As we head into the final phase of Ramadan, worshippers are looking ahead to the special night of worship known as Laylatul Qadr and trying to figure out when exactly it will take place. These are all the key dates to bear in mind.
Also known as the Night of Power, Night of Destiny or Night of Decree, Laylatul Qadr is thought to be on an odd night in the last 10 days of Ramadan, which for Sunni Muslims means the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th of the month within the Islamic calendar.
It’s said that on one of the odd-numbered nights in the last 10-day period of Ramadan, the first verses of the Quran were originally revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Scholars say this is when the annual destiny of every person is determined by God, and that staying awake praying, repenting for sins and reading the religious texts is rewarded many times over.
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Most Muslims point to a narration from the prophet Muhammad where he said: “Seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan.” Many take the 27th night as the date of Laylatul Qadr
The night is also written as Laylat al-Qadr, Lailatul-Qadr, and also Shab-e-Qadr. The Quran states: “The night of al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months.” In other words, acts of faith and devotion are multiplied and so worshipping God on this night is considered equivalent to doing so for 1,000 months, or 83 years and 4 months.
If you started Ramadan with March 11 as its first day – which was the case for Saudi Arabia and anyone following Saudi announcements including Green Lane Masjid in Birmingham – these odd nights are March 31, April 2, 4, 6 and 8. If you started Ramadan a day later on March 12, in line with UK or Morocco moonsighting reports, these odd nights are April 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Based on those dates, the 27th night when Laylatul Qadr takes place will be either April 6 or 7.
Shia Muslims, on the other hand, are said to believe Laylatul Qadr is either the 19th, 21st or 23rd of Ramadan, with the 23rd being the preferred date. The Shia community in Iraq started Ramadan on March 12, so those nights equate to March 30, April 1 and April 3, with Laylatul Qadr on April 3.
What are the signs of Laylatul Qadr?
As well as following the date that a certain mosque or community announces for its observance of Laylatul Qadr, there are several ways for people to know the special night has arrived, according to Islamic scholars.
The prophet Muhammad is said to have described certain signs so people could recognise the Night of Power. He said the sun would appear dull and weak on the morning after, explaining: “On the morning following Lailatul-Qadr the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up.” And in another narration, he said: “Lailatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its morning being feeble and red.”
In addition, the Quran describes it as a tranquil evening, saying: “Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” Some worshippers say other signs include the moon looking like ‘half a plate’, while others suggest there will be rain because the prophet Muhammad had dreamed about Laylatul Qadr while asleep on the ground and when he woke up, his face was wet with rainwater.
What happens on Laylatul Qadr?
At Green Lane Mosque and Community Centre (GLMCC) in Birmingham – as with many other large mosques in the city and around the world – the congregation swells to thousands during the final 10 nights of Ramadan. Many spend the whole night in the mosque in prayers, often staying until dawn and having their pre-dawn meal at the mosque too. GLMCC usually feeds over 300 people every night for breakfast before the start of the fast.
On the 27th night of Ramadan, many more people go to the mosque since they feel this is most likely to be the Night of Power. Well over 2,000 worshippers attend and the venue feeds over 1,000. GLMCC also raises around £300,000 from the congregation for international humanitarian causes.
Here are the usual activities people are urged to undertake on the Night of Power.
1. Praying through the night (Qiyam, night prayer)
It’s stated that Muhammad said: “Whoever stays up and prays on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” This indicates that people are encouraged to observe Laylatul Qadr by spending much or all of the night in prayer.
2. Making supplications (Dua)
It is also recommended to make extensive supplications (dua) on this night. Scholars say that one of the best dua that may be recited on Laylatul Qadr is the one the Prophet taught his wife Aisha: “Oh Allah, you are forgiving and you love to forgive, so forgive me.”
3. Abandoning worldly pleasures for worship
Muslims are also urged to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylatul Qadr is likely to fall. This calls for abandoning earthly pleasures in order to have the free time and thought to devote to worship. Muhammad’s wife said the prophet used to spend the whole night awake in prayer.
4. Reading the Quran
Ramadan is seen as the month of the Quran so Muslims traditionally put down all their other books to concentrate on reciting, memorising, understanding and studying its texts.
5. Good deeds, no matter how small, can count for a lot
What may seem like minor gestures of kindness and compassion can count for a lot on the Night of Power. Islamic scholars say that “sometimes the smallest deed can become a great weight on the scale of your deeds”.
In Islam, there are a number of historic tales such as the prostitute who was forgiven her sins for feeding a cat or the man who was forgiven his sins after offering water to a thirsty dog. Scholars say it means that even a simple act of goodwill can have huge spiritual significance.
