Laylatul Qadr is known as the Night of Power. The miraculous night where Muslims from all over the world would compete to fill their days and nights engaging in the Remembrance of Allah Almighty as the merits for such a night is better than a thousands of months as recorded in a hadith.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, Peace and Blessings be upon him, said when the month of Ramadan began, “Verily, this month has presented itself to you. There is a night within it that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it has been deprived of all good. None is deprived of its good but that he is truly deprived.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]
Now, you might be thinking, why do people rush to do good in the last 10 nights when the Night of Power occurs in only one of the nights? Well, one of the reasons why Muslims hurry and busy themselves to perform various acts of worship in the last 10 nights is because that blessed night could fall into any of the 10 days! The Prophet, Peace and Blessings be upon him said that he is unable to grasp on the knowledge of the Night of Power due to an incident as mentioned in the hadith below:
Narrated ‘Ubada bin As-Samit:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to inform us about the Night of Qadr but two Muslims were quarrelling with each other. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I came out to inform you about the Night of Qadr but such-and-such persons were quarrelling, so the news about it had been taken away; yet that might be for your own good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramadan). [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
5 Sunnahs You Can Do During Laylatul Qadr
Let’s look at the kinds of acts of worship you can cultivate in the last 10 nights of Ramadan; Laylatul Qadr, to make the most out of your time in worshipping Allah Almighty and draw yourself closer to Him, and His Beloved Messenger, Peace and Blessings be upon him, InshaAllah.
1. Observe I’tikaf in the Last 10 Nights
First and foremost, what is the definition of I’tikaf? I’tikaf is an act of isolating or secluding oneself in the mosque, engaging in various forms of worship to draw oneself closer to Allah Almighty.
Even our beloved Prophet Muhammad, Peace and Blessings be upon him, used to devote himself to worship in the last 10 nights, and would push himself to the limits to truly focus on ‘Ibadah as mentioned in a hadith:
Anas bin Malik narrated:
“The Prophet would perform I’tikaf during the last ten (nights) of Ramadan. One year he did not perform I’tikaf, so he performed I’tikaf for twenty (nights) the following year.” [Jami’ At-Tirmidhi]
Did you know you can also perform Qiyamul Lail when you observe I’tikaf at the mosque? It is the perfect time for you to increase the quality and quantity of your Sunnah prayers at night in the mosque! If you are just starting and you are too intimidated to perform I’tikaf for 10 nights straight, you can take a day off in between, but do your best to fulfil as many nights as you can. This is the only opportunity for you to benefit immeasurable rewards which could possibly fall in Laylatul Qadr, InshaAllah.
2. Fill Your Nights with Abundance of Dua
Reciting dua is the essence of worship, and it is a means for you to connect with Allah Almighty directly. It is a borderless channel for you to express yourself in the form of dua if you have any worries, joys or to simply Praise Allah Almighty for His Oneness and Attributes. This is the time for you to maximise the quality and quantity of dua in your nights of worship to communicate with Allah Almighty and draw yourself closer to Him. Here are some of the duas you can practice in the last 10 nights of Laylatul Qadr :
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنّ
Saidatina ‘Aishah narrated:
“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is your view if I know when the Night of Al-Qadr is, then what should I say in it?” He said: ‘Say: “O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, [Generous,] You love pardon, so pardon me (Allāhumma innaka `Afuwwun [Karīmun], tuḥibbul-`afwa fa`fu `annī).’” [Jami’ At-Tirmidhi]
Here are other duas you can also recite during the last 10 nights of Ramadan:
Dua to ask for protection from Hellfire:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ رِضَاكَ وَالجَنَّةَ ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَالنَّارِ
“O Allah, I ask of Your pleasure and for Paradise, and I seek refuge from Your displeasure and from the Hellfire.”
Dua for when you break your fast in the last 10 days of Ramadan:
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
“Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allah wills.”
Dua to seek guidance from Allah Almighty:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الهُدَى وَ التُّقَى وَ العَفَافَ وَ الغِنَى
“O Allah, I ask You for guidance andpiety, and abstinence (from the unlawful) and modesty, and contentment and sufficiency.”
Dua to ask for the right direction towards the guided path:
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِني ، وسَدِّدْنِي
“O Allah! Direct me to the Right Path and make me adhere to the Straight Path.”
You can also engage in making supplications towards Allah Almighty if you have any personal duas you would like to communicate directly with Allah. If you want to list down your duas strategically and objectively to get a clearer idea of the kinds of supplications, download our FREE Ramadan dua template now.
3. Recite the Quran and Understand the Hidden Gems
Since this is the miraculous night when the Quran is descended from Luh Mahfuz to be revealed to our beloved Prophet, Peace and Blessings be upon him, it is a great way to spend the last 10 nights by reciting the Quran as well as understanding the hidden gems of it by not only reading the Quranic translation, but study the Quranic exegesis.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ
“Verily, We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree).” [Quran 97:1]
If you feel like reading the whole Quran is too overwhelming, you can start off by making a list of Surahs you want to focus on reciting and studying on. It would be great for you to recite as much as possible, but if you can’t, don’t force yourself!
4. Engage in the Remembrance of Allah Almighty
Reciting adhkar may seem like a miniscule act of worship, but if you are mindful of the true meaning of each dhikr, sincere and earnest with every utterance you make, InshaAllah the rewards are indeed immense. Not only that, but reciting adhkar can also re-centre your focus on the Oneness of Allah Almighty, praising His Attributes day in and day out.
The hadith below highlights the significance of us remembering Him, so it is best to begin making it a habit, not only in the last 10 nights of Ramadan, but also on other days in our daily routines, InshaAllah.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah the Exalted says: ‘I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me inwardly, I will remember him inwardly, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I will remember him in a better assembly (i.e., in the assembly of angels).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
5. Give Charity When You Have the Chance
Giving charity does not only benefit you spiritually, but it helps others to ease their financial burden. A part of your belonging or property actually belongs to someone else who truly needs it, so the last 10 nights of Ramadan is one of the best times for you to act upon it and share your wealth with those in destitute.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).” [Muslim]
If you would like to support a cause, SimplyIslam is running its 15th annual Ramadan charity basket to aid needy families in Singapore who need financial support. This is your chance to do your part as a responsible Muslim citizen to help your brothers and sisters in need. May Allah Almighty grant His Mercy and Blessings on the sadaqah you make and may it benefit you in this world and the Hereafter, Ameen.
All in all, the last 10 nights of Ramadan is indeed significant for all Muslims around the world. It is the night of Laylatul Qadr or Night of Power do Muslims seek to reap the immense benefits, not only to gain the rewards, but to draw themselves closer to Allah Almighty, as well as a means for them to make up for their sins in the previous years they have lived. We hope that these Sunnah acts can help you fill your last 10 nights of Laylatul Qadr with ease and sincerity. May Allah Almighty shower you with His Blessings and Mercy in this blessed month of Ramadan, and especially in Laylatul Qadr, Ameen.