Lailat al-Qadr variously rendered in English as the Night of Decree, Night of Power, Night of Value, Night of Destiny, or Night of Measures, is, in Islamic belief, the night when the Quran was first sent down from Heaven to the world and also the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Lailat al-Qadr marks an important moment in the Prophet’s spiritual journey. Prophet Muhammad was known to retreat regularly to a cave on Mount Hira, where he spent time in solitude and contemplation. During one such retreat, which the Holy Qur’an refers to as Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Power, the Prophet had a profound spiritual experience, marking the beginning of the revelation.
According to many Muslim sources, it was one of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Since that time, Muslims have regarded the last ten nights of Ramadan as being especially blessed. Muslims believe that the Night of Qadr comes with blessings and mercy of Allah in abundance, sins are forgiven, supplications are accepted, and that the annual decree is revealed to the angels who carry it out according to what Allah ordained.
The night is not comparable to any others in view of Muslims and according to a tradition, the blessings due to the acts of worship during this night cannot be equaled even by worshipping throughout an entire lifetime.
The reward of acts of worship done in this one single night is more than the reward of around 83 years (1000 months) of worship. Laylat al-Qadr is referenced in the Quran: “Lo! We revealed it (the Qur’an) on the Night of Power. What will convey unto you what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees. Peace it is until the rising of the dawn.” (Surah al Qadr)
This night is solemnly observed every year by Muslims, many of whom spend the entire night in devotional prayers. It is reported by Aisha (r.a), the Prophet’s wife, that “the Prophet would strive to do acts of worship during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time”, which included Laylat al-Qadr.
This devotion and act of worship during the last ten days of Ramadan by some Muslims has continued to this day as a ritual of performing Etekaf in the Masjid, that is, seclusion in the Mosque. The objective behind such an act of worship is that the hearts and minds are fully occupied with thoughts of God and concentrate upon Him alone, through the act of zikr, that is, remembrance of God.