What is Laylat al-Qadr and how do I find it?
Yes, you can find it, but only by looking for it across several nights. Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, is the night the Quran was first revealed, and worship on it is better than a thousand months. Its exact date is hidden, but it falls in the last ten nights of Ramadan, most likely on an odd night.
What Laylat al-Qadr is
It's the greatest night of the year. A whole short surah, al-Qadr (chapter 97), is about it. The angels descend, and the night is peace until dawn.
A thousand months is over 83 years, longer than most lifetimes. The Prophet ﷺ also said that whoever prays on this night out of sincere faith and hoping for reward will have their previous sins forgiven (Sahih al-Bukhari 1901).
When it is
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2017). That means the nights before the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th fasts. Remember that Islamic nights begin at sunset, so the "27th night" is the evening before the 27th day of fasting.
Many Muslims focus on the 27th, and some scholars considered it the most likely. But the date wasn't fixed by the Prophet ﷺ, and it can vary, so the safest plan is to give every one of the last ten nights some effort. If your mosque started Ramadan on a different day from another, don't worry: covering all ten nights covers both counts.
What to do on these nights
- Pray: taraweeh or qiyam at the mosque, or a few rak'ahs at home before sleeping or before suhoor.
- Make this dua: Aisha asked what to say if she knew it was Laylat al-Qadr, and he taught her: "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni" (O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me) (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3513).
- Read or listen to Quran: even a few pages. See Can I listen to the Quran while driving or doing chores?
- Give charity: many people set up automatic small donations for each of the last ten nights.
The Prophet ﷺ himself worked harder in these ten nights than at any other time, praying through the night and waking his family (Sahih al-Bukhari 2024).
Doing it as a working convert
You don't have to stay awake all night with a full-time job. Pray two rak'ahs and make the dua before bed, then wake 30 minutes before suhoor for a few more. Women on their period can still take part in many ways. If this is your first Ramadan, go easy on yourself. See Do I have to fast Ramadan in my first year as a Muslim?
- Laylat al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.
- It's in the last ten nights of Ramadan, most likely an odd night.
- Its exact date is hidden, so try a little every night.
- Key dua: "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni".
People also ask
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