शब-ए-कदर

Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power, Decree, or Destiny) is the single most blessed night in all of creation — a night so immense that Allah SWT revealed an entire Surah of the Holy Quran in its honor: Surah Al-Qadr (Chapter 97). Allah SWT declares: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months." (97:3) — meaning worship and good deeds performed on this single night are worth more than 83 years and 4 months of continuous worship throughout a lifetime. It was on this very night that the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through Angel Jibreel A.S in the Cave of Hira, marking the beginning of divine revelation and the Prophet's ﷺ mission.

The Quran states: "Indeed, We sent the Quran down during the Night of Decree." (97:1), while another verse clarifies it was sent "on a blessed night" in the month of Ramadan (44:3). On Laylat al-Qadr, the angels — led by Jibreel A.S himself — descend to the earth in multitudes, bringing peace, blessings, and divine mercy to every corner of creation until the break of Fajr (dawn). The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever stands in prayer during Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari & Muslim).

The Prophet ﷺ told Hazrat Ayesha R.A the best dua for this night: "Allahumma innaka Afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu anni" — "O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me." Although its exact date is hidden, the Prophet ﷺ directed Muslims to seek it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan — particularly the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th nights — with the 27th night being the most widely held opinion among scholars.