5 things to do on Laylatul Qadr

5 things to do on Laylatul Qadr



So valuable is this Night of Qadr that the Quran devotes a special surah to
it “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months” [97:3]

This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. The most authentic
account of the occurrence of the Night indicates that it can occur on
any one of the last ten, odd numbered nights of Ramadan, 21, 23, 25, 27,
29.

We should strive to stay up at least on the odd numbered nights of the
last ten days. If we can't manage that then let us pray at least on the
27th night. If one prays on all of the last odd numbered nights then
there is more chance that one may have caught this most powerful night
and the reward is of over 83 YEARS OF WORSHIP! Subhanallah! Most will
not even live upto that age! It is a night that we CANNOT miss out on so here is how we can maximise this blessed night:


1. Recite the Qur’an abundantly Az-Zuhri used to say upon the coming of Ramadan, “It is only about reciting the Qur’an and feeding the poor.” Abdur-Raziq said, “When
Ramadan came, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would give up all acts of (voluntary)
worship and devote himself to the recitation of the Qur’an.”

Laylatul Qadr is the night the Qur'an was revealed so we should spend
much of the night reciting it for we will gain 700 hasanah or more by
reciting each letter!


2. Strive to gain forgiveness


One should strive and do their utmost to gain the mercy of Allah
especially in the odd numbered nights of the last ten days. If one
leaves Ramadan without gaining the mercy of Allah then surely they are
the most unfortunate ones and are the biggest losers in this world and
the next. The main Dua for Laylatul Qadr is the following:

Aisha (Ra) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' “

"Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee" (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).


Gaining forgiveness on laylatul Qadr


Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: “Whoever
stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with
self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his
previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

We should sincerely repent for past and present sins with the intention
of not repeating them again and ask of Allah Ta’aala to help us prevent
ourselves from doing them again and ask Allah to perfect our characters
and to help us improve ourselves in everyway possible.


3. Do much Superogatory Prayers (Nafil) Rabi'ah ibn Malik al-Aslami reported that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: "Ask (anything)." Rabi'ah said: "I ask of you to be your companion in paradise." The Prophet said: "Or anything else?" Rabi'ah said: "That is it." The Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said to him: "Then help me by making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers)." (Muslim)

The Prophet peace be upon him said: “Whoever
draws near to Allaah during it (Ramadaan) 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.” – Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887.

In this most blessed month of Ramadhan all good deeds are multiplied by
70 or more. Every Nafil one prays one will gain the reward of a Fard
Salaah and every Fard Salah is the reward of 70 Fard salaah. Subhanallah
what other time of the year is this possible? NONE! So let us make the
best of these precious seconds and pray as many Nafil prayers as is
possible! Here are some Nafil prayers we can pray on Laylatul Qadr:


1. Two Rakat after performing Wudu (Ablution)


Abu
Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) said to Bilal (may Allah be pleased
with him): “Tell me about the best of your deeds
(i.e. one which you deem the most rewarding) since your embracing Islam
because I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “I
do not consider any act of mine more rewarding than that whenever I
make ablution at any time of night or day, I perform Prayer for as much
as was destined for me to do.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)”


2. Tahajjud

Imam Abu Sa'id al-Khadimi said,

"There is scholarly consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous acts is the night vigil prayer." [al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]

The scholars derived the following in regards to Tahajjud from the Qur'an and prophetic hadiths:

1. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 rakats. [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

2. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 rakats, because
this was the general practice of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and
peace be upon him, his family, and companions). [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

3. Lengthier recitation is superior to a larger number of rakats prayed. [Durr al-Mukhtar, Radd al-Muhtar]

4. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short rakats,
because of the hadith of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah
bless him and give him peace) said, "It you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats." [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "I cannot pray at night." He said, "Your sins have prevented you."


3. Salaatul Tasbih

This is a very rewarding prayer that we should pray on each of the odd numbered nights. Ibn al Mubarak says: “The tasbih prayer is a greatly desired act and it is desirable that one should punctually observe it and never neglect it.


How to perform this Salaah


‘Ikrimah reports from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah said to ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdal-Mutalib: “O
‘Abbas, O Uncle, shall I not give you, shall I not present to you,
shall I not donate to you, shall I not tell you ten things which, if you
do, Allah will forgive your first and last sins, past and present sins,
intentional and unintentional sins, private and public sins? The ten
actions are: pray four rak’at, reciting in every rak’ah al-Fatihah and a
surah. And when you finish the Qur’anic recitation of the first rak’ah,
say, while standing, ‘Subhanallah, al-hamdulillah, wa la ilaha
illallah, wa Allahu Akbar‘ ['Glory be to Allah. All praise is due to
Allah. There is no God except Allah. Allah is the greatest.'] Fifteen
times. Then make ruku’, and while you are in ruku’, say the same ten
times; then stand, and say the same ten times. Then go down and make
sajdah, and while you’re in sajdah, say the same ten times. Then sit
after the sajdah, and say the same ten times. Then make sajdah, and say
the same ten times. Then sit after the second sajdah, and say the same
another ten times. That is seventy-five [repetitions of the phrases] in
each rak’ah. Do that in each of the four rak’at. If you can pray it once
a day, do so. If you cannot, then once every Friday. If you cannot do
that, then once a year. And if you cannot do that then once in your
life. “


4. Increase in Dhikr (Rememberance of Allah)


We should glorify Allah night and day, especially in the last odd nights. Here are some easy and very beneficial Dhikr and glorification we can do throughout the last ten odd nights:

1. Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee

2. Subhanallah

3. Alhamdulillah

4. Allahu Akbar

5. Laa ilaha ilallah

6. LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH

7. Asthaghfirullah

8. SUB-HAN'ALLAH HIL AZEEM WA BI-HAM'DIHI,

9. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu
akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm

10. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa
lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada,
ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in
qadīr Or the shortened version:

11. Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer

One can also recite the durood that one recites in one's Salaah or a Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim


5. Make much dua


We should be very busy in Dua as much as we can especially in the last 10 odd numbered. Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:

"When
my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to
them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186]

The place of duaa is so high to Allah, that the Prophet(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim) had said: "Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than du`a." [Sahih al-Jami` no.5268].

Almighty Allah also said: "The most excellent worship is du`a." [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1133]

Therefore let us devote much of the night of Qadr in dua asking of Allah
for his mercy and forgiveness for all of our past sins and making firm
intentions to Allah that we will change for the better and strive to
become closer to him as well as make our deen a FULL part of our lives
and not just a little part of our life as Allah says:

Allah tells us In the Qur'an to enter fully into our deen and not partly:

O believers enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, surely he is your clear-cut enemy.... (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 208-210)

So then will we not make Islam a FULL part of our lives? This is our
best opportunity and if we don't take it and death comes to us then
surely we will regret it for ETERNITY!

And Allah knows best in all matters