What a Muslim should do on Laytlul-Qadr:
- Taking a Shower and Wearing Good Clothing and Perfume
Ibn Rajab rahimahullah said:
“Ibn Jareer said: They used to recommend to shower every night of the last ten nights and an-Nakhai used to shower in every night from them and he used to shower and uses perfume in the nights which he hoped was laytul Qadr…[until he said]…Thabit said: Tamim ad-Daari used to have a hulla (type of clothing) which he bought for 1000 dinars and wore it on the night he hoped was laytul-Qadr. So like this it is recommended in the night which it is hoped to be laytul-Qadr to clean oneself, adorn, use perfume, shower, wear good clothing as it is legislated for Jummah’s and the Eids. Like this, it is legislated to wear adornment in all the prayers as Allah, the Exalted said:
خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ
O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying [7:31]
Ibn Umar radiallahu anahumma said: Allah has more right that you beautify yourself for him. It was also reported as a Hadith raised to the Prophet (ﷺ) [Saheeh Jami no. 652] [Taken from Lataaif al-Maarif pg. 189]
2. Standing for Qiyaam ul-Layl/Tahajjud
Proof:
وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
Whoever observed prayer on Lailat-ul- Qadr with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven
[Saheeh al-Bukhari no. 1901 and Muslim no. 760]
3. Making the Dua.
A Muslim should made the following dua on Laytul-Qadr, which the Prophet (ﷺ) taught Aisha radiallahu anha:
قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ : أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَلِمْتُ أَيَّ لَيْلَةٍ لَيْلَةُ اَلْقَدْرِ, مَا أَقُولُ فِيهَا? قَالَ: ” قُولِي: اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ اَلْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
A’isha (radiallahu) narrated, ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), if I know what night the night of Qadr is, what should I say during it?’ He said, “Say:O Allah, You are the Pardoner and You love to pardon, so pardon me.”
[Saheeh Tirmidhi no. 2513]
So Aisha radiallahu anha asked what she should say when she knows its Laytul Qadr. This is because Laytul Qadr is known by its signs:
Imam Shawkani rahimahullah said:
وفيه دليل على إمكان معرفة ليلة القدر وبقائها
“And it is evidence for the possibility of knowing Laytul Qadr and that it still remains ” [Nayl ul-Awtar (7/207)]
This dua is recommended to be read when we believe it is Laytul Qadr as that is what Aisha asked and the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed.
Imam Shawkani rahimahullah said:
دليل على استحباب الدعاء في هذه الليلة بهذه الكلمات
“It is evidence for the recommendation of supplicating in this night with these words” [Nayl ul-Awtaar (7/208)]
The Scholars also mention that one can increase upon this dua by asking Allah what he/she needs [See Sharm Mumti’ (6/498)]
Side Benefit:
What are the Signs of Laytul-Qadr?
Laytul Qadr has signs through which a person can determine it.
Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah said:
“Laytul Qadr has signs that are occur during the night and signs afterwards. As for the signs that occur on the night, they are:
Strong light in that night. This is a sign that in this present time cannot be noticed except by those in a land far away from the lights
Tranquility: the tranquility of the heart and expanding of the chest of the believer. He will find a comfort and tranquility and expansion of the chest that night more than he will find in other nights
That Allah may show person the night in his dream as it happened to some of the Companions radiallahu anhum
That a person will find pleasure and enthusiasm in the standing for prayer more than he will find in other nights
As for the signs afterwards:
Then from it is the sun will rise in the morning smooth without rays, which is not its custom in the remaining days. As for what is mentioned of decrease in dogs barking or not barking at all, then this is not correct. In sometimes a person notices all ten nights that the dogs do not bark and are not quiet. A person may say: what is the benefit of the signs afterwards? The answer: is to give the hard worker a glad tiding in the night and to strengthen his Iman and affirmation. It will increase his hope in what he did that night“[Sharh Mumti’ (6/497)]
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the signs in the following Hadith:
إِنَّ أَمَارَةَ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ أَنَّهَا صَافِيَةٌ بَلْجَةٌ، كَأَنَّ فِيهَا قَمَرًا سَاطِعًا، سَاكِنَةٌ سَاجِيَةٌ، لَا بَرْدَ فِيهَا وَلَا حَرَّ، وَلَا يَحِلُّ لِكَوْكَبٍ يُرْمَى بِهِ فِيهَا حَتْى يُصْبِحَ، وَإِنَّ أَمَارَتَهَا أَنَّ الشَّمْسَ صَبِيحَتَهَا تَخْرُجُ مُسْتَوِيَةً لَيْسَ لَهَا شُعَاعٌ، مِثْلَ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ، وَلَا يَحِلُّ لِلشَّيْطَانِ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مَعَهَا يَوْمَئِذ
Verily, the sign of the Night of Al-Qadr is that it is pure and glowing as if there were a bright, tranquil, calm moon during it. It is not cold, nor is it hot, and no shooting star is permitted until morning. Its sign is that the sun appears on the morning following it smooth having no rays on it, just like the moon on a full moon night. Shaytan is not allowed to come out with it (the sun) on that day
[Reported by Imam Ahmad and others. Graded Good by Hafidh Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir of Surah Qadr]
And Allah Knows Best
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
