Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan by fasting for 30 days. Of those 30 days, the last 10 days of Ramadan are believed to be particularly special, where one of the nights is the most special of them all: Laylatul Qadr. In Ramadan 2024, the last 10 nights of Ramadan fall between 31st March and 9th April 2024.
Visit our Ramadan 2024 page for more Ramadan and Eid content!
Image Credit: David Dibert on Unsplash
Also known as the Night of Power, Laylatul Qadr is significant because Muslims recognize it as a night where all your sins will be forgiven if you seek forgiveness for them genuinely. Alongside that, all your good deeds will be multiplied by a thousand months. But why is Laylatul Qadr so special, you may ask? Well, Laylatul Qadar is historically known as the night when the holy Quran first descended to Prophet Muhammad SAW through an angel named Jibril.
The Quran that we've all exposed ourselves to today has the exact same content and verses as the Quran that was orally revealed to Prophet Muhammad SAW many centuries ago. In case you didn't know, the Quran stands as a guideline for worshippers of Islam to follow through. The Quran also contains historical recounts of old prophets, so humans can educate themselves about the history of Islam as well as how it spread. In summary, the Quran is intended to make people stay on the right path.
Image Credit: Faseeh Fawaz on Unsplash
Nobody knows when the specific time of Laylatul Qadr is. Some believe it to be on the 27th of Ramadan. However, a few well-known Islamic scholars have mentioned that Laylatul Qadr falls on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, and some have even specifically suggested that it falls on one of the last ten odd nights of Ramadan.
And so, you should work smart and make full use of all ten days. Do things that you would not normally do, like perform the tahajjud prayer at night. You should also spend your time reading the Quran, seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT, praying for your family's wellbeing, and everything else! That way, you will not risk missing the blessings of this beautiful night.
Image Credit: Osman Köycü on Unsplash
I'tikaf means to stay in a mosque for a period of days whilst devoting yourself to ibadah (worship). The purpose of staying in the mosque is so that you will be away from other distractions and worldly affairs.
You can invite your friends and family to practice i'tikaf with you, on the condition that they make you feel motivated to do good deeds and become a better Muslim, not distract you instead.
Image Credit: Nico Smit on Unsplash
If you want to get God’s blessing in Laylatul Qadr, you can donate your food to the less fortunate, who have little to no food to break their fast with. Sharing food with others is a form of charity. The smiles that we see on the people's faces who receive this food will always make this act of giving worthwhile.
What's more, did you know that all your good deeds during Laylatul Qadr will be rewarded as if you had done them consistently for 83 years? That's longer than many of us will live!
As mentioned above, you should stay away from worldly affairs, and the best way to do that is by spending time at the mosque. However, this would be pointless if all you do in the mosque is spend time on your phone using social media.
Social media is filled with rumors, fake news, and scandals that would serve no purpose or benefit for us. So turn off your phone during the last ten nights of Ramadan, or at least use it less frequently. Your attention should be put on the imam making Islamic lectures, not the hot viral gossips or what the Kardashian sisters are up to.
Having said all this, let's all pray that we get to meet Laylatul Qadr this year. We have plenty of time before the last 10 days of Ramadan, so now's the time to start planning all the things you have to do to maximize Laylatul Qadr. All the best everyone!
For the ladies, wondering how you can continue performing ibadah in Ramadan while having your period/menstruation? We have a useful article just for you.
