Laylatul Qadr - The Night Better than 1000 months

Prophet (s.a.w.s) said: "Whoever passes Laylat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven."
(Bukhari, Muslim)


Don't let Ramadan pass without gaining Allah's forgiveness.

The angel Jibraeel (A.S.) appeared before the Prophet (S) and said, "Destruction to him who found the blessed month of Ramdhan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness" upon that the Prophet (S) said 'Aameen'.
(Hakim, Bayhaqi)

So, worship sincerely in these last 10 days seeking out Laylatul Qadr and win the pleasure of Allah.

Note: Remember that the major sins are forgiven only by sincerely repenting from them and leaving them. Don't forget to make tawbah (repentance) from any major sin you may have committed. List of major sins: http://islamtruth4all.blogspot.com/2011/05/70-major-sins-in-islam.html


When is it?

Prophet (S) said: 'Seek out Laylatul-Qadr in the (odd nights) of the last ten days of Ramadhan."
(Bukhari)


What should be done?

Strive hard in worship in the last 10 days. Pray more, read more Qur'an, make more du'a. [Note: Avoid acts of worship that are bid'ah (not prescribed anywhere in Qur'an or Sunnah)]

The Prophet (S) used to strive hard (in worship) during the last ten days of Ramadan in a way that he did not strive at any other times.
[Muslim]

In the last nights of Ramadan, Prophet (S) secluded himself in I'tikaf and seeking Laylat al-Qadr during this time.
[Bukhari]

"The Prophet SAW used to tighten his waist-wrapper (izaar) - (meaning detached himself from his wives in order to worship, and exerted himself in seeking Lailatul-Qadr), spend the night in worship, and wake the family in the last ten nights."
(Bukhari, Muslim)


Du'a for Laylatul Qadr

'Aa'ishah r.a. said: "O Messenger of Allaah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?" He said: "Say: Allaahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwaa fa'fu 'annee."

اللْهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
(O Allaah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.)
(at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)


Why is it special?

- It is the night on which the Quran was sent down.
Quran 97:1: "Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'aan) down in the Night of Decree (Lailatul-Qadr). "

- Allah described it as being better than a thousand months.
Quran 97:3: "The night of al-Qadr is better than a thousand months"
Commentary by Ibn Kathir: Worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months.

- Allah described it as being blessed.
Quran 44:3: "We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed night"

- Many angels descend of this night because it is so blessed
Quran 97:4: "On this night, the angels and al-Ruh (angel Jibreel a.s.) descend"

- This night is described as peace, i.e., it is safe, for the Shaytan cannot do any evil and many people are saved from punishment because of worshipping Allah.
Quran 97:5: "Peace until the appearance of dawn."

- The affairs of the year are dispatched from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz to the angels who record the decrees: who will live, who will die, what provision people will be given, what will happen until the end of that year, every matter of ordainments is decreed.

Quran 44:4: "Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments"

Ibn 'Abbas said: "You may see a man furnishing his home or plowing his field, and he is one of those who are going to die," i.e., it has been decreed on Laylat al-Qadr that he is one of those who are going to die (in the coming year). And it was said that on this night, the destiny of people is shown to the angels."
All of this is already known to Allah before it is even written down, but He makes known to the angels what is to happen, and commands them to do whatever they are enjoined to do.
[Sharh Sahih Muslim li'l-Nawawi, 8/57]