The Laylat al-Qadr is a night of honor and reverence, a night in which divine decrees are determined. On this night, Allah decrees everything He wills—be it death, life, sustenance, or other matters—until the Laylat al-Qadr of the following year. He entrusts these decrees to the four angels who manage affairs: Israfil, Mika’il, Azrael, and Gabriel (peace be upon them).
The Descent of Angels on the Laylat al-Qadr
Angels from every heaven and from Sidrat al-Muntaha (the Lote-Tree of the Utmost Boundary), along with Gabriel from his abode in the middle of the sky, descend to Earth and say “Amen” to the prayers of the people until the break of dawn. By the command of their Lord, they carry out all matters that Allah has decreed for that year. As Ibn Abbas stated, this indicates the infallibility of the angels, just as Allah said: “And we descend not except by the order of your Lord” (Quran 19:64). He also said: “They do not precede Him in speech, and they act by His command” (Quran 21:27).
The Night of Security and Well-being
This night is filled with security, peace, goodness, and blessings from Allah. On this night, Allah decrees only well-being; on other nights, He decrees both calamities and well-being. This night offers complete security, wherein Satan cannot influence any believing man or woman. It is free from all evil and harm until the break of dawn.
Determining Laylat al-Qadr
There are differing opinions among scholars regarding the determination of Laylat al-Qadr. Some posit that Laylat al-Qadr occurs on the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, but it is not precisely specified. In contrast, others, based on hadiths, identify the 23rd night of Ramadan as Laylat al-Qadr, while many scholars consider the 27th night to be Laylat al-Qadr.
However, Islamic law has not definitively designated Laylat al-Qadr, which encourages Muslims to strive in worship and good deeds throughout all the nights of the last ten days and prevents them from missing the virtue of any night. This non-specificity has important wisdom; it motivates people to increase their efforts in worship, avoid negligence and laziness, and seek the most benefit from these blessed days.
It is narrated from Ubadah ibn al-Samit that he asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) about Laylat al-Qadr. He said: “It is in Ramadan, during the last ten nights; it is on the odd nights—the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh, twenty-ninth, or the last night of Ramadan. Whoever spends it in worship out of faith and with hope for reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.”
Many scholars believe Laylat al-Qadr occurs on the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan every year. As mentioned in a hadith reported by Zirr bin Hubaish, which Muslim and Tirmidhi narrated and classified as a sound hadith, he asked Ubayy ibn Ka’b: “Your brother Abdullah ibn Mas’ud says: ‘Whoever stands (in prayer) the entire year will attain Laylat al-Qadr.'” He replied: “May Allah have mercy on Abu Abd al-Rahman! He knew that Laylat al-Qadr is in the last ten days of Ramadan, and it is the twenty-seventh night, but he wanted people not to rely on that.” He then swore, without exception, that this night is the twenty-seventh. When I asked: “On what basis do you say this, O Aba al-Mundhir?” he said: “Based on a sign that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) informed us of: the sun rises on that morning without rays.”
Signs of Laylat al-Qadr
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Among the signs of Laylat al-Qadr is that it is a bright and tranquil night, neither hot nor cold, as if the moon is shining brightly in it, and no stars fall to be hurled until morning.” He also stated: “The sun rises on its morning without rays, as if it were a full moon, and Allah prevents the devils from going out with it that day.”
The Wisdom Behind Concealing Laylat al-Qadr
The wisdom behind concealing the exact date of Laylat al-Qadr resembles the wisdom behind the concealment of the time of death and the Day of Judgment. This encourages the obligated individuals to exert greater effort and avoid laziness and lethargy. Additionally, it is merciful that a person does not know the exact date of Laylat al-Qadr; if he were to commit a sin on that night, it would not be intentional. When a servant seeks Laylat al-Qadr by staying up on the nights he suspects, Allah boasts about him to His angels and says: “You said, ‘Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood?’ Now, look at their efforts during these suspected nights. So what would they do if they knew the Night of Decree for certain?” Here, the secret of Allah’s saying is revealed: “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.”
Therefore, the concealment of Laylat al-Qadr is intended so that servants exert more effort during the nights of Ramadan, hoping to attain it—just as Allah has concealed the hour of acceptance on Friday, the hour of response at night, the Greatest Name of Allah, the middle prayer, and his saintly servants among the people.
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