The Night Better Than a Thousand Months
The Reward of Worship on Laylat al-Qadr
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) during Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 1901 | Sahih Muslim, 760]
When to Seek Laylat al-Qadr
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Seek it on the odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 2017]
The Prophet ﷺ guided the Ummah to search for it during the odd nights of the last ten nights — meaning the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th.
The Best Duʿā’ for Laylat al-Qadr
‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say in it?” He said: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuḥibbu-l-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘annī
“O Allah, You are Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 3513 | Sahih]
Signs of Laylat al-Qadr
The Prophet ﷺ described it as a calm, pleasant night. He said: “Laylat al-Qadr is a calm, pleasant night, neither hot nor cold. The sun rises on its morning weak and red.” [Sunan Ibn Khuzaymah, 2192 | Sahih]
How to Seek Laylat al-Qadr?
1. Enter the Last Ten Nights with Strong Intention
Laylat al-Qadr is hidden among the last ten nights of Ramadan, and the believer should prepare the heart before these nights begin.
Renewing your niyyah (intention) is essential: intend to seek Allah’s pleasure, forgiveness, and nearness, rather than only personal gains.
A sincere intention transforms even small acts—like dhikr, reading Qur’an, or helping family—into weighty deeds accepted on this night.
2. Increase Night Prayers (Qiyām al-Layl)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) during Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 1901]
This highlights the importance of prolonged night prayers. Extend your standing in prayer, recite longer passages of Qur’an, and engage deeply in sujūd (prostration), pouring out your heart to Allah.
3. Focus on the Odd Nights
The Prophet ﷺ instructed: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights.” [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 2017]
Though the night is concealed, these odd nights—21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th—carry stronger potential.
Treat each odd night as a treasure, but do not neglect the even nights, as Laylat al-Qadr could also be among them according to some narrations.
4. Make Duʿā’ the Core of the Night
Duʿā’ is the essence of worship. The Prophet ﷺ taught ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله عنها) a specific duʿā’ for Laylat al-Qadr: “Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuḥibbu-l-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘annī.”
The believer should repeat this constantly, while also making heartfelt personal supplications. Lay out your needs, your regrets, your gratitude, and your hope—all in direct conversation with your Lord.
5. Engage in Qur’an Recitation and Reflection
Laylat al-Qadr is honored as the night the Qur’an was revealed [Qur’an 97:1].
Recite the Qur’an slowly, reflect on its meanings, and let it soften your heart.
Even if you do not recite a large portion, approach the Qur’an with sincerity, humility, and tears.
6. Fill the Night with Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)
Alternate between tasbīḥ (SubḥānAllāh), taḥmīd (Alḥamdulillāh), takbīr (Allāhu Akbar), and tahlīl (Lā ilāha illa Allāh).
This keeps your heart alive throughout the night. Dhikr does not require constant concentration like long recitation does, so you can keep it on your tongue while sitting, lying down, or walking, ensuring your night remains alive with remembrance.
7. Give Charity Generously
The Prophet ﷺ was described as the most generous of people, and he was even more generous in Ramadan. [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 3554]
Even small amounts of charity on Laylat al-Qadr carry the reward of over a thousand months. Schedule giving across the ten nights to ensure that your charity coincides with Laylat al-Qadr.
8. Perform I‘tikāf if Possible
I‘tikāf—seclusion in the mosque for worship—was a practice of the Prophet ﷺ in the last ten nights. [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 2025]
It cuts off worldly distractions and dedicates one fully to prayer, Qur’an, and duʿā’. If full i‘tikāf is not possible, create a “mini i‘tikāf” at home by disconnecting from devices and dedicating hours solely to Allah.
9. Wake the Family for Worship
The Prophet ﷺ would wake his family during the last ten nights to ensure they also benefit. [Sahih al-Bukhārī, 2024]
Create a household environment of worship: pray together, recite Qur’an together, or remind one another gently of the night’s blessings. Families who worship together strengthen their bond under Allah’s mercy.
10. Lengthen Your Sujūd (Prostration)
Sujūd is the closest position a servant is to Allah. Prolonging your sujūd in these nights and filling it with duʿā’ is a Sunnah practice.
Pour your heart out, shed tears, and ask Allah for both your dunya and ākhirah needs. The prostration of Laylat al-Qadr could erase decades of shortcomings.
11. Seek Forgiveness Sincerely
Laylat al-Qadr is the night of pardoning. Ask Allah for maghfirah (forgiveness) with a broken heart, knowing your dependence on His mercy.
The Prophet ﷺ emphasized forgiveness as the most important duʿā’ on this night. Turn each sin into a reason to beg Allah to cleanse your record and renew your soul.
12. Balance Private and Collective Worship
While congregational Tarāwīḥ carries immense reward, also spend quiet moments alone with Allah.
Collective worship builds unity, but private worship fosters intimacy with the Creator. Divide your night between both, ensuring you experience the sweetness of solitude in worship.
13. Guard Your Tongue from Sin
Worship on Laylat al-Qadr is not only about performing acts of devotion but also about refraining from sin.
Guard your tongue from backbiting, gossip, and idle talk.
14. Give Thanks for Reaching the Night
Many believers of past years did not live to witness this Ramadan.
Express gratitude to Allah for allowing you to reach these nights. Gratitude itself is an act of worship that increases blessings: “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you.” [Qur’an 14:7]
15. Make Duʿā’ for the Ummah
The Prophet ﷺ was always concerned for his ummah. In these nights, remember not only yourself but also the global Muslim community—those suffering in hardship, poverty, or oppression.
Making duʿā’ for others brings angels to say, “And for you the same.” [Sahih Muslim, 2732]
16. Strive With Consistency Across All Ten Nights
The night is hidden as a test of sincerity.
Do not worship intensely one night and neglect the others.
Divide your effort across all ten nights so that you do not miss it, regardless of which night it falls upon. Consistency shows true desire for Allah’s pleasure.
17. Seek Laylat al-Qadr With Hope and Fear
Approach the night with rajā’ (hope) for Allah’s mercy and khawf (fear) of your shortcomings.
A balanced heart—yearning for Paradise and fearing the Fire—is more likely to be sincere and accepted. This combination softens the heart and makes duʿā’ flow with humility.
18. Reflect on the Temporary Nature of Life
Use the night to remind yourself of death, the grave, and the Hereafter. This reflection pushes the heart toward sincere repentance and detachment from worldly greed.
Laylat al-Qadr is a reminder that your life itself is short, and only actions done for Allah remain.
