Lailatul Qadr, the Night of Decree, holds unparalleled spiritual significance in Islam as the night when the Quran was first revealed, surpassing the value of a thousand months in worship rewards. It occurs in the last ten nights of Ramadan, often on odd nights like the 21st, 23rd, 27th, or 29th, urging believers to seek it through intense devotion.
Core Quran Verses
Surah Al-Qadr (97:1-5) states: إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ—translation: “Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree… The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein… Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.”
Surah Ad-Dukhan (44:3-4) adds: إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ مُبَارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ (“Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night… Therein is decreed every command of Allah”), highlighting divine decrees for the year.
Key Hadith
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever prays on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: “Look for Lailat ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan” (Sahih Muslim).
