The Night of Power / Decree ليلة القدر

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Join us in coming together to embrace the blessings of this exceptional time, seeking guidance, and striving for a deeper connection with our faith. Let us unite in worship and deed, uplifting one another and spreading love, compassion, and understanding throughout our diverse community.

Naming

Qadr (قدر), in Arabic, means measure and limit or value of something or destiny. Some reasons have been offered for its naming:

• It is said that it was called al-Qadr because the annual destiny of every person will be determined by Allah Tala.
• Some say that if one stays awake at this night praying, reading Quran, or repenting, one will reach a high state.
• Some have said that it was called al-Qadr because it is a grand and high-value night.

Other names such as “Laylat al-‘Azama” (Arabic: ليلة العظمة; night of the greatness) and “Laylat al-Sharaf” (Arabic: ليلة الشرف; lit. ’night of the honor’) have also been used.

AlQuran

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ١

We have sent it (the Qur’ān) down in the Night of Qadr.

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ ٢

And what may let you know what the Night of Qadr is?

لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ

The Night of Qadr is much better than one thousand months.

تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍۢ ٤

The angels and the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.

سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ

Peace it is till the debut of dawn.

Cause of its revelation ( shane nazoul)

Rasulullah j once related to the Sahaabah  the story of a very pious man from the Bani Israel, who used to spend one thousand months in jihad. On hearing this, the Sahaabah  envied that person because they could not get the same reward whereupon Allah  granted them Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power).

Our Nabi j once mentioned the names of the four most pious people from amongst the Bani Israel who each spent eighty years in Allah  sincere ibaadah, worshipping Him, and not sinning at all.
They were Nabi Ayyub , Zakariyya , Hizqeel  and Yushaa . The Sahaabah  heard this with astonishment. Then Jibraeel appeared and re

Meaning of The Night of Qadr

One meaning of the word Qadr is ‘greatness, honour or dignity’. Zuhri and other scholars have assigned this meaning to it. The night is called the Night of Qadr because it is a night of greatness, honour, majesty and dignity. Abu Bakr Warraq has stated that this night is so called because a person becomes a man of honour and dignity on account of repentance, seeking pardon and righteous acts during this night, whilst prior to this he might have lacked honour and dignity on account of unrighteous life he might have led.

Another meaning of the word Qadr is ‘predestination’. From this point of view, the night is so called because the destiny of individuals and nations that was decided in pre-eternity is assigned to the relevant angels who are appointed for cosmic planning. Every man’s age, death, sustenance, rain and other things are measured out to the angels to be implemented for a complete year from one month of Ramadan to another. If an individual is destined to perform Hajj in the forthcoming year, it will be prescribed. According to Ibn ` Abbas ؓ ، there are four angels in charge of cosmic planning: [ 1] Israfil; [ 2] Mika’il; [ 3] ` Izra’il; and [ 4] Jibra’il 6.1

It is clearly stated in [ 44:3-5]

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَ‌كَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِ‌ينَ ﴿3﴾ فِيهَا يُفْرَ‌قُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ‌ حَكِيمٍ ﴿4﴾ أَمْرً‌ا مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْ‌سِلِينَ ﴿5﴾

We have sent it down in a blessed night, (because) We had to warn (people). [ 3] In that (night), every wise thing is decided [ 4] through a command from Us. We were to send the Messenger [ 5].(44:3-5)

‘Laylatun Mubarakah’ or the ‘blessed’, according to overwhelming scholars of the Qur’an, refers to the Night of Qadr. The angels record and descend with whatever Allah has destined or decreed for the coming year. Some scholars hold that the ‘blessed night’ in 44: 3 refers to the fifteenth night of Sha’ban, that is, ‘Laylatul Bara’ah ‘ or the ‘Night of Immunity’. This view may be reconciled with the former one by holding that the initial Divine decrees are decided on the Night of Immunity, and the details are recorded and handed over to the relevant angels on the Night of Qadr.

Sayyidah ` A’ishah ؓ once asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ what supplication she should make if she finds the Night. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ advised her to make the following supplication:

اللَّھُمَّ اِنَّکَ عَفُوُّ تُحِبُّ العَفوَ فَاعفُ عَنِّی ”

0” Allah! Verily, You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so do pardon me.” [ Qurtubi ].

