Question :

When does the Night of Power occur?

 

Answer:

Alhamdulillah, all praise is due to Allah SWT, prayers and peace be upon the great Prophet Muhammad SAW, his family members SAW, his companions SAW and those who follow in his footsteps SAW.

 

Tonight, we will enter the 27th night of Ramadan. For that, irsyad al-Hadith this time will talk about "Chasing Laylatul Qadr" or the night of al-Qadr. In this holy month of Ramadan, Allah SWT has made a special night in the month of Ramadan in which every deed done on that night is multiplied. Based on the words of Allah SWT:

 

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيلَةِ الْقدْرِ ﴿1﴾ وَمَا أَدرَاكَ مَا لَيلَةُ الْقدْرِ ﴿2﴾ لَيلَةُ الْقدْرِ خيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

Meaning: “Indeed, We have sent it down (the Quran) on the Night of Decree. And do you know the greatness of the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” [al-Qadr, 1-3]

 

The Prophet's (PBUH) Determination During the Last Ten Nights

Among the hadiths that show the seriousness of His Majesty SAW are:

 

• From Aisha RA, she narrated:

 

He was the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace.

Meaning: "As for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when the last 10 days of Ramadan arrived, he would wake up his household , tie his clothes (stay away from his wives) and spend the night in prayer." [Narrated by Ibn Hibban, no. Hadith 3436]

 

 

Among other narrations that show the seriousness of His Majesty SAW are:

• From Aisha RA, she narrated that:

 

He was the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace

The meaning is: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made more effort on the last ten nights of Ramadan than on any other night.” [Muslim, Hadith no. 2009 ]

 

Opinions of Scholars in Determining the Night of Power

In this issue, there are many hadiths and opinions in determining the night of al-Qadr. However, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave us several indications regarding this night of al-Qadr. Among them, His Majesty (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated that the night of al-Qadr occurs in the last 10 odd nights of the month of Ramadan. Based on a hadith, from Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

 

الْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ وِتْرًا

Meaning: “Search for the Night of Decree in the last ten nights on odd nights.” [Narrated by Ahmad, no. Hadith 85 ]

 

As for those who determine the Night of Power, there are many opinions, including:

 

• First: The strongest opinion according to scholars is that the Night of Power occurs on the night of the 27th of Ramadan. Their arguments are numerous, including:

 

• According to Abu Ka'ab RA he said: "By Allah, Ibn Mas'ud was convinced that the Night of Qadr was in the month of Ramadan and fell on the 27th night. However, he refused to tell us (the exact night) because he was worried that you would no longer try to find it".

 

• From the narration of Muawiyah RA which means: "That the Prophet SAW said that the Night of Al-Qadr occurs on the 27th night".

 

• This narration is supported by Ibn Abbas RA who said that Surah al-Qadr has 30 words. The 27th word of the Surah is dhamir (هِيَ) which refers to Lailatul Qadr.

 

• Imam Ahmad narrated a hadith from Ibn Umar RA which means: "Whoever seeks the Night of Qadr, let him seek it on the 27th night, seek the Night of Qadr on the 27th night".

 

• Second: On the night of the 23rd of Ramadan. This is the opinion of Imam Shafi'i RA and this is also the opinion of Imam Malik RA, Ibn Khuzaimah RA, Abu Awanah RA and al-Thahawi RA based on the hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Unais RA that the Messenger of Allah SAW said:

 

تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةَ ثَلَثَ وَعِشْرِيْنَ

Meaning: “Search for the Night of Decree on the 23rd night of Ramadan.” [See: Jami' al-Saghir, no. Hadith 3250 ]

 

• Third: On the night of the 21st of Ramadan. This is also the opinion chosen by Imam Shafie RA based on the hadith narrated by Abu Daud and al-Baihaqi. The hadith is from Ibn Mas'ud RA, that the Messenger of Allah SAW said:

 

اُتْلُبُوْهَا لَيْلَةَ سَبَْ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ رَمَضَانِ وَلَيْلَةَ إِحدَى وَعِشْريْينَ وَلَيْلَةَ ثَلَثِ وَعِشْرِيْنَ

Meaning: “Seek (Search) for yourself on the 17th, 21st and 23rd nights of the month of Ramadan.” [Narrated by Abu Daud, no. Hadith 1176]

 

 

 

 

• Fourth: On the night of the 24th of Ramadan. This is based on a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas RA, that the Prophet SAW said:

 

الِلْتَمِسُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي أَرْبَعٍ وَعِشْرِيْنَ

Meaning: “Search for the night of Laylatul Qadr on the night of the 24th of Ramadan”. [See: Jami' al-Saghir, no. Hadith 1569]

 

• Fifth: On the last night of Ramadan. This is based on a hadith from Muawiyah RA, that the Prophet SAW said:

 

الِلْتَمِسُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ اخِرِ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانِ

Meaning: “Search for the Night of Power on the last night of Ramadan.” [See: Jami' al-Saghir, no. Hadith 1571]

 

Preferred

After looking at the opinions above, we tend to say that the night of al-Qadr is on the 27th night of Ramadan as per the first opinion. This is because the argument or evidence presented is stronger than other opinions. However, the truth is that only Allah SWT knows. However, this does not mean that we do not need to try or be diligent on other nights, other than the 27th night. We should live every night in the month of Ramadan, especially the last ten nights as the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did.

 

The Secret of Hiding Laylatul Qadr

Among the secrets of Allah SWT hiding the Night of Power is so that it will be an incentive for people to seek it. In addition, so that they will strive hard in performing worship in order to seek it, such as hiding the time when prayers are accepted on Friday and also hiding His great name from all the names He has.

 

 

Cover

May Allah SWT grant us the night of al-Qadr filled with good deeds by making the night come alive, thereby qualifying us to receive forgiveness from Him. Amen.

Date of Input: 20/03/2025 | Updated: 20/03/2025 | asmunir