The Prophet's Hadith about Worship on the Night of Lailatul Qadar, Increase Worship for More Blessings

The Night of Lailatul Qadar is a night full of blessings and glory, highly anticipated by Muslims around the world. In the Qur'an, this night is referred to as a night that is better than a thousand months, a virtue that is not found on any other night. Allah SWT says:

"The Night of Glory 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." (QS.Al-Qadr: 3-5).

Mujahid and Qatadah, two great scholars, argue that worship on the Night of Lailatul Qadar is far superior compared to similar worship performed for a thousand months without the Night of Lailatul Qadar (Zaad Al-Masiir).

The Prophet Muhammad SAW greatly emphasized the importance of reviving the Night of Lailatul Qadar with worship. As narrated by ‘Aisyah radhiyallahu ‘anha, he said:

"The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, used to, when entering the last ten days of Ramadan, tighten his waistcloth (focus fully on worship and leave his wives), revive those nights with worship, and wake his family for worship." (HR. Bukhari and Muslim).

How can we bring this special night to life? Here are some main practices that can be done based on hadith and the opinions of scholars.

1. Night Prayer and Qiyamul Lail with Devotion

One of the main practices on the night of Lailatul Qadar is night prayer or qiyamul lail. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Whoever performs prayer on the night of Lailatul Qadar out of faith and hoping for reward from Allah, then his past sins will be forgiven." (HR. Bukhari).

Ibn Hajar Al-'Asqalani explains that 'iimaanan' means belief in the reward from Allah, while 'ihtisaban' means hoping for His pleasure, not merely showing off or seeking human praise (Fath Al-Baari).

The prayers performed can include tahajjud prayer, witir prayer, and various other sunnah prayers. Reviving this night by increasing prostrations and prayers will bring one closer to Allah SWT.

2. Reading the Qur'an and Remembrance

The Night of Decree (Lailatul Qadar) is the night when the Qur'an was revealed, making the reading and contemplation of the Qur'an a highly recommended act of worship. It is mentioned in a hadith:

"Gabriel met him (Prophet Muhammad) every night in the month of Ramadan, and he (Gabriel) recited the Qur'an with him." (HR. Bukhari).

In addition to reading the Qur'an, remembrance (dzikir) is also highly recommended, such as reciting tasbih, tahmid, tahlil, and istighfar. Remembrance will provide tranquility to the heart and bring abundant blessings from this noble night.

3. Isha and Fajr Prayers in Congregation

Reviving the Night of Decree does not always mean worshiping throughout the night. In a narration by Imam Shafi'i it is mentioned:

"Whoever attends the Isha and Fajr prayers on the Night of Decree, then they have taken part of that night." (Latha-if Al-Ma'arif).

This is reinforced by a hadith from Uthman bin 'Affan radhiyallahu 'anhu:

"Whoever attends the Isha prayer in congregation, for them is the reward of half the night’s prayer. Whoever performs the Isha and Fajr prayers in congregation, then for them is the reward of a full night’s prayer." (HR. Muslim).

So, even if one cannot worship all night long, attending the Isha and Fajr prayers in congregation is enough to attain the virtues of the Night of Decree.

4. Increasing Prayer and Istighfar

The Night of Lailatul Qadar is a very good time to increase prayers, especially the prayers taught by the Prophet Muhammad SAW:

"Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni."

Meaning: "O Allah, You are Most Forgiving and You love to forgive, so forgive me." (HR. Tirmidzi).

Scholars recommend praying sincerely on this night, as the prayers raised on the Night of Lailatul Qadar have a great chance of being answered.

5. Charity and Improving Relationships with Others

In addition to individual worship, Lailatul Qadar is also the right time for charity and improving relationships with others. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"The best charity is the charity given during the month of Ramadan." (HR. Tirmidzi).

Charity can be in the form of money, food, clothing, or other assistance to those in need. In addition, improving relationships with family and relatives is also highly recommended.

6. FAQ

When Does the Night of Lailatul Qadar Occur?
The Night of Lailatul Qadar occurs during the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan, and it usually appears on odd nights such as the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th night.

How to Know the Night of Lailatul Qadar?
Some signs of the Night of Lailatul Qadar include cool air, a clear sky, and a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

(kpl/rmt)