Laylatul Qadr is a precious gift from Allah SWT, and the most beneficial night of the year for Muslims. It’s a time of seeking Allah’s pleasure, seeking forgiveness and gaining purification.
Also known as the Night of Decree or the Night of Power, it is considered by some scholars as the night in which our destiny is written for the year ahead. Making dua on this night is incredibly powerful and can change the trajectory of your life.
“Nothing can change the Divine decree except dua”
(Al-Tirmidhi)
We should strive to reap Laylatul Qadr benefits during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
What are the rewards of Laylatul Qadr
Performing acts of worship can earn you bountiful rewards, but when performed on The Night of Decree, with sincere intention and faith in Allah SWT acceptance, Laylatul Qadr’s benefits could be exceptional.
Allah SWT says in the Qur’an, “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months,” (Qur’an, 97:3).
Additionally, in a famous hadith it is narrated:
“Whoever prays on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
May Allah Almighty accept and grant us the benefits of Laylatul Qadr, and allow it to be the means of our purification and increased nearness to Him. Ameen!
Importance of Laylatul Qadr
Laylatul Qadr is important to Muslims due to its commemoration of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an, and its increased reward. On this night, the Qur’an was first revealed to the beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the angel Jibreel (Gabriel).
It is an important time to reflect on the past year since the previous Laylatul Qadr. We should reflect on our time and efforts we spent for Allah (SWT), our character, and shortcomings. We should use this as a basis for aiming to improve ourselves and our lives, and making the intention of striving even harder in the coming year.
Read more here to understand the importance of Laylatul Qadr.
Why is Laylatul Qadr rewarding?
The rewards of Laylatul Qadr are many. Our Prophet (PBUH) advised us to maximize the benefit of the holy night and to not be heedless of its value and importance. It is rewarding because it is a night of forgiveness, mercy, and blessings - the ultimate goal we strive for in this dunya.
How to make the most of Laylatul Qadr
There are no specific prescribed acts of worship for Laylatul Qadr, however, Muslims are encouraged to follow the beautiful example of the Prophet (PBUH) during this precious time and maximize their worship. The best deeds to perform in order to reap the rewards of the holy night are fasting, praying, seeking repentance and giving Sadaqah.
It is recommended to pray Nafl (voluntary prayers) to gain the rewards of Laylatul Qadr. You can pray as many voluntary prayers as you want, with the minimum being two rakat. The key is to pray with focus and sincerity as you imagine yourself before your Lord.
Seeking Repentance Through Dua:
It is also recommended to engage in plenty of dhikr and dua. When making dua, turn to Allah SWT and supplicate with sincerity and humility.
The Prophet (PBUH) taught us one very important dua to say on Laylatul Qadr:
الْلَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka Afuwwun (Karimun) tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee
O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, (Generous) You love to pardon, so pardon me.
One of the most virtuous acts to gain the rewards of Laylatul Qadr is to give Sadaqah to those in need of our help. The Prophet (PBUH) specifically singled out Sadaqah given in Ramadan as the very best charity (Tirmidhi).