Al-Hadith

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

إِنَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ قَدْ حَضَرَكُمْ وَفِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ

وَلَا يُحْرَمُ خَيْرَهَا إِلَّا مَحْرُومٌ

1644 سنن ابن ماجه كتاب الصيام باب ما جاء في فضل شهر رمضان

2247 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن في صحيح الجامع

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said when the month of Ramadan began, “Verily, this month has presented itself to you. There is a night within it that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it has been deprived of all good, and none is deprived of its good but that he is truly deprived.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 1644,Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani

Related

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

1901 صحيح البخاري كتاب الصوم باب من صام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا ونية

760 صحيح مسلم كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها باب الترغيب في قيام رمضان وهو التراويح

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan due to faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. Whoever stands in prayer during the Night of Decree due to faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1901, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 760

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Related

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ وَأَحْيَا لَيْلَهُ وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ

2024 صحيح البخاري كتاب فضل ليلة القدر باب العمل في العشر الأواخر من رمضان

1174 صحيح مسلم كتاب الاعتكاف باب الاجتهاد في العشر الأواخر من شهر رمضان

Aisha reported: When the last ten nights of Ramadan arrived, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would tighten his belt, spend the night in worship, and awaken his family.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2024, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1174

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Related

Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Look for the Night of Decree in the last ten nights of Ramadan. If one of you is weak or unable, then do not be overcome by the remaining seven nights.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1165

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ يَعْنِي لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَإِنْ ضَعُفَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَوْ عَجَزَ فَلَا يُغْلَبَنَّ عَلَى السَّبْعِ الْبَوَاقِي

1165 صحيح مسلم كتاب الصيام باب فضل ليلة القدر والحث على طلبها وبيان محلها وأرجى أوقات طلبها

Related

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ أَزْوَاجُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ

2026 صحيح البخاري كتاب الاعتكاف باب الاعتكاف في العشر الأواخر

1172 صحيح مسلم كتاب الاعتكاف باب اعتكاف العشر الأواخر من رمضان

Aisha reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would seek spiritual retreat in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan, until Allah Almighty caused him to pass away. His wives continued to perform the retreat after him.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2026, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1172

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Enjoy the ‘Outpourings’ of Allah’s mercy

عَنْ سَلْمَانِ اَلْفَارِسِيْ رَضِيْ اللهُ عَنْهُ، أَنْ رَسُوْلُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قال:

” شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ أَوَّلُهُ رَحْمَةٌ ، وَأَوْسَطُهُ مَغْفِرَةٌ ، وَآخِرُهُ عِتْقٌ مِنَ النَّارِ.”

]المصدر: الإمَامْ اَلْألْبَانِي ( مِشْكَاةْ اَلْمَصَابِيحْ) ، كتاب ٧، حديث ٩.[

‘An Salman al Farsi (ra), an Rasulullahiﷺ qala: “Shahru Ramadana awwalahu rahmatun, wa awsatuhu maghfiratun, wa akhiruhu ‘itqun minan naar.”
[Al Imam al Albani, Meshkatal Misbah, Kitab 7, Hadith 9]

Narrated by Salman al Farsi (ra), that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The first (ten days) of the month of Ramadan is mercy, the middle (ten days) is forgiveness, and the last (ten days) is salvation from the fire.”
[Source: Al Imam al Albani, Meshkat al Masabih – 1965, Book 7, Hadith 9]

5

A Unique Reward

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ يعني في رمضان لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مِنْهُمْ دَعْوَةٌ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ

7443 مسند أحمد

7/250 المحدث أحمد شاكر خلاصة حكم المحدث إسناده صحيح في مسند أحمد

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah has people He redeems in every day and night of Ramadan. Every servant among them has a supplication that will be answered.”

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 7443,Grade:Sahih(authentic) according to Ahmad Shakir

6

‘O seeker of good, come forward! O seeker of evil, stop!’

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

إِذَا كَانَ أَوَّلُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صُفِّدَتْ الشَّيَاطِينُ وَمَرَدَةُ الْجِنِّ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ فَلَمْ يُفْتَحْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ وَفُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ فَلَمْ يُغْلَقْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ

وَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ يَا بَاغِيَ الْخَيْرِ أَقْبِلْ وَيَا بَاغِيَ الشَّرِّ أَقْصِرْ

وَلِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءُ مِنْ النَّارِ وَذَلكَ كُلُّ لَيْلَةٍ

682 سنن الترمذي كتاب الصوم باب ما جاء في فضل شهر رمضان

682 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث في صحيح صحيح الترمذي

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “On the first night of the month of Ramadan, the devils are chained, the jinn are restrained, and the gates of Hellfire are closed and none of its gates are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed. A heavenly caller announces: O seeker of good, come near! O seeker of evil, stop short! Allah will save them from the Hellfire and that is during every night of Ramadan.”

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 682

Grade:Sahih(authentic) according to Al-Albani