What is Laylat al-Qadr & Why It Is Celebrated: Laylat al-Qadr which means the Night of Decree, Night of Power, Night of Value, Night of Destiny or Night of Measures, is the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islamic belief. It is one of the nights that fall on the last ten days of Ramadan.
The day is described in the Quran. Below is the translation of Chapter 97 of the Islamic Holy Book:
“We have sent it [the Quran] down in the Night of Qadr. And what may let you know what the Night of Qadr is? The Night of Qadr is much better than one thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend in it, with the leave of your Lord, along with every command. Peace is still the debut of Dawn” (Q. 97).
What is the Significance of Laylat al-Qadr?
Muslims believe that on this night the blessings and mercy of God are plentiful, sins are forgiven, prayers are accepted, and that the yearly decree is discovered to the angels who also run down to earth, particularly the Angel Gabriel, denoted to as “the Spirit”, to carry out each and any task directed by God.
Islam holds that God Almighty single-handedly answers our prayers and that He alone accepts them and forgives humankind and gives them what they request for and that on this specific night Muslims should keenly seek God’s forgiveness and involve in several acts of worship.
Laylat al-Qadr is referenced in the Quran:
We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand:
Peace!… This until the rise of dawn!
— Surah 97 (Al-Qadr), āyāt 1–5
When Is Laylat al-Qadr?
The precise date of this night is not basically known. The Prophet Muhammad told us in his narrations to pursue Laylat al-Qadr out in one of the last ten nights during the occasion of Ramadan, especially odd nights. This in other terms means the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th nights of Ramadan all have a high possibility of being Laylat al-Qadr.
This year in 2019, as per to the Sunni Islam, the Laylat al-Qadr is going to observe on 1 June 2019 and as per to Shia Islam, the Laylat al-Qadr is going to observe on 28 May 2019.
Shia Muslims believe that Ali had exceptional vision and understanding with Allah on this night. Imam Sadiq is quoted as saying (Tafsir “al-Burhan”, vol. 4, p. 487):
On one occasion Imam Ali was narrating Surat al-Qadr and his sons, Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Husayn (a) were near him. Imam Husayn (a) asked his father: “Father, how come we feel a different sensation when you recite this surah?” Imam Ali(a) replied, “O son of the Prophet and my son! I know things from this chapter that you are not aware of now. When this Surah was sent down to the Prophet he asked me to go to him. When I went to him he recited this surah, then he put his hand on my right shoulder and said: O my brother and my successor! O the leader of my nation after me! O tireless fighter with my enemies! This surah is yours after me and is for your two sons after you. Gabriel who is my brother among the angels informs me of the events of one year of my nation at the night of Qadr. And after me, he will give this information to you. This surah will always have a shining light in your heart and in the heart of your successors until the rising of the dawn of the day of the reappearance of Qa’im [the one who rises, a title for the Islamic Messiah, Mahdi].”
