Introduction
Merits of Laylat ul-Qadr
Allah says ⟪Laylat ul-Qadr is better than a thousand months.⟫ (Surah Qadr)
So, the nights that are possibly Laylat ul-Qadr are times to exert yourself in the worship of Allah to gain the reward of worshiping for a 1000 months. A 1000 months is 83 years. So, worshiping on Laylat ul-Qadr is like you worshiped for a whole lifetime!
Allah says ⟪The angels and the Ruh descend in it with every command.⟫ (Surah Qadr) The Ruh refers to Jibril (AS).
Laylat ul-Qadr is our opportunity to give a good impression to the angels, the honored servants of Allah.
Time of Laylat ul-Qadr
In the Islamic calendar, night extends from Maghrib till the start of Fajr (dawn).
Allah says ⟪It is peace, until the coming of dawn.⟫ (Surah Qadr)
Worship on Laylat ul-Qadr
All worship is important, but two acts of worship are specifically emphasized on Laylat ul-Qadr:
- Qiyam ul-Layl
- Dua
Qiyam ul-Layl
The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever stands (in prayer) on Laylat ul-Qadr with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)
Qiyam ul-Layl literally means “Standing at night.” There are two possible meanings for Qiyam ul-Layl, and there is also a way to get the reward of Qiyam ul-Layl without doing it directly.
Prayer at Night
The first meaning of Qiyam ul-Layl is to pray Salah at night while reciting a lot of Quran.
Ibn Umar (RA) narrated: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Prayer at night is two by two. Then, when you fear the dawn is coming, pray witr with one rakah, and make the last prayer the witr.” (Malik, Bukhari, and Muslim)
Number of Rakahs
There are two prayers that broadly fall into the category of Qiyam ul-Layl: 1) Taraweeh (prayer after Isha in Ramadan), and 2) Tahajjud (prayer after sleeping for a part of the night). Then, there is also general Qiyam ul-Layl you can pray two by two whenever you wish.
Taraweeh is 20 rakahs according to the majority, 8 rakahs according to some scholars who said all of Qiyam ul-Layl (Taraweeh, Tahajjud, and everything else combined) are recommended to total 8 rakahs, and has no defined number of rakahs according to some scholars.
As for Tahajjud (praying after you wake up from sleep) or general Qiyam ul-Layl at the end of the night, the Prophet (SAW) generally prayed 8 rakahs, but any number of rakahs is allowed.
The recommendation should not stop you from worshiping more. If you pray 8 rakahs then have more time to worship, pray more or do another act of worship.
Praying at Home or the Masjid
Scholars differed: Is it better to pray Taraweeh in the masjid or at home? Imam Malik and Shafi’i said it is better to pray at home since that means you will personally recite more Quran. This was also the view of Ibn Umar (RA) and others. This is only if you can guarantee you will pray at home. Imam Ahmad and others said it is better to pray Taraweeh in the masjid because of the hadith we will discuss in its section.
There is, however, no doubt or question that praying Isha in the masjid is many times better than praying it at home.
Which Part of the Night
The best time to pray is the last third of the night. The Prophet (SAW) said, ⟪Our Blessed Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night is left and said, “Who is calling me so I can respond? Who is asking from me so I can answer? Who is seeking forgiveness so I can forgive?”⟫ (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Although the last third of the night is the best time, it is better to spend the whole night in worship if you feel a night is likely to be Laylat ul-Qadr.
Abu Dharr (RA) said (in a long hadith): [When three nights remained of Ramadan], the Prophet (SAW) called his family and wives and led us [in Qiyam ul-Layl at the masjid] until we feared missing suhur. (Tirmidhi; Hasan Sahih)
Quran and Zikr
Another meaning of Qiyam ul-Layl is to worship Allah all night through recitation of the Quran or other zikr. This is a lesser form because the best way of reciting the Quran is in Qiyam ul-Layl. However, if you cannot do Salah, at least recite and do zikr.
The angels love those who do zikr and take back their news to Allah, and Laylat ul-Qadr is when all the angels descend to earth.
Abu Hurairah (RA) and Abu Saeed (RA) narrated from the Prophet (SAW), “No group of people mention Allah except that angels surround them, mercy envelops them, tranquility will descend on them, and Allah will mention them to those with him.” (Muslim)
Congregation in the Masjid
Praying With the Imam Until He Finishes
If you pray Taraweeh in the masjid until the imam finishes praying, that counts as reward for the whole night. If you cannot pray much in the night yourself, this option is better than nothing.
Abu Dharr (RA) narrated: The Prophet (SAW) led us in prayer on [a night of Ramadan] until half the night passed. We said, “Messenger of Allah, if only you prayed the rest of this night.” He said, “Whoever stands with the imam until he finishes, it will be written for him that he prayed the whole night.” (Sunan Tirmidhi; Hasan Sahih)
Praying Isha In the Masjid
If you pray Isha in the masjid, it is like the reward of praying half the night.
