Fasting & Ramadan Islamic Studies

GPS for the Night that is the Best

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Originally published in August 2010.

Its Blessed Name: Laylat al-Qadar

  • Night [Layl]: indicates the time from sunset till dawn.
  • Power [al-Qadar]: This word carries a number of different meanings such as honor, serenity, judgment, and power. The scholars differed over the meaning of this word when used in relation to that special night that takes place during the month of Ramadan. Here are the most common interpretations:

1. Magnificence and Honor.

This meaning is obvious because it is the night that the Qur’an was sent, Prophethood was announced and the angels descend. Other scholars held that the one who revived this night with worship would become honorable because Allah (swt) would raise rank.

Lessons

As Muslims we should feel honored because Laylat-al-Qadar was the night that the Qur’an was sent and the Prophet ﷺ was chosen by Allah. However, this was also the night that witnessed the birth of a new religious nation – the nation of the Prophet ﷺ – and we are blessed to belong to that nation. Do you feel humble? Do you feel blessed to be a part of that nation? Do you feel and share the greatness of this night? Do your actions reflect that humility? If one wants to be honored, then let him do so by worshiping Allah.

2. Something Restricted or Difficult to Attain.

The exact date of Laylat al-Qadar is unknown; the knowledge of its occurrence is restricted from men. The only way to find it is to put forth effort and seek it. It is also said that the earth becomes full with the presence of an infinite number of malaikah (angels).

Lessons

When something is hidden, it is a sign of its value. One who truly understands this will work to find the hidden treasure in this night.

3. Judgment and Decision.

This is the night when the angels will distribute what is destined for Allah’s servants with regards to those servants’ provisions and lifespan for the next year. Some scholars contended that the night which ones provisions and life were to be given is during the middle of the month of Sh’aban (the month preceding Ramadan). However, the majority of scholars hold that it is this night, the Night of Power.

THE SIGNS

When Does it Occur?

Laylat al-Qadar takes place in the last ten nights of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ said, “I witnessed the Night of Power, then I forgot [which night it was]. It happens in the last ten nights (of Ramadan).” (Ibn Hiban)

The Night:

  • The night is mild, as stated by the Prophet ﷺ, “The night of power is a mild night neither hot nor cold.” (Ibn Khuzaymah, authentic.)
  • The number of angels out that night are too numerous to count. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The number of angels present that night on earth cannot be counted.” (Ibn Khuzaymah, good hadith)
  • It is a clear night and the stars are visible: The Prophet ﷺ said, “The night of power is a clear night… as though its moon uncovers the nights’ stars.” (Ibn Hibban)

The Morning After

  • The  sun rises in the morning after the Night of Power “red and weak.” (Ibn Khuzaimah, authentic)
  • The Prophet ﷺ said about the sunrise, in another hadith, that it is “white, having no rays”. [Muslim]. Having no rays is explained by the narration above as being “weak.”

Things to do:

  • Pray.
  • Read Qur’an.
  • Make dhikr.
  • Engage in worship in its strict sense.
  • Be kind to others.
  • If you’re in the Masjid, be clean.
  • Avoid being rude.

Things not to do:

  • Talk and waste one’s time socializing.
  • Commit sins.
  • Sleep the night away.
  • Making the Masjid untidy.

What if I Have Commitments the Next Day?

Scholars noted that one does not have to stand the entire night to experience it. One could worship for a short while and still receive the blessings of the night. Thus those who have to work, take care of the kids, or other responsibilities need only worship for a short while. [See Fath al-Bari of Ibn Hajar.]

May Allah grant us guidance to experience this night.

About the author

Suhaib Webb

Suhaib Webb is a contemporary American-Muslim educator, activist, and lecturer. His work bridges classical and contemporary Islamic thought, addressing issues of cultural, social and political relevance to Muslims in the West. After converting to Islam in 1992, Webb left his career in the music industry to pursue his passion in education. He earned a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and received intensive private training in the Islamic Sciences under a renowned Muslim Scholar of Senegalese descent. Webb was hired as the Imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, where he gave khutbas (sermons), taught religious classes, and provided counselling to families and young people; he also served as an Imam and resident scholar in communities across the U.S.

From 2004-2010, Suhaib Webb studied at the world’s preeminent Islamic institution of learning, Al-Azhar University, in the College of Shari`ah. During this time, after several years of studying the Arabic Language and the Islamic legal tradition, he also served as the head of the English Translation Department at Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah.

