The Night of Power (Al-Qadr)

The Night of Power (Al-Qadr)

Surat 97 of the Qur’an
Revealed before the Hijrah. This chapter has 5 verses.
“In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
1. We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
2. And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?
3. The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months.
4. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand:
5. Peace! ... This until the rise of Morn!”
Another important factor related to this night is that in it every decreed matter is conveyed as mentioned in the Holy Quran:
We sent it (Quran) down on a blessed Night. We were to warn [mankind]. Therein (in that Night) is decreed every matter of ordainment. Amran (i.e. a command or this Quran or His Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messenger) (As) a Mercy from your Lord. He is the Hearing, the Knowing. Ad-Dukhaan 44: 3-6
Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Quran as, “better than a thousand months” (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr.
The Prophet said: “Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira).
Make this Special dua for night of power
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’ He said: ‘Say:
O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’ “(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).
The transliteration of this Dua is “Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee”

When is Lailatul-Qadr:
It is known from the Hadith that the exact knowledge of when Lailatul Qadr falls was taken because some people argued. Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit (R.A) said:
“The Prophet (P.B.U.H) came out intending to tell us about Lailatul-Qadr, however two men were arguing and he said: “I came out to inform you about Lailatul-Qadr but so and so, and, so and so were arguing, so it was raised up, and perhaps that is better for you, so seek it on the (twenty) ninth and (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth.” (Bukhari)
Also it is reported from the Prophet (P.B.U.H) that:
“Verily I saw Lailatul Qadr, and I was caused to forget it, and indeed it is during the last ten (nights). It is during an odd night”
So the night of Decree occurs in odd-numbered nights during the last ten days of Ramadan. It may be on twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh or twenty-ninth. It is narrated by Aisha (R.A):
“Allah’s Messenger (P.B.U.H) used to practice Itikaaf in the last ten nights and say: ‘Seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the (odd nights) of the last ten days of Ramadhan.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
If some one is too weak and unable to pray for all odd nights, then he must not let go the last seven nights. It is reported from Ibn Umar (R.A):
“Allah’s Messenger (P.B.U.H) said: “Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (Radi Allah Anhu) : Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramazan. Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said, “It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it should search in the last seven nights of Ramazan.”
Narrated Abu Salama (Radi Allah Anhu) : I asked Abu Sa’id (Radi Allah Anhu) about the Night of Qadr and he said, “We practised Itikaf in the middle third month of Ramazan with Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ). In the morning of the 20th of Ramazan, the Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) came to and addressed us and said, ” I was informed of the date of the Night of Qadr but I was caused to forget it, or I forget, so search it in the last ten nights of month of Ramazan.”
Narrated ‘Ibn Abbas (Radi Allah Anha) in this quotation: Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said:
“The Night of Qadr is in the last ten nights of the month of Ramazan either on the first nine or in the last (remaining) seven nights of Ramazan.”
Zirr b. Habaish (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Ubayy b. Ka’b (Radi Allah Anhu) took oath (without making any exception, i. e. without saying Innsha Allah) that it was the twenty-seventh night. I said to him: Abu Mundhir, on what ground do you say that? Thereupon he said: By the indication or by the sign which the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) gave us, and that is that on that day (the sun) would rise without having any ray in it.
Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported: We were talking about Lailat-ul-Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) and he said: “He who amongst you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and it was like a piece of plate (at the fag end of the month in a state of waning).”
Praying in the last ten nights of Ramadan

Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from Aishah that during the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship). A narration in Muslim states: "He would strive (to do acts of worship) during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time." 

Aishah reported that with the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari) 

How should we observe Laylatul-Qadr:
1. The prophet (P.B.U.H) used to stay up and pray on Lailatul-Qadr so it is prescribed to stay up and pray whole night. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said:
“Whoever stands in (Prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Eemaan and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven.” (Bukhari)
2. It is prescribed to supplicate a great in Lailatul Qadr. It is reported from Aisha (R.A):
“O Messenger of Allah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?” He said: “Say: Allaahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee.” (O Allah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me).” (at-Tirmidhi)
3. One should strive hard in worship during the last ten days of Ramadan. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to worship in the last ten days of Ramadan as he never did at any other time. One should pray, read Quran and make Dua’s. it is reported from Aisha (R.A):
“The Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to exert himself in the last ten nights more than he would at other times.” (Muslim)

What are the signs of Lailatul-Qadr? 
Allah's Messenger (p.b.u.h.) described the morning after Lailatul-Qadr, so that the Muslim may know which day it is. From Ubayy (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: that he (p.b.u.h.) said: "On the morning following Lailatui-Qadr the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up." (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said : "We were discussing Lailatul-Qadr in the presence of Allah's Messenger (May Allah be pleased with him) so he said: 'Which of you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and was like half a plate?'" (Muslim) 
Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah's Messenger (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "Lailatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its morning being feeble and red.'' (at-Tayaalisee, Ibn Khuzaimah and al-Bazzaar with a Hasan Isnad)