“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (Al-Qadr, 97:1-5)

2. This night marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’an. It was sent down from al-Lawh al-Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet) to the first heaven on Laylat al-Qadr (the night of the Decree) all at once, then after that it was sent down in stages over twenty-three years.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas () said, concerning the verse

“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.” The Qur’an was sent down all at once on Laylat al-Qadr, then Allah sent it down to the Messenger of Allah (s) bit by bit. ¹

Badr ad-Deen az-Zarkashi said:

If it is asked: what is the reason for the Qur’an being sent down to the first heaven all at once? The answer is to highlight its high status and the high status of the one to whom it was revealed. That was so as to announce to the inhabitants of the seven heavens that this was the last of the Books that was being sent down to the last of the Messengers and to the noblest of the nations. ²

3. The Messenger of Allaah () said:

“Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” ³

4. He () would strive hard in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadan as he did not do at other times. ⁴

‘A’isha ( )said: “When the last ten nights of Ramadan came, the Prophet () would refrain from marital relations, stay up at night and wake his family up.” ⁵

Al-Haafiz said: “Staying up at night” means staying up to do acts of worship. ⁶

5. Du’aa’ is one of the best acts of worship. The Prophet () said, “Du’aa’ is ‘ibaadah (worship).” ⁷

‘A’isha () said: I said: “O Messenger of Allah, If I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?” He said:

“Say: Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are All-Forgiving and You love forgiveness so forgive me).” ⁸

6. Decrees for the year are decided on that night. Allah says, “On that night is made distinct every precise matter” ⁹

Ibn Hajar said in his commentary on Saheeh al-Bukharee:

“What this means is that the decrees for the year are decided on that night.” And al-Nawawi said: the scholars said that it is called Laylat al-Qadr because on this night the angels write down the decrees (aqdaar). ¹⁰

We must increase making du’a in the last 10 nights as du’aa can change the Divine decree and relieve distress and sorrow. Allah says,

“Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.” ¹¹

Also, the Prophet () said: “Nothing can change the Divine decree except du’aa’. ¹²

7. Allah appreciates the worship of his obedient servants in this night like no other night. Allah says,

“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” ¹³

The actions are blessed and valued better than the actions done in a 1000 months.

1,000 months is equals to 83 years and 4 months and the Prophet () said:

“The lifespan for my Ummah is from sixty years to seventy [years].” ¹⁴

So Allah is giving us a lifetime full of worships and reward within one night time.