Uthman (RA) said himself or narrated from the Prophet (SAW), “Whoever prays Isha in congregation, it is like he prayed half the night. Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, it is like he prayed the full night.” (Muslim)
The part about Fajr does not matter to Laylat ul-Qadr since it ends at Fajr, before the prayer.
The Prophet (SAW) said, “Prayer in congregation is 27 times better than prayer alone.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Saeed ibn al-Musayyab (one of the students of Abu Hurairah) used to say, “Whoever prays Maghrib and Isha in congregation has taken his share of Laylat ul-Qadr.” (Ibn Abi Shaibah; Sahih)
Generally, congregation means praying in the masjid, but congregations outside the masjid or at home are better than praying alone.
Dua
There are seven things to make dua for, prioritizing dua for forgiveness and safety from Jahannam:
- Forgiveness
- Jannah and safety from Jahannam
- Guidance
- Marriage
- Health and Wealth
- Parents
- General Muslims
Also see: How to Make Dua – Fussilat Blog
Below, I have collected a small collection of duas mainly from the Quran that can be used for the seven topics.
Forgiveness
It is narrated from Aisha (RA), “If I knew what night Laylat ul-Qadr was, most of my duas would be for forgiveness.”
Allah says about the people of Jannah ⟪They used to sleep little at night, and they used to seek forgiveness before dawn.⟫ (Surah Dhariyaat)
Our parents Adam and Hawwa (AS) said ⟪”Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.”⟫ and Allah forgave them.
- رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Yunus (AS) said in darkness from the belly of the whale, ⟪”There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”⟫ Allah says ⟪So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.⟫ (21:87-88)
- لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Abdullah ibn Buraidah narrated: Aisha (RA) asked, “Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say in it?” He said, “Say: O Allah, you are pardoning, you love to pardon, so pardon me.” (Tirmidhi; Hasan Sahih) There is no evidence Abdullah ever learned from Aisha (RA), so the hadith is probably disconnected, but it is ok to take inspiration from it.
- اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Abdullah ibn Buraidah also narrated the hadith of Sayyid ul-Istighfar.
Allah recommends the dua ⟪”Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we forgot or make a mistake. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.”⟫
- رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنْتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
Jannah and Safety from Jahannam
Allah teaches us to say ⟪”Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”⟫ (2:201)
- رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Allah says ⟪The servants of al-Rahman are […] those who say “Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering;⟫ ⟪Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence.”⟫ (25:65-66)
- رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا
إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا
Allah says ⟪Those who mention Allah standing, sitting, and on their sides, and ponder over the creation of the heavens and earth, saying, “Our Lord, you did not create this without purpose, exalted you are, so save us from the punishment of the fire.⟫ ⟪Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire – You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.⟫ ⟪Our Lord, indeed we have heard a caller calling to faith, [saying], ‘Believe in your Lord,’ and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous.⟫ ⟪Our Lord, and grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in [Your] promise.”⟫ Then, Allah says ⟪And their Lord responded to them, “Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female […]⟫ (3:191-195)
- رَبَّنَا قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ
رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ
رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
Guidance for the Religion and General Life
Surah Fatihah is a dua for guidance.
Allah also recommends ⟪”Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise.”⟫ (3:8-9)
- رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
Ibrahim (AS) said ⟪My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [also make] my descendants [the same]. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.⟫ (14:40)
- رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
Ibrahim (AS) said ⟪And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this city [Makkah] secure and keep me and my children away from worshipping idols.⟫ (14:36) The part about Makkah can be excluded.
- رَبِّ اجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَنْ نَعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ
Allah says ⟪And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, “Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful.”⟫ (59:10)
- رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
The people of the cave said ⟪”Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.”⟫ (18:10)
- رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Marriage and Children
Allah says ⟪The servants of al-Rahman are […] those who say “Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.”⟫ (25:74)
- رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Health and Wealth
Allah teaches us to say ⟪”Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”⟫ (2:201)
- رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Musa (AS) said when he was in extreme need ⟪”My Lord, I am in need for whatever good You would send down to me.”⟫ (28:24) After he made this dua, he got a job and got married.
- رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
Parents
Sulaiman (AS) said ⟪”My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.”⟫ (27:19)
- رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Allah says ⟪And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.”⟫ (17:24)
- رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
The Prophet (SAW) said, “All the actions of a human being end when he dies except three: 1) On-going charity, 2) Beneficial knowledge, and 3) A child who prays for them.” (Sahih Muslim)
General Muslims
Ibrahim (AS) said ⟪”Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.”⟫ (14:41)
- رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Nuh (AS) said ⟪”My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction.”⟫ (71:28)
- رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَنْ دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًا
Talut and his army said when facing Jalut ⟪”Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”⟫
- رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
Allah said about the prophets and scholars who fought for the sake of Allah in the past ⟪And their words were not but that they said, “Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess [committed] in our affairs and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”⟫ (3:147)
- رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
And Allah knows best.
See: When is Laylat ul-Qadr? – Fussilat Blog
