Supplication and Remembrance on Laylat al-Qadr
Laylat al-Qadr is a divine mercy bestowed by the Lord of the heavens, reaching the hearts of those yearning for His compassion. Failing to recognize and utilize this significant night in worship and devotion leads to the loss of abundant blessings. Therefore, it is essential for a Muslim to seize this opportunity through righteous actions, such as prayer, reading the Quran, and supplication.
The most recommended supplication during Laylat al-Qadr is what was narrated by Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). She asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “O Messenger of Allah, if I were to witness Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?” He replied, “You should say: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afw fa’fu ‘anni.” (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving and love forgiveness; so forgive me).
Remembrances for Laylat al-Qadr
Remembrance involves invoking phrases that honor the Lord, derived from the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah, which glorify Allah (Exalted be He). Below are several remembrances that can be recited during Laylat al-Qadr, along with their profound significance:
- Sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Ubayy ibn Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace be upon him): “O Messenger of Allah, I frequently send blessings upon you. How much of my supplication should I dedicate to you?” He replied, “As much as you wish.” Ubayy then proposed a fourth, half, or two-thirds, and the Prophet encouraged him to increase it, assuring him that dedicating all his prayers for blessings upon him would suffice for his worries and forgive his sins.
- SubhanAllah wa bihamdi, SubhanAllah al-Azim
The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “Two words are beloved to the Merciful, light on the tongue, but heavy in the scales: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdi, SubhanAllahi al-Azim.” (Glory be to Allah and praise Him; Glory be to Allah the Exalted).
- SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar
The Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked: “To say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, and Allahu Akbar is more beloved to me than whatever the sun has risen upon.”
Furthermore, it is reported that whoever recites “La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu al-mulk wa lahu al-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer” (There is no deity but Allah, alone, with no partner, to Him belongs sovereignty and praise, and He is capable of all things) one hundred times in a day will earn the reward equivalent to freeing ten slaves, be credited with one hundred good deeds, have one hundred sins erased, and will be safeguarded from the devil until evening, unless one outperforms him.
Additionally, it is confirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever glorifies Allah thirty-three times after each prayer, praises Him thirty-three times, and declares His greatness thirty-four times—this completes the hundred: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu al-mulk wa lahu al-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer—will have his sins forgiven, even if they are as abundant as the foam of the sea.”
- Frequent seeking of forgiveness
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned: “By Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him more than seventy times a day.”
- The Phrase of Tawakkul (Reliance on Allah)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Shall I not guide you to a phrase that is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise? There is no power and no strength except with Allah.”
- SubhanAllah
This should be recited one hundred times or more. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked his companions, “Is there anyone among you who cannot attain a thousand good deeds every day?” When they inquired how, he instructed them to say one hundred praises of Allah, which results in a thousand good deeds being recorded for them or a thousand sins being wiped away.
- SubhanAllah wa bihamdi
This should also be recited one hundred times: The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “Whoever says: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdi, one hundred times in a day, his sins will be erased, even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
It is also narrated that Juwayriyah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) visited her in the morning while she was engaged in prayer, and he returned after a while to find her still in the same position. He said to her, “Have you been in this situation since I left you?” She affirmed. The Prophet then stated: “I indeed said four words three times after leaving you, which, if weighed against what you have been saying today, would outweigh it: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdi, ‘adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zidat ‘arshihi, wa midad kalimatihi.” (Glory be to Allah and praise Him, the number of His creation, His pleasure, the weight of His Throne, and the ink of His words).
Supplications from the Qur’an for Laylat al-Qadr
The Qur’an contains numerous supplications that a Muslim can recite at any time. Among these are:
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka anta as-Sami’u al-‘Alim.” (Our Lord, accept from us, indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wafi al-akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhab an-nar.” (Our Lord, give us in this world good, and in the Hereafter good, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbi, aj’alni muqima as-salat wa min dhurriyati. Rabbana wa taqabbal dua.” (My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka inni kuntu min az-zalimin.” (There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyatina qurrata a’yunin waj’alna lil muttaqina imama.” (Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana asrif ‘anna ‘adhaba Jahannam, inna ‘adhabaha kana gharama.” (Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana ighfir lana dhunubana wa israfana fi amrina wathabit aqdamana wansurna ‘ala alqawm alkafirin.” (Our Lord, forgive us our sins and excesses in our conduct, and make our feet firm and give us victory over the disbelieving people).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana atina min ladunka rahmatan wahayyi’ lana min amrina rashadan.” (Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbi, ishrah li sadri, wa yassir li amri, wahlul ‘uqdatam min lisani yafqahu qawli.” (My Lord, expand for me my breast and make my task easy for me and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana thalamna anfusana wa illam taghfir lanawatarhamna lanakunanna min al-khasirin.” (Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana la tu’akhidhna in nasina aw akhta’na. Rabbana wala tahmil ‘alayna isran kama hamaltahu ‘ala alladhina min qablina. Rabbana wala tuhammina ma la taqata lana bihi wa’fu ‘anna waghfir lana warhamna.” (Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka anta as-Sami’u al-‘Alim.” (Our Lord, accept from us, indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing) * “Rabbana waj’alna muslimayni laka wa min dhurriyyatