Prof. Imad Benjelloun

Imad Benjelloun

April 4, 2024

QUESTIONS

  1. What are the best ten nights of the year? And why?
  2. What did Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, use to do during the best ten nights of the year?
  3. What does laylatul qadr mean?
  4. Why is laylatul qadr of utmost importance and the best single night of the year?
  5. When is laylatul qadr?
  6. What are the signs of laylatul qadr?
  7. What special du’a to make during laylatul qadr?
  8. As a youth, how to benefit from the best ten nights of the year including laylatul qadr?

ANSWERS

1. What are the best ten nights of the year? And why?

The best ten nights of the year are the last ten nights of Ramadan because they include the best and jewel of all nights, called laylatul qadr (night of decree and power), that is better than a thousand months and in which the entire Holy Quran was revealed. They start on the night of the 20th day of Ramadan (i.e., the night right before the start of the 21st day).

2. What did the Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, use to do during the best ten nights of the year?

Lady Aisha, God be pleased with her, narrated that with the start of the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet, God bless him and grant him peace, used to tighten his waist belt (i.e., make extra effort in acts of worship and not be intimate with his wives), stay awake all night (in performing spiritual acts of worship), and wake his family up (to do the same). (Bukhari)

3. What does laylatul qadr mean?

laylatul qadr carries different meanings including Night of Decree and Destiny, Night of Greatness, and Night of Power:

  • Night of Decree and Destiny [qadar] because every matter is decreed in it for the upcoming year, including one’s provision, deeds, and lifespan.
  • Night of Greatness because of its high status and unique virtues; it is a highly honored night.
  • Night of Power because of the exceptionally powerful impact of worship in it and the power to change one’s annual decreed matters -through du’a– before they are finalized.

4. Why is laylatul qadr of utmost importance and the best single night of the year?

God Almighty says:And what will make you realize what (the utmost importance of) laylatul qadr is?”[1] (Quran 97:2). Laylatul qadr is of utmost importance and the best single night of the year because:

  • Laylatul qadr is the name of a chapter of the Quran (97: al-qadr) that is entirely dedicated to it.
  • Laylatul qadr is the night in which the entire Quran was revealed from the Preserved Tablet (al-lawh al-mahfudh) in the highest heaven to the House of Honor (bayt al-‘izza) in the lowest heaven of this world. God Almighty says: “We have revealed it (the Quran) in laylatul qadr.”[2] (Quran 97:1).

Then from the House of Honor in the lowest heaven of this world, the Quran was revealed in piecemeal during a period of 23 years unto Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace. God Almighty says: “We have divided the Quran into parts so that you may recite it to the people gradually. And We have revealed it piecemeal.”[3] (Quran 17:106).

The first verses of the Quran that were revealed upon Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, were verses 1 through 5 of Chapter 96 (The Clot: al-alaq) during his spiritual retreat in Cave Hira in Mountain Nour, which is 4 kilometers away from the Holy Kaaba in the blessed city of Mecca. That was in the last ten nights of Ramadan,[4] 40 years after the historical Year of the Elephant[5] (i.e., 13 years before the start of the Islamic calendar that is marked by the year Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, along with his Companions migrated from Mecca to Medina.)

  • Laylatul qadr is better than a thousand months”[6] (Quran 97:3). It is a highly generous gift from God to His Final Prophet and his community in order to be able to achieve during our relatively short lifespan that (e.g., good deeds, acts of worship, and closeness to God Almighty) which people before us were able to achieve during their relatively long lifespan.
  • Laylatul qadr is so much blessed that the “the angels and the Spirit descend by the permission of their Lord”[7] (Quran 97:4) to the point that the entire earth becomes constricted with their presence. Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, said: “The angels on such night (laylatul qadr) are surely more numerous on earth that the pebbles.”[8] It is commonly understood that the Spirit means Archangel Gabriel, peace be upon him, whose presence is another reason why laylatul qadr is of high esteem and honor.
  • Laylatul qadr is the night in which all your matters (e.g., provision, deeds, and lifespan) for the upcoming year are decreed and finalized (Quran 97:4[9] and 44:4[10]). This is important because it is your best chance (and could be the last chance) to make du’a to change these decreed matters for the best before they are finalized, such as removing from such decrees any upcoming calamity resulting from your sins.
  • Laylatul qadr is a golden opportunity to get all your past sins forgiven. Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever stands up in prayer during laylatul qadr with belief (in its virtues) and hope (for God’s reward), his past sins are forgiven.”[11]
  • Laylatul qadr is a uniquely blessed night. God Almighty says: “We have surely revealed it (Quran) on a blessed night (laylatul qadr).”[12] (Quran 44:3)
  • Laylatul qadr is recommended by Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, to be sought.[13] The purpose of seeking it and searching for it is to not miss it and so spend it in praying, supplicating, reading Quran and practicing other forms of dhikr.

 5. When is laylatul qadr?

No one except God Almighty knows when laylatul qadr is so that you make an extra effort in worship in all nights in Ramadan, not just a single night. The following tells us when laylatul qadr could be:

  • Any night in Ramadan

The Quran was revealed in its entirety in Ramadan and since laylatul qadr is the night when such revelation occurred, laylatul qadr could be on any night during Ramadan.

  • Any of the last ten nights of Ramadan

Lady ‘Aisha, God be pleased with her, narrated that Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, said, “Seek laylatul qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.” (Bukhari)

  • Odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan

Lady ‘Aisha, God be pleased with her, narrated that Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, said, “Seek laylatul qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan.” (Bukhari)

  • Any night in the last week of Ramadan

Ibn Umar, God be pleased with him, narrated that Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, said, “Seek laylatul qadr in the last week of Ramadan.” (Muslim)

  • 27th night of Ramadan

Abdullah Ibn Umar, God be pleased with them, narrated that Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, said, “Whoever is seeking laylatul qadr should seek it on the 27th night of Ramadan.” (Ahmed). The 27th night means the night preceding the 27th day.

In summary, laylatul qadr could be any night in Ramadan, more probably any night in its last ten (or seven) nights, even more probably any odd night of the last ten (or seven) nights, but most probably on the 27th night of Ramadan. And God knows best, always!

6. What are the Signs of laylatul qadr?

We do not know exactly when laylatul qadr is, but we know some of its signs that include:

  • The moon looks like a piece of a plate:

Abu Hurayra, God be pleased with him, narrated: We were talking about laylatul qadr in the presence of the Messenger of God, God bless him and grant him peace, then he said: “Who amongst you remembers (the night) when the moon arose, and it was like a piece of a plate?” (Muslim)

  • Calm and peaceful, and not hot or cold:

God Almighty says: “It (laylatul qadr) is peaceful until the rise of dawn.” (Quran 97:5). And Abdullah Ibn Abbas, God be pleased with him, narrated that Prophet Muhammad, G­od bless him and grant him peace, said: “laylatul qadr is a calm and peaceful night, not hot or cold. In its morning, the sun rises reddish without rays.” Without rays implies that one is able to stare at it.

  • The sun rises reddish without rays:

As stated in the above hadith, in the morning right after laylatul qadr, the sun rises without rays and with a reddish disc. Imam an-Nawawi gave two possible explanations: (1) God Almighty wants the sun to rise in a very special way after a very special night. (2) The abundant number of angels filling the sky during laylatul qadr blocks the rays of the sun.

  • Rain:

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, God bless him and grant him peace, narrated that Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, saw himself (in a dream) prostrating in mud and water in the morning of laylatul qadr. (Bukhari)

Note that if any of such signs is not observed, it does not necessarily mean that it is not laylatul qadr because God Almighty can keep it a secret in any Ramadan. That is why we should always pray and hope to not miss it.

7. What special du’a to say during laylatul qadr?

Lady ‘Aisha, God be pleased with her, narrated: O Messenger of God, if I know when laylatul qadr is, then what should I say in it? He said: “Say: ‘Oh God, indeed You are the Pardoner, the Generous, You love to pardon, so pardon me.’” (allahumma innaka `afuwwun kareemun, tuhibbul-`afwa fa`fu `anni) (Tirmidhi). This du’a includes asking your Lord, the Pardoner, to erase your sins and remove from the decreed matters on this night (before they are finalized) any forthcoming consequences of such sins.

8. As a youth, how to benefit from the best ten nights of the year including laylatul qadr?

In order to catch laylatul qadr -which is only known to God Almighty- and also benefit the most form the best nights of the year, you should strive to do the following on any night in Ramadan especially during its last ten nights, preferably in a spiritual retreat in the Mosque (i’tikaf). And if you have time only for one thing then do #1 at the least:

  • Pray both Isha and Fajr in congregation because that is equivalent to performing salat the entire night as stated by Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace.
  • Pray tarawih and qiyamul layl preferably in congregation.
  • Read and listen to the Holy Quran as much as possible.
  • Make dhikr as much as possible. Mainly and repeatedly, glorify and praise your Lord Most High (tasbih), ask Him for forgiveness (istighfar), pray for His Messenger Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace, and proclaim His oneness and uniqueness of God (tahlil).
  • Make the special du’a “Oh God, indeed You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me.” (allahumma innaka `afuwwun, tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `anni)[14]
  • Make du’a that your matters decreed for the upcoming year be all best for you, before they are finalized on laylatul qadr, making your best dreams true and your worst fears taken care of. This is similar to making du’a for the best while awaiting the result of an exam or the ruling of a judge before they are finalized.
  • Make du’a for yourself, to strengthen your relationship with your Creator Almighty and His Messenger, to keep you highly motivated to learn and practice Islam, to better your relationship with your parents, to make you successful at school, to guide you in your career, to make you healthy, and to give you the strength to stay away from evil temptations. At your age, this is the best time to choose a specialty and career so that you can start planning for it in advance, with the goal of becoming among the best at it. And the best One to guide you choose is God Almighty; the best ten nights of the year including laylatul qadr are a golden opportunity to ask Him to guide you choose what is best for you.
  • Make du’a for others, for Prophet Muhammad first and foremost, God bless him and grant him peace, for all other Prophets and Messengers of God, for the Companions and their Followers, for the righteous, for your parents and family, for the community and society, and for all Muslims.
  • Make du’a that God Almighty make you the cause for your non-Muslim classmates and compatriots, friends and neighbors, and co-players and co-workers, to discover the beauty of Islam in your own deeds and words, and embrace it.
  • Give charity every night, even if it is only $1 because that could be as if you donated $1 every day for about 83 years.
  • Stay focused on the primary purpose behind all the above, which is to better connect with your Lord Most High, gain His satisfaction and love, and achieve nearness to Him.

[1] Quran 97:2 [وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ] [2] Quran 97:1 [إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ] [3] [وَقُرْءَانًۭا فَرَقْنَـٰهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكْثٍۢ وَنَزَّلْنَـٰهُ تَنزِيلًۭا] [4] Another opinion says that it was on the 16th day of Ramadan. God knows best!
[5] Chapter 105 (The Elephant) of the Holy Quran describes the event where the People of the Elephant brought an army of elephants to destroy the Holy Kaaba but God, All-Powerful, destroyed them instead, with a flock of birds.
[6] Quran 97:3 [لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ] [7] Quran 97:4 [تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ] [8] Narrated by Abu Hurayra, God be pleased with him, reported by Tabarani [إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ أَكْثَرُ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ عَدَدِ الْحَصَى] [9] Quran 97:4 [تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ] [10] Quran 44:4 [فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ] [11] Narrated by Abu Hurayra, God be pleased with him, reported by Bukhari [مَن قَامَ لَيْلَةَ القَدْرِ إيمَانًا واحْتِسَابًا، غُفِرَ له ما تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنْبِهِ] [12] Quran 44:3 [إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةٍۢ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ] [13] Narrated by lady Aisha, God be pleased with her, reported by Bukhari.
[14] [اللْهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي]