Reward for Qiyaam on Laylatul Qadr

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu,

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

Imagine being able to make  Qiyaam during Laylatul Qadr, wouldn’t it be such an honor?

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whosoever performs Qiyam during Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), with Faith and being hopeful of Allah’s reward, will have his former sins forgiven.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Sunnah.com reference: Book 9, Hadith 199

Arabic/ English book reference: Book 9, Hadith 1189

I believe we all want to be forgiven by Allah. Each and everyone one of us commits sins of many types minor and major, knowingly and unknowingly. So if Allah does not forgive us, who will? We may not live to see the end of Ramadan, so praying on Laylatul Qadr might be our only chance to be forgiven by Allah. And like i said before, we do not know when Laylatul Qadr is, but we should take advantage and do a lot of ‘Ibaadah during these nights.

Laylatul Qadr (according to ‘Ibn Abbas)

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu,

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

Although we do not know exactly when Laylatul Qadr is, ‘Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) has given an opinion as to why he “thinks” Laylatul Qadr is on the 27th night of Ramadan. He has not said it is on the 27th, it is what he thinks. These opinions can be found in Tafseer Al-Kabeer of Imaam Fakhruddin Razi.

1. The word Laylatul Qadr (in Arabic) contains 9 letter and appears 3 times in surah Qadr. The product of this (3*9) gives 27. 
2. Surah Qadr contains 30 words in total and the word which gives us information about this night is “hiya (meaning it which is referring to Laylatul Qadr)” is the 27th word of the Surah
3. Umar (ra) asked Abdullah ‘ibn ‘Abbas (ra) about the timing of Laylatul Qadr. He was given the following rely: “Allah the Almighty likes odd numbers and of these, the number 7 in particular. We can see this in his creation; for example He created 7 skies, seven worlds, 7 days in a week, 7 circuits around the Ka’ba to make one Tawaf and so on.”

‘Ibn ‘Abbas’s reasoning makes a lot of sense but again, he has said that is the reason why he thinks Laylatul Qadr is on the 27th. At the end, Allah knows best.

Laylatul Qadr (according to ahaadeeth)

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu.

بسم الله الرحملن الرحيم

Laylatul Qadr is a night which none knows of except Allah. But through a few ahaadeeth and ayaat in the Qur’an, there are clues as to which night it is.

‘Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to seclude himself (in the mosque) during the last ten nights of Ramadan. He would say, “Search for Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the last ten nights of Ramadan.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Sunnah.com reference: Book 9, Hadith 201

Arabic/ English book reference: Book 9, Hadith 1191

In another Hadith we also have another description of laylatul Qadr:

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe I’tikaf during the middle ten days of the month, and after the twentieth (day of the month), he would come out on the twenty-first and go back to his home, and those who were observing I’tikaf with him would go back like him. Then he stayed one month on the night when he used to go back home, and he addressed the people and enjoined upon them whatever Allah (SWT) willed. Then he said: ‘I used to observe I’tikaf during these ten days, then I decided to spend the last ten days in I’tikaf. So whoever was observing I’tikaf with me, let him stay in his place of I’tikaf, for I was shown this night (Lailatul Qadr), then I was caused to forget it, so seek it during the last ten nights on the odd-numbered nights. And I saw myself prostrating in water and mud.'” Abu Sa’eed said: “It rained on the night of the twenty-first, and the roof of the Masjid leaked over the place where the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray. I looked at him when he had finished praying subh and his face was wet with water and mud.”

According to these two ahadeeth, we learn that the night of Laylatul Qadr is:

• During the last ten days

• Within the odd nights of the last ten days (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th)

• Rain

Although we have these clues, we still cannot say what specific night laylatul Qadr is on; only Allah knows.

Laylatul Qadr mentioned in the Qur’an

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu,

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

Within the Qur’an, Allah mentions about Laylatul Qadr. In fact, there is a Surah that mainly talks about Laylatul Qadr which is Surah Qadr. In this Surah, Allah mentions a few things about Laylatul Qadr.

Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn. [97:1-5]

We learn that Allah has sent down the Qur’an during Laylatul Qadr, the one and only night that is better than a thousand months. Imagine doing so much ‘ibaadah (especially Qiyaam) for a thousand months? And Allah has made it easy for us to achieve such thing in only one night! Then we also see that the angels descend till dawn, what else would they do other than praising Allah? No wonder why this is a blessed night!

Laylatul Qadr

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu,

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

Here we are and Ramadan is leaving with only few nights left. Now we are left within the last few nights and any of these odd nights can be laylatul qadr, but little do we know which night it is. None knows as to which exact night Laylatul qadr is because of an incident that happened when the Prophet (saw) was informed about Laylatul Qadr.

Narrated ‘Ubada bin As-Samit:

“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) went out to inform the people about the (date of the) night of decree (Al-Qadr) but there happened a quarrel between two Muslim men. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I came out to inform you about (the date of) the night of Al-Qadr, but as so and so and so and so quarrelled, its knowledge was taken away (I forgot it) and maybe it was better for you. Now look for it in the 7th, the 9th and the 5th (of the last 10 nights of the month of Ramadan).”

[Reference: Sahih Al-Bukhari 49]
[In-book reference: book 2, hadith 42]
[USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 1, book 2, Hadith 47]

 Of course Allah has his reasons for everything he does, it may be that we don’t know so we can do more worship throughout the last ten days instead of only one night- Allah knows best. Although Allah has not revealed to us exactly when Laylatul qadr is, the Prophet (saw) told us to search for it in the last ten days.

‘Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to seclude himself (in the mosque) during the last ten nights of Ramadan. He would say, “Search for Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the last ten nights of Ramadan.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

[Sunnah.com reference: Book 9, Hadith 201]

[Arabic/ English book reference: Book 9, Hadith 1191]

Remember, since we don’t know which day Laylatul Qadr is, we can take advantage of this opportunity and do as more ‘ibaadah (worship) as we can on these few nights left.