Among the rewards that Almighty Allah has given to the Muslim Ummah with the blessings of the Prophet Mohammad, is one of the greatest prizes, “Layla tul Qadr”. It is also called the night of decree، night of power or night of blessings. The reward for worship in this one night is greater than that of a thousand months of worship, which amounts to 84 years and 4 months depending on the number of years. As Allah (S.W.T) says in Quran:
لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
Surah Al-Qadr[Ayat-3]
Now suppose one gets ten years’ of worship in Layla tul Qadr , then he will get rewarded for 833 years and 4 months, and if he gets Laylat al-Qadr for 20 years, then he will get reward of 1666 years and eight months.
In this context, the fortunate gentlemen eager to worship, in the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) will take precedence over the worshipers of the first Ummahs’. It is such a great blessing that no matter how much we thank almighty Allah is less. May Allaah bless every member of the Ummah with this blessing, Ameen.
The revelation of the Quran in Layla tul Qadr
Because of the greatness of Layla tul Qadr, Allaah has chosen the same night for the revelation of His holy Word. Surah Al-Qadr was started with this verse:
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ
Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.
Surah Al-Qadr[Ayat-1]
The commentators write that the Holy Qur’an was descended from Loh-safe to Bait-ul-Azzat (sky which is located in the world) in Laylat ul Qadr, then from there it was descended by Jibril (A.S) at the heart of Hazrat Muhammad (ﷺ) in 23 years. (Qurtubi 115/10)
The theological significance of Layla tul Qadr
The question arises as to why the night of decree is named layla tul Qadr, and two reasons are especially significant:
1- The word Qadr means come from the value and the greatness. So since it is a blessed and blessed night, and a book like the Qur’an has been revealed in it, so the worshiper that night is blessed with Allah. That is why it is called Layla tul Qadr.
2- In support of this, ‘Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “It is written in Umm al-Kitab (the Heavenly copy of the Qur’an) during Laylatul-Qadr what shall come to pass in the following year of good and evil, sustenance, and lifespan. Even the pilgrimage of the pilgrim (shall be decided); it will be said ‘so-and-so will perform pilgrimage’ (on this night).” That’s why it’s called Layla tul Qadr.
When to Find Laylat ul Qadr?
There are many sayings about Layla tul Qadr, but most scholars agree that it is one of the last ten nights of Ramadan. And even in these ten nights, odd nights (21-23-25-27-29) is expected to have Layla tul Qadr. And most hopefully in the twenty seventh night, even some scholars have set this date as if it were. (Qurtubi 121/10)
Therefore, in the last decade of Ramadan, especially should be searched for Layla tul Qadr(the night of decree). It is not difficult to spend ten nights in worship to achieve such great virtue, Provided there is a lot of zeal and yearning in the heart.
The loss of worship in Laylat ul Qadr is a great loss
A person who finds Layla tul Qadr in life and does lose the deprived of worship in it can be no greater deprived than this. Hazrat Anas bin Malik (R.A) says that once the month of Ramadan came, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ قَدْ حَضَرَكُمْ وَفِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ وَلاَ يُحْرَمُ خَيْرَهَا إِلاَّ مَحْرُومٌ
This month has come to you, and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it is deprived of all goodness, and no one is deprived of its goodness except one who is truly deprived.
Sunan Ibn Majah [Book 7, Hadith 1713]
Therefore, every Muslim should arrange worship in the night of Laylat ul Qadr and do not neglect it otherwise it will be a great deprivation.
The most sure way to get Laylat ul Qadr
The desire for the reward of worshiping in Laylat ul Qadr night should be in the heart of every Muslim, and should endeavor not to neglect worship for a moment. For this, Allah has given us the worship of itikaf. A person who attains the itikaf during the last decade of Ramadan will certainly not lose the value of Laylat ul Qadr. There is no end and certainly no more than itikaf for achieving Laylat ul Qadr.
If you are not in itikaf, it is too hard to spend the whole night in worship, But if a person who is a devotee remains asleep on account of his itikaf, he will be counted among the worshipers. And not a single moment of the night is wasted. Therefore, those who are eager to itikaf must organize an itikaf. May Allah bless us for this blessed and glorious worship. Ameen.