1] “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months” [97:3] - 5 things to do on Laylatul Qadr

1]
5 things to do on Laylatul Qadr
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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 havecaught this most
powerfulnight and the reward is ofover 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, "WhenRamadan came, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would give
upall 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
muchof 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 surelythey 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,
IbnMajah, 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 repeatingthem again and ask of Allah Ta'aala to help
us prevent ourselves from doing them again and askAllah 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 multipliedby
70 or more. Every Nafilone 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 manyNafil
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 ofyour deeds (i.e. one whichyou
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 considerany act of mine more
rewarding than that whenever I make ablutionat 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 thefollowing in regards to Tahajjud from the
Qur'an and prophetic hadiths: :->