Ramadan Articles, - Laylat-ul-Qadr

Laylat ul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has
indeed missed a great amount ofgood. If a believing person is zealous
to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record,he should
strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and
obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins
will be forgiven.
Praying Qiyaam
It is recommended to make a long Qiyaam prayer during the nights on
which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many hadeeths,
such as the following:
Abu Tharr (radhiallahu `anhu) relates:
"We fasted with Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) in
Ramadaan. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven
(nights of Ramadaan) left. Then he stood with us (that night - in
prayer)until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with
us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of
the night had passed. So we said, 'Allah's Messenger! Wouldn't you
pray with us the whole night?' He replied:
'Whoever stands in prayer with the imaam until he (the imaam)
concludes the prayer, it isrecorded for him that he prayed the whole
night.'…" [Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi (who
authenticated it), an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, at-Tahawi (in Sharhu Ma`an
il-Athar, Ibn Nasr, al-Faryabi, and al-Bayhaqi. Their isnad is
authentic.]
[Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: "I heard Ahmad being asked,
'Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during
Ramadan?' He replied,'Pray with the people.'I also heard him say, 'I
would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the imaam and to pray witr
with him as well, for the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam)
said:"When a man prays with the imaam until he concludes, it is
recorded that he prayed the rest ofthat night."[Masaa'il]]
Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu `anhu) narrated that the Messenger
(sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr [and it is facilitated
for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah's reward), will have
all of his previous sins forgiven."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the
addition"and it is facilitated for him" is recorded by Ahmad from the
report of`Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be
among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.]
Making Supplications
It is also recommended tomake extensive supplication on this night.
`A'ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported that she asked Allah's Messenger
(sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), "O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which
night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?" And he
instructed herto say:
"Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuh.ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee - O Allah! You
are forgiving, and you love forgiveness.So forgive me." [Recorded by
Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi. Verified to be authentic by
Al-Albani]
Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship
It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the
nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for
abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and
thoughts solely for worshipping Allah.
`A'ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported:
"When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa
sallam) would tighten hisizaar (i.e. he stayed awayfrom his wives in
order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in
prayer), and wake up his family." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
And she said:
"Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to exert more
(in worship) on the last ten than on other nights." [Muslim]