What is Laylat al-Qadr and how should I seek it?
A night better than a thousand months, hidden in the odd nights of the last ten of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ taught a specific duʿāʾ for it, and the scholars taught how to search for it.
10 passages from 5 books in the library
Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, is the holiest night of Ramadan — Ibn Kathir, in The Story of Adam, calls it "the best of nights." Al-Ghazali, in The Book of Fasting, describes it as the night "when something of the dominion is unveiled" and notes it is "most likely on odd" nights. To seek it, he teaches in The Mysteries of Zakat that "the best days of Ramadan are the last ten nights," and that Ramadan carries the merit of Laylat al-Qadr, being the month in which the Qurʾān was revealed.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 books by Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Ibn Kathir — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Ramadan holds the merit of Laylat al-Qadr and is the month in which the Quran was revealed. Mujahid used to say, "Do not call it Ramadan, for it is one of the names of Allah, but say 'the month of Ramadan.'" Dhu al-Hijjah is also a month of great virtue, as it is sacred and includes the greater pilgrimage and the known days, which are the first ten days, and the specified days, which are the days of Tashreeq."
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"Therefore, seize the opportunity and designate a specific month for giving, striving for the best times to increase prosperity and multiply zakat, such as the month of Muharram or during Ramadan. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was most generous during Ramadan, withholding nothing. Ramadan holds the merit of Laylat al-Qadr and is the month in which the Quran was revealed."
14th century · Damascus, Syria
Madārij al-Sālikīn — the classical map of the spiritual journey — and a vast body of work on the soul, love, the traps of the ego, and the nature of the heart.
More on Ibn al-Qayyim →
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"The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to his companions when they were shown the Night of Decree in the last ten nights: "I see your dreams have agreed on the last ten nights, so whoever is seeking it, let him seek it in the last ten nights of رَمَضَان." Dreams are like visions; some are merciful, some are psychological, and some are from شَيْطَان."
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"Imam Ahmad reported from Wathila Ibn al-Asqa that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, The scrolls of Ibrahim were revealed on the first night of Ramadan. The Torah was revealed six nights into Ramadan. The Gospel was revealed 13 nights before Ramadan, and the Quran was revealed on the 24th night of Ramadan."
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"Ibn Ishaq, citing evidence for this, referred to Allah's statement in Surah al-Baqarah. The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people. It is said to refer to the 10th of Ramadan. Al-Waqidi narrated from Abu Jafar al-Baqir that the beginning of the revelation to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was on a Monday, 17 nights before Ramadan, and it was also said on the 24th of it."
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"al-Aswad, from Abdullah ibn Masud regarding the night of decree, saying, Wake it on the remaining eleven nights, for its morning is on the day of Badr. Zayd ibn Arkham was asked about the night of decree, and he said it is the night of the 19th without doubt, and the day of distinction is the day when the two groups met. Scholars of battles agree this refers to the 17th night of Ramadan."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, would fast frequently in Sha'ban, almost as if it were Ramadan. It is narrated that the best fast after Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Muharram, as it marks the beginning of the year, and starting it with goodness is desirable. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Fasting one day from a sacred month is better than fasting thirty days from another month, and fasting one day of Ramadan is better than fasting thirty days from a sacred month.""
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"and Saturday—Allah will write for him the reward of nine hundred years of worship for each day." It is also said: "When the middle of Sha'ban comes, do not fast until Ramadan. Therefore, it is recommended to refrain from fasting a few days before Ramadan. However, if one intends to connect Sha'ban with Ramadan, it is permissible, as the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, did so once and separated them on numerous occasions."
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"As long as one is doubtful on the night of doubt, verbalizing the intention doesn’t benefit him because the heart is the place for intention, and it is inconceivable to decisively intend with doubt. For example, if one said in the middle of Ramadan, "I will fast tomorrow if it is Ramadan," it does not harm him as this is a repetition of words, and the heart is decisive that it is Ramadan."
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"The authentic report from Ibn Hazm is that it was eight days past, as narrated by al-Humaydi, and this is more established. Another opinion is that he was born in Ramadan, as reported by Ibn Abd al-Bahr, which is a very strange claim. Its basis is that he, peace be upon him, was revealed to in Ramadan, and that was at the beginning of his fortieth year, thus his birth would be in Ramadan."
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