How to Seek Laylatul-Qadr
Author: Shaykh Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen al-Albani
Adapted from “The Night Prayers: Qiyam & Tarawih from
works by Muhammad Nasir ud-Deen al-Albani (and other
scholars)”
Compiled by Muhammad al-Jibali, © 1997 QSS
Laylat ul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses
it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing
person is zealous to obey his Lord and increase the good
deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night
and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for
him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.
Praying Qiyaam
It is recommended to make a long Qiyaam prayer during the
nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in
many hadeeths, such as the following:
Abu Tharr (radhiallahu `anhu) relates:“We fasted with Allah’s
Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) in Ramadaan. He did
not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven (nights of
Ramadaan) left. Then he stood with us (that night – in prayer)
until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us
on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of
the night had passed. So we said, ‘Allah’s Messenger!
Wouldn’t you pray with us the whole night?’ He replied:
‘Whoever stands in prayer with the imaam until he (the
imaam) concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him that he
prayed the whole night.’…” [Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah,
Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi (who authenticated it), an-Nasa'i, Ibn
Majah, and their isnad is authentic]
« صمنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم فلم يصل بنا حتى بقي سبع من الشهر فقام بنا
حتى ذهب ثلث الليل ثم لم يقم بنا في السادسة وقام بنا في الخامسة حتى ذهب شطر الليل
فقلنا له يا رسول الله لو نفلتنا بقية ليلتنا هذه ؟ فقال إنه من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف
كتب له قيام ليلة …»
رواه اصحاب السنن الأربعة وابن شيبة
[Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: "I heard Ahmad being asked, 'Do you like for a man
to pray with the people or by himself during Ramadan?' He replied, 'Pray with the people' I
also heard him say, 'I would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the imaam and to pray witr
with him as well, for the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: "When a man prays with
the imaam until he concludes, it is recorded that he prayed the rest of that night." [Masaa'il]]
Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu `anhu) narrated that the Messenger
(sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever stands (in
qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of
faith and expectation (of Allah’s reward), will have all of his
previous sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the addition
"and it is facilitated for him" is recorded by Ahmad from the
report of `Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted
to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed
night.]
« من قام ليلة القدر ] ثم وفقت له [ , إيمانا واحتسابا, غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه »
رواه البخاري ومسلم والإمام أحمد والزيادةله
Making Supplications
It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this
night. `A’ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported that she asked
Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), “O
Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr,
what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say:
“Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuh.ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee – O
Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive
me.” [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmizi. Verified
to be authentic by Al-Albani]
« قلت يا رسول الله أرأيت إن علمت أي ليلة ليلة القدر ما أقول فيها قال قولي اللهم إنك
عفو كريم تحب العفو فاعف عني »
رواه أحمد, ابن ماجه, الترمذي وصححه الألباني
Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship
It is further recommended to spend more time in worship
during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr is likely to be. This
calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to
secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah.
`A’ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported: “When the (last) ten
started, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) would
tighten his izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to
have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in
prayer), and wake up his family.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
« كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا دخل العشر شد مئزره , وأحيا ليله , وأيقظ أهله »
رواه البخاري ومسلم
And she said: “Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa
sallam) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on
other nights.” [Muslim]
« كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يجتهد في العشر الأواخر , ما لا يجتهد في غيره »
رواه مسلم
WWW.ISLAMLAND.COM
