Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power)
Suggest editDefinition and Quranic Foundation
Laylat al-Qadr (ليلة القدر) — translated as the Night of Power, the Night of Decree, or the Night of Destiny — is the most sacred night in the Islamic calendar. It is the night on which the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, and it occurs annually during the month of Ramadan. The name al-Qadr carries two meanings: 'power' (qadar from power and majesty) and 'decree' (qadar from divine predestination) — both dimensions are present in the classical understanding of this night.
Allah devoted an entire surah — Surah al-Qadr (chapter 97) — to this night: 'Indeed, We sent it down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is? 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.' The 'thousand months' is approximately 83 years — meaning worship on this single night carries a reward surpassing a lifetime of worship.
When Does It Occur?
The Prophet said: 'Search for Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan' (Sahih al-Bukhari 2017). The odd nights are the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th. Scholars have differed on whether Laylat al-Qadr is fixed to a specific night each year or shifts among these odd nights. The majority view — supported by the practice of increasing worship throughout the last ten nights — is that it moves, and thus all odd nights should be observed with heightened worship.
The strongest evidence for the 27th night specifically comes from the report of Ubayy ibn Ka'b, who stated with considerable certainty that it is the 27th (Sahih Muslim 762) and offered as evidence a sign the Prophet described: the sun rises on the morning after Laylat al-Qadr without rays, pale and round as a dish. Ibn Mas'ud, however, held that one should search throughout the entire month, warning against relying on a single night. The scholarly position of Imam Ahmad, Ibn Taymiyyah, and others is that it is most likely the 27th of Ramadan in most years, while maintaining that it can shift.
Signs of the Night
The authentic narrations describe certain signs: the sun rising on the morning after Laylat al-Qadr without rays (Sahih Muslim 762); a night that is calm, neither hot nor cold, with a clear sky and no shooting stars (various reports in Musnad Ahmad and other collections, with varying degrees of authentication). The Prophet also said that on this night, the believers feel a peculiar tranquility and sweetness in their worship — a subjective sign that many Muslims report experiencing.
How to Observe It
The Prophet taught Aisha a specific supplication for this night: 'Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibb al-afwa fa'fu anni' — O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3513, graded sahih). This supplication focuses on the most comprehensive divine gift: complete pardon and forgiveness. Its brevity and depth make it suitable for repetition throughout the night.
The Prophet would spend the entire last ten nights in worship, sleeping very little. Aisha reported: 'When the last ten days entered, the Prophet would tighten his garment, enliven his nights, and wake his family' (Sahih al-Bukhari 2024). 'Tightening the garment' is understood metaphorically as intensifying one's efforts and withdrawing from marital relations. The recommended acts of worship include: lengthy night prayer (tahajjud and tarawih), extended recitation of the Quran, abundant dhikr, lengthy supplication (particularly in sujud and at the times of iftar and suhur), and charitable giving.
Spiritual Significance
Beyond the reward calculations, Laylat al-Qadr represents the anniversary of the greatest event in human history: the beginning of the final divine revelation to humanity. The scholars emphasize that seeking this night is not merely about amassing spiritual reward mechanically — it is about entering a state of complete attentiveness to Allah, recognizing that the angels descend in numbers beyond counting, that the divine mercy is poured out in ways unparalleled at any other time of the year, and that the decree for the coming year is written on this night (according to the interpretation of scholars who reconcile this with the broader doctrine of divine decree).
Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali writes in Lata'if al-Ma'arif that the person who observes Laylat al-Qadr in sincere worship emerges as if newly born — their sins wiped clean, their relationship with Allah renewed, their spiritual capacity expanded. The Prophet said: 'Whoever prays on Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven' (Sahih al-Bukhari 2014).