Laylatul Qadr

Lailatul Qadr History

Lailatul Qadr, also known as the Night of Power, commemorates the night when the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Devotees observe this holy night with profound reverence, engrossed in prayer, supplication, and recitation of the Quran. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and seeking forgiveness from Allah. The night of Lailatul Qadr is believed to offer blessings and mercy in multitude, equivalent to more than a thousand months.

The observance of Lailatul Qadr can be traced back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad who encouraged Muslims to seek this blessed night through sincere worship and prayer. In India, with its substantial Muslim population, the holy night holds rich significance. The diversity of Indian culture adds unique regional flavours to the observance of Lailatul Qadr. It's not just about fasting and prayers, but also about charity. Contributions to the poor and needy, locally termed ‘Zakat’, is an important aspect of Lailatul Qadr in India, representing the spirit of giving and humanity inherent in the Islamic faith.

Observance of Lailatul Qadr in India involves devout Muslims spending the night in prayer, engrossed in the recitation of the Quran. Many mosques across the country host night-long prayers, colloquially known as ‘Qiyam’. With communal meals, or ‘Iftar’, marking the breaking of the fast, togetherness and communal harmony is a prominent aspect of the celebration. Lailatul Qadr is observed during the last ten nights of Ramadan, specifically on the odd nights; however, the exact day isn't mentioned, allowing individuals to seek it in earnest devotion. Thus, demonstrating the essence of faith, devotion, and perseverance that epitomises this sacred night.

Top 9 Facts for 2026 Laylatul Qadr in India

• The observance of Lailatul Qadr, or the Night of Power, is centered on the belief that any act of worship performed during this single night is equivalent to over 83 years of continuous devotion, as the text of Surah Al-Qadr describes it as being "better than a thousand months."
• While the specific date is not fixed, the Prophet Muhammad encouraged believers to seek the night among the odd-numbered dates of the final 10 days of Ramadan, with the 27th night often receiving the most significant communal focus in India.
• According to Islamic tradition, this is the night when the annual decree for every individual—including their health, wealth, and lifespan for the coming year—is descended from the heavens and recorded by angels.
• A defining characteristic of the night is the descent of the Angel Jibreel along with countless other celestial beings to the earth to offer peace and blessings to those engaged in prayer until the break of dawn.
• Devotees in India frequently observe the tradition of I’tikaf, which involves a spiritual retreat where men stay within the mosque for the final ten days of the month to ensure they do not miss the arrival of the sacred night.
• One of the most common signs sought after by the faithful to identify the night is the appearance of the sun on the following morning, which is said to rise as a soft, white disc without its usual piercing rays or intense heat.
• The specific supplication taught by the Prophet to his wife Aisha for this night, recorded in Sunan al-Tirmidhi, asks for divine pardon and remains the most recited dua by congregants across the Indian subcontinent.
• Beyond its spiritual merits, the observance marks the historical anniversary of the initial revelation of the Quran, a moment when the first verses were brought down to the Prophet Muhammad in the cave of Hira.
• In many regions of India, the night is popularly referred to as Shab-e-Qadr, and families often prepare special meals and gather for long congregational prayers known as Tahajjud or Salat-ul-Tasbih that last until the pre-dawn meal of Suhoor.

In the News and Trending in India for Laylatul Qadr

Top things to do in India for Lailatul Qadr

• For Lailatul Qadr, Muslims typically congregate in mosques to pray and worship all night together. Imams often give sermons that teach listeners about the best prayers they can make that night.
• On this night, many Muslims give money away in charity, after more than 20 days of fasting. The rewards of charity are multiplied on Lailatul Qadr. This can be evidenced by the Prophet Muhammad's teachings: Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times - Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, 1887
• Visit Sufi Shrines: Many believers visit famous Sufi shrines like Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan, Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, or Hazratbal Shrine in Kashmir to seek blessings.
• Read a book to learn more about Lailatul Qadr in India:
  The Night of Decree: A Study of Lailatul Qadr - by Q. Isa Husayn Maktaba
  An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur'an Vol. 19 - by Ayatullah Sayyid Kamal Faqih Imani and Sayyid Abbas Sadr-ameli