Laylat-al-Qadr: Dates, significance, importance Ramadan 2023

Also known as the Night of Decree, Night of Destiny, Night of Power, and Night of Value, Night Of blessings, Laylat al-Qadr will take place on Tuesday 18, April 2023, which is the 27th day of Ramadan.

What is the significance of Laylat-al-Qadr?

Young man reading the Quran/Courtesy/Huffingtonpost Pulse

During Ramadan, Muslims believe that they get whatever they wish for on the last 5 odd nights of the holy month but only one day is chosen to celebrate Laylat-Al-Qadr. For Ramadan 2023, these five nights fall on April 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th and 20th.

These last five days are not a coincidence, rather, they are due to uncertainty of the actual date of Laylat-al-Qadr. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar one, the Islamic year is shorter than the solar one by 10 to 11 days. This means Ramadan begins 10 to 11 days earlier each year.

The last five odd nights of Ramadan

The Quran/Muslims focus on religious study and prayer on Laylat-al-Qadr/Courtesy/ayainstitute Pulse

Therefore it is hard to determine exactly when the Night of Power happened. However, it is believed that the original Laylat al-Qadr happened on one of the odd-numbered nights of the last five days of Ramadan namely the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th nights of Ramadan could be Laylat al-Qadr.

Laylat-al-Qadr is the holiest day of Ramadan. It marks the night on which the Quran (Koran or Qur'an) was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad by God.

According to Islam literature, Mohammed used to spend one month each year in the cave of Hira outside Mecca. On this night, the Angel Gabriel revealed to him the first verses of the Quran. It was the same night Muhammad was appointed as God's Prophet and Messenger.

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What is the significance of Laylat-al-Qadr for Muslims observing Ramadan?

A Muslim man in prayer/Courtesy Pulse

For fasting Muslims, on Laylat-al-Qadr the spirituality of the deeds and practices during the holy month exceeds the impact they have on the other days of Ramadan.

Imagine if one push-up could make you 1,000 times stronger on Laylat-al-Qadr when on any other day you have to do 1,000 push-ups to get stronger. So for instance, worship on this day is like worshipping 1,000 times at once.

The Quran says, “The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.”

This means that fasting, almsgiving, and spiritual reflection and cleanliness, prayer, have a lot more impact on this special day. Especially religious study and prayer.

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Muslims attend special services and recite special prayers and verses while giving thanks for the day and praying for the less fortunate.