Fatwas On Laylatul-Qadar

The signs of Laylatul-Qadar

Q: What are the signs of Laylatul-Qadar (the night of power)?
A: From amongst the signs of Laylatul-Qadar is that it is a calm night and the believer’s heart is delighted and at peace with it, and he becomes active in doing good actions, and the sun on the following morning rises clearly without any rays.

Shakyh Ibn al-‘Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan – Volume 2, Page 852, Fatwa No. 841;
Fataawa ash-Shaykh Muhammad as-Saalih al-Uthaymeen – Volume 1, Page 563

Specifying the 27th of Ramadhaan as Laylatul-Qadar

Q: Some of the Muslims have taken the 27th night of Ramadhaan as Laylatul-Qadar. Is there any basis for this specification and is there any evidence for this?
A: Yes, there is a basis for this specification and that is that the night of the 27th of Ramadhaan is mentioned in the hadeeth, in Saheeh Muslim, on the authority of ‘Ubayy Ibn Ka’b (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhu).

However, the overwhelming opinion of the people of knowledge, from the forty or more opinions, is that Laylatul-Qadar is in the last ten nights. Because of this, it is befitting for (each) person to exert (himself in worship) during all the nights such that he does not deny himself the excellence of them and the reward (to be gained) in them.

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) says: “We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed night [(i.e. Laylatul-Qadar) in the month of Ramadan]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]”, [Soorah ad-Dukhkhaan, Aayah 3]

And He (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) also said: “Verily! We sent it (this Quran) down on the night of al-Qadar. And what will make you know what the night of al-Qadar is? The night of al-Qadar is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah on that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel) by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees. Peace! (all that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn”, [Soorah al-Qadar, Aayaat 1-5]

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan – Volume 2, Page 852, Fatwa No.842
al-Fataawa libni-‘Uthaymeen – Kitaab ad-Da’wah – Volume 1, Pages 204-205

Distinguishing a particular night with worship

Q: Some people seek Laylatul-Qadar so they are active by offering their prayers and other forms of worship whilst they do not do likewise on other nights in Ramadhan, so is this in accordance with that which is correct?
A: No! It is not in accordance with that which is correct, for certainly Laylatul-Qadar changes. So it could be on the night of the twenty-seventh, and it could be on any other night as has been indicated in many ahaadeeth. It has been confirmed that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said: ((In that particular year Laylatul-Qadar was revealed on the night of the twenty-first)). Therefore it is not befitting for a person to specify his stand (in prayer) on a particular night or distinguish a night on which he yearns to be Laylatul-Qadar (likewise). (Rather) striving in all of the last ten nights is from the guidance of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), since when the last ten nights arrived he would tighten his waist belt and awaken his family and used to spend them all awake (in worship). So that which is befitting for the prudent believer is to strive in all of the last ten nights such that the reward does not pass him by.

Shaykh Ibn al-Uthaymeen
Fataawa Ramadhaan – Volume 2, Page 855, Fatwa No.844;
Fiqh al-Ibaadaat libni ‘Uthaymeen – Page 207