Outside of his studies at Al-Azhar, Suhaib Webb completed the memorization of the Quran in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He has been granted numerous traditional teaching licenses (ijazat), adhering to centuries-old Islamic scholarly practice of ensuring the highest standards of scholarship. Webb was named one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in 2010.

23 Comments

  • Having read from what background Imam Suhaib Webb has arisen,may I pray during his month, that Allah,in His Infinite Mercy & Wisdom should Guide and Guard him and his family,ALWAYS….Aameen.

    Alhamdulillah,may Allah give me the Thufik to always want to appreciate and approve of what the Imam says….Aameen.

    So,may Allah make Imam Suhaib Webb Wiser…..Aameen.

    To become a convert and be blessed and Guided is ‘NO EASY JOKE’!!!!!

    Wassalams,
    Brother Niza

  • The Prophet said about it’s sunrise in another narration, “white having no rays” [Muslim]. Having no rays is explained by the narration above as being “weak”

    Salaam alaykum,

    My wife and I were returning monday early morning from wisconsin taking some back way country roads, and my wife pointed up to the sky and said, “Is that the sun?” and I said, no, that’s a full moon, it’s white and easy to look at, and just to contradict me, the light shone all of a sudden bright and blinding and then returned back to that white state, where it was easy to look at. It would occasionally blind me again if looking at it, but it was often white and easy to look at, with no rays forthcoming. Sunday night (the 23rd night) may have been it.

    Wallaahu a’lam

    Siraaj

  • “Had people not left their salah except for that (one) night, I would have informed you (of its exact date).” [Al-Tabarani]

    Does this mean that Laylatul Qadr falls on the same night every year?

  • I agree with Br. Siraaj in that I noticed some subtleties on Sunday night too.

    I have read some narrations that say Laylatul Qadr does not have to be the same night every year ie. that it moves about within the last 10 days so you really do have to look for it.

  • Jazak Allah khayr for the post Br Suhaib

    also, i did check out the crescent youth site- mashAllah nicely put together

    may Allah give us some of the blessings of Laylatul Qadr

  • Brother Siraj, if you saw the sun in that form on Monday morning (the 22nd of Ramadan), then that would indicate that laylat al qadr was Sunday evening which is NOT the 23rd night as you indicated, but rather the 22nd night (if you started Ramadan on Sept. 1st). My mom and sister woke me up Tuesday morning and asked me if I saw the sun that morning. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see the sun from where I live, but they described it as rayless and peculiar looking, subhnallah. They were referring to the ahadith mentioned above, and were contemplating whether the previous night (the 23rd night) was laylat alqadr. Allahu a3lam. May Allah (swt) grant us the mercy and blessing of this night, may He accept all of our efforts from this month, forgive our sins, and grant us Jannah inshallah.

  • Scholars noted that one does not have to stand the entire night to experience it. One could worship for a short while and still receive the blessings of the night. Thus those who have to work, take care of the kids, or other responsibilities need only worship for a short while. [See Fath al-Bari of Ibn Hajar.]

    May I ask if we would still receive the blessings of the night if we prayed earlier during the night i.e before midnight?

  • Salamu alaikum sheikh,

    Do you have any suggestions on what a sister can do these last ten nights if she is menstruating?

    JazakAllahukhair

  • Tonight it rained heavily.A non Islamic source told me that in rain for every drop ,Malaikathu are enclosed in that raindrop. Yesterday I listened to the Noble youth recite Badr Shakir As Sayyabs Rain poem. The weekend Sat and Sun I witnessed the waning crescent moon. Sunday night saw its thinest and reddest glow and I felt good,thought thicker on sat’ night I watched it for a long time -the Crescent moon. I had forgot.about Laylat ak qadr and though our skies are thick with cloud I feel like it may be tonight or tomorrow.Alah Alam

  • […] GPS for the Night that is the Best Its Blessed Name: Laylat al-Qadar Night [Layl]: indicates the time from sunset till dawn. Power [al-Qadar]: This word carries a number of different meanings such as honor, serenity, judgment, and power. The scholars differed over the meaning of this word when used in relation to that special night that takes place during the month of […] […]

    • salaam
      thank you for the information. it really is worthwhile and puts many issues into context and makes one focused for the tasks for the holy night.
      i am looking the english translation of the dua that one reads after the completion of the recitation of the holy Quran. if you do have it please forward it to my email address.
      may you be blessed abundantly inshallah ameen

  • ya imam i dont understand that one of the signs is that the night will be mild and clear…it couldnt possibly be mild and clear in every city in the world…how do we explain that?

    • Either significantly more mild and clear in one or more locations around the world for those who look to see that sign, or in Madinah/Mecca…Allahu A3lam

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