Laylatul Qadr

Lailatul Qadr History

Lailatul Qadr, also known as the Night of Power, commemorates the night when the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Devotees observe this holy night with profound reverence, engrossed in prayer, supplication, and recitation of the Quran. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and seeking forgiveness from Allah. The night of Lailatul Qadr is believed to offer blessings and mercy in multitude, equivalent to more than a thousand months.

The observance of Lailatul Qadr can be traced back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad who encouraged Muslims to seek this blessed night through sincere worship and prayer. In India, with its substantial Muslim population, the holy night holds rich significance. The diversity of Indian culture adds unique regional flavours to the observance of Lailatul Qadr. It's not just about fasting and prayers, but also about charity. Contributions to the poor and needy, locally termed ‘Zakat’, is an important aspect of Lailatul Qadr in India, representing the spirit of giving and humanity inherent in the Islamic faith.

Observance of Lailatul Qadr in India involves devout Muslims spending the night in prayer, engrossed in the recitation of the Quran. Many mosques across the country host night-long prayers, colloquially known as ‘Qiyam’. With communal meals, or ‘Iftar’, marking the breaking of the fast, togetherness and communal harmony is a prominent aspect of the celebration. Lailatul Qadr is observed during the last ten nights of Ramadan, specifically on the odd nights; however, the exact day isn't mentioned, allowing individuals to seek it in earnest devotion. Thus, demonstrating the essence of faith, devotion, and perseverance that epitomises this sacred night.

Top 10 Facts for 2026 Laylatul Qadr in India

• Commonly referred to in India as Shab-e-Qadr, this observance commemorates the night the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad, marking the spiritual birth of the Islamic faith.
• Many believers in India seek out the night based on specific atmospheric signs, such as a unusually calm and temperate climate or the appearance of a rayless, feeble sun on the following morning.
• A central belief that drives significant interest is that any act of worship performed during this night is Better than a Thousand Months, equating to more than 83 years of continuous devotion.
• In the Kashmir Valley, the night is often celebrated at the historic Hazratbal Shrine, where congregational prayers are held in the presence of the Moi-e-Muqaddas, a sacred relic of the Prophet.
• Devout men frequently participate in I’tikaf, a spiritual retreat where they seclude themselves within a mosque for the final ten days of Ramadan to ensure they do not miss the arrival of the sacred night.
• Indian literary heritage includes unique tributes to the night, such as the Urdu poem Shab-e-Qadr by Mohammad Hussain Azad, which captures the mystical aura and divine peace felt by the faithful.
• In the southern regions of India, early Islamic traditions are preserved in works like Munajathu Thirattu, a 19th-century collection of Tamil devotional poetry that remains a subject of scholarly and religious interest.
• Beyond individual prayer, the night is a significant time for Zakat and Sadaqah, as Indian Muslims believe that charitable contributions made during this period carry multiplied spiritual rewards.
• The inclusive nature of Indian spirituality is exemplified by the book Hindu Ki Naat by the poet Dillu Ram Kausari, which reflects the historical cross-cultural reverence for Islamic milestones in the subcontinent.
• Many families observe the tradition of Noon Chai Chouk in specific regions, where salt tea and dates are distributed to neighbors between the late-night prayers of Tahajjud and the pre-dawn meal of Suhoor.

In the News and Trending in India for Laylatul Qadr

Top things to do in India for Lailatul Qadr

• For Lailatul Qadr, Muslims typically congregate in mosques to pray and worship all night together. Imams often give sermons that teach listeners about the best prayers they can make that night.
• On this night, many Muslims give money away in charity, after more than 20 days of fasting. The rewards of charity are multiplied on Lailatul Qadr. This can be evidenced by the Prophet Muhammad's teachings: Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) 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 - Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, 1887
• Visit Sufi Shrines: Many believers visit famous Sufi shrines like Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan, Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, or Hazratbal Shrine in Kashmir to seek blessings.
• Read a book to learn more about Lailatul Qadr in India:
  The Night of Decree: A Study of Lailatul Qadr - by Q. Isa Husayn Maktaba
  An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur'an Vol. 19 - by Ayatullah Sayyid Kamal Faqih Imani and Sayyid Abbas Sadr-ameli