Shab-e-Qadr – Night of power and blessings

Laylat al-Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr is the night of power and blessings and is celebrated on the 27th night of Ramadan as the holiest Islamic night. Shab-e-Qadr is a Persian phrase meaning ‘the night of power‘ or ‘the night of respect‘. The last leg of Ramadan holds high significance as one of these nights is the Night of Decree. The night commemorates when the first revelation of the Holy Quran was done to Prophet Mohammad.

The night has special significance for the Muslims in which angels descend on the earth with the order of Allah Almighty for the welfare of the faithful till the dawn of the day.

The exact date of Laylat al-Qadr is not known but is believed to be one of the last 10 days of Ramadan. It is either considered on the 27th day or one of the odd-numbered nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th) of the last 10 days of Ramadan month. In India, it is celebrated on the 27th night of Ramadan. Shab-e-Qadr in India will be observed on Thursday, April 28th, 2022.

People observe all the last 10 nights of Ramadan by offering extra prayers and reciting the Quran, Islam’s holy book. During these nights Muslims are headed towards mosques to attend congregational prayers. Muslims in order to get the benefit of Shabe Kadr, pray throughout the night.

In the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina people from around the world come to attend the congregational prayers.

Suggested Read: Eid ul-Fitr – “Festival of breaking of the fast“

Significance of Shab-e-Qadr

According to the holy Quran, this night is superior to a thousand nights as the Quran was revealed to the greatest Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in this glorified night to show mankind the path of worldly and eternal emancipation.

On Shab-e-Qadr, Muslims call for forgiveness of sins from God. It is believed that on this night, God gives full respect to the righteous and legitimate desires of his people. On this night, the sins of those who worship Allah are forgiven. The prayer of this one night has been described as more than the worship of a thousand months. Unlike Eid ul-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, Shab-e-Qadr is not a festival that warrants special wishes or is proven by Hadith to extend any kind of wishes. The devout Muslims usually pass the night offering special prayers, recitation from the holy Quran, holding Milad mahfil, zikr, and other religious rituals at mosques and in their houses.

Read about Iftar

What did the Prophet say about Shab-e-Qadra?

In Shab-e-Qadra, prayers are offered throughout the night. It includes reading Nifil prayers, reading the Quran, reading Tasbeeh (chanting), etc. Muslims do this so that all the sins are washed away and God agrees. At the same time, Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Sahab also stated the importance of Shab-e-Qadr. The Prophet told about this when asked by one of his companions. The Prophet said that Shab-e-Qadr is at the stare (odd number) nights of Ashera (ten days) at the end of Ramadan. He also told a special blessing for this, which means ‘O Allah, you are of course forgiving and likes to forgive, so forgive me.’

The Holy Quran says: “Surely We revealed it (the Holy Quran) on a grand night. And what will make you comprehend what the grand night is? The grand night is better than a thousand months. The angels and Gibreel descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair, Peace! It is until the break of the morning.”

It is said, “Whoever offers Salah on the night of Qadr with sincere faith and hope for a reward from Allah (SWT), all his previous sins will be forgiven.”