How to Seek Laylatul-Qadr

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"We have indeed revealed this (Message), in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee 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!." [Soorah 97]

"Seek it in Ramadan in the last ten nights. For verily, it is during the odd nights, the twenty-first, or the twenty-third, or the twenty-fifth, or the twenty-seventh, or the twenty-ninth, or during the last night." [Saheeh Ahmad 5:318]

How to Seek Laylatul-Qadr
by  Shaykh Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen al-Albani


Laylat ul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing person is zealous to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven. 

Praying Qiyaam

It is recommended to make a long Qiyaam prayer during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many hadeeths, such as the following:

Abu Dharr (radhiallahu 3anhu) relates: "We fasted with Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 3alayhi wa sallam) in Ramadaan. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven (nights of Ramadaan) left. Then he stood with us (that night - in prayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, 'Allaah's Messenger! Wouldn't you pray with us the whole night?'

He replied: 'Whoever stands in prayer with the imaam until he (the imaam) concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night." (1)


Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: "I heard Ahmad being asked, 'Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during Ramadan?' He replied, 'Pray with the people' I also heard him say, 'I would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the imaam and to pray witr with him as well, for the Prophet (sallallahu 3alayhi wa 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 (radhiallahu 3anhu) narrated that the Messenger (sallallahu 3alayhi wa sallam) said:"Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allaah's reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (2)

Making Supplications

It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. 3A'ishah (radhiallahu 3anha) reported that she asked Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), "O Messenger of Allaah! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?" 

And he instructed her to say:

اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني

"Allahumma innaka 3afuwwun tuhibbul 3afwa  fa3fu 3annee -
 O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me." (3)

Abandoning Worldly Pleasures 
for the Sake of Worship

It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah. 

3A'ishah (radhiallahu 3anha) reported: "When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (sallallahu 3alayhi wa sallam) would tighten his izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer), and wake up his family." (4) 


And she said: "Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights." (5)

Adapted from "The Night Prayers: Qiyam & Tarawih from works by Muhammad Nasir ud-Deen al-Albani (and other scholars)

Compiled by Muhammad al-Jibali. 1997 QSS

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(1) [Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi (who authenticated it), an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, at-Tahawi (in Sharhu Ma`an il-Athar, Ibn Nasr, al-Faryabi, and al-Bayhaqi. Their isnad is authentic.]

(2) Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the addition "and it is facilitated for him" is recorded by Ahmad from the report of `Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.

(3) Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi. Verified to be authentic by Al-Albani

(4) Al-Bukhari and Muslim

(5) Muslim

Posted in: Ramadan