told them that he hadbeen seeking Laylat al-Qadr, and that he had been shown that it was inthe last ten days, and he said: “Whoever was doing I’tikaaf with me,let him do I’tikaaf for the last ten days.” It was reported from‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace andblessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do I’tikaaf during the lastten days of Ramadaan until he passed away, then his wives did I’tikaafafter him.
(Agreed upon). There is also a similar report narrated from Ibn ‘Umar.
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wantedto do I’tikaaf, he would pray Fajr, then enter the place where he wasto do I’tikaaf, as was stated in al-Saheehayn from the hadeeth of‘Aa’ishah.
The four imaams and others (may Allaah have mercy on them) said thathe entered it before the sun set, and they interpreted the hadeeth asmeaning that he entered his place of I’tikaaf and kept away from peopleafter Salaat al-Subh, not that this was the time when he started hisI’tikaaf.
(See Sharh Muslim li’l-Nawawi, 8/68, 69; Fath al-Baari, 4/277). Itis Sunnah for the person in I’tikaaf to keep himself busy with worship,and it is forbidden for him to have intercourse or to do anything thatleads to it, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Anddo not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are inI‘tikaaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers andinvocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques” [al-Baqarah2:187].
And he should not go out of the mosque except in the case of a pressing need.
The signs by which Laylat al-Qadr is known
The first sign: it was reported in Saheeh Muslim from the hadeeth ofUbayy ibn Ka’b (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peaceand blessings of Allaah be upon him) announced that one of its signswas that when the sun rose on the following morning, it had no(visible) rays.
(Muslim, 762).
The second sign: it was reported from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaasnarrated by Ibn Khuzaimah, and by al-Tayaalisi in his Musnad, with asaheeh isnaad, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be uponhim) said: “Laylat al-Qadr is a pleasant night, neither hot nor cold,and the following day the sun rises red and weak.”
(Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 2912; Musnad al-Tayaalisi).
The third sign: it was reported by al-Tabaraani with a hasan isnaadfrom the hadeeth of Waathilah ibn al-Asqa’ (may Allaah be pleased withhim) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:“Laylat al-Qadr is a bright night, neither hot nor cold, in which nometeors are seen.”
(Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer. See Majma’ al-Zawaa’id, 3/179; Musnad Ahmad).
These three saheeh ahaadeeth explain the signs which indicate Laylat al-Qadr.
It is not essential for the one who “catches” Laylat al-Qadr to knowthat he has “caught” it. The point is to strive hard and to be sincerein worship, whether or not one knows that one has “caught” it. It maybe that some of those who do not know that may be better with Allaahand higher in status than those who did know which night it was,because the former strove hard. We ask Allaah to accept our fasting ourprayer at night, and to help us to remember Him and to thank Him and toworship Him properly. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.
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