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


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