Three Ways to Seek Laylat ul-Qadr

[Gham-e-Madinah]

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

ASALATU WASALAMU ALAYKA YA RASULLALLAH

 

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.

 

1. Performing Night Prayer (Qiyam)

 

It is recommended to make a long night prayer during the nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many hadiths, such as the following:

 

Abu Hurayrah ( Radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger ( Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) said: "Whoever stands (in qiyam) 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, Muslim, Ahmad]

 

2. Making Supplications

 

It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. Aishah ( Radi Allahu anha) reported that she asked Allah's Messenger ( Salla Allahu ta'ala '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 tuhibbul afwa fafu annee - O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love to forgive. So forgive me.'" [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi. Verified to be authentic by Al-Albani]

 

3. 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. Aishah ( Radi Allahu anha) reported: "When the (last) ten started, the Prophet ( Salla Allahu ta'ala '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]

 

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu