Question:
What do the scholars and experts of shari’ah say regarding the significance of Laylat al-Qadr? Is it possible to observe this night like some people have claimed?
Answer:
All perfect praise is for Allah ﷻ, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ, and that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.
Laylat al-Qadr is the Night of forgiveness. It is the night when deeds are accepted, protection is granted from the fires of hell, worship in this night is greater in reward to the worshipping of more than a thousand months. On this auspicious night Angels descend to the Earth giving salutations of salam to the believers and seeking forgiveness for them.
Allah ﷻ has hidden and placed this night in the last ten nights of Ramadan al-Mubarak due to its immense grandeur. A Muslim should search out this night and obtain its rewards with great effort and endeavour.
Allah ﷻ says in the Holy Qur’an, “Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. (Surah al-Qadr:1-3)
Laylat al-Qadr is not as some people have perceived it, but the purpose behind it is to exert oneself in worship. One should perform salah, recite the Qur’an, seek forgiveness from Allah ﷻ, increase in good deeds and seek Allah’s ﷻ mercy as this is a night in which prayers are accepted.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.
This Fatwa is written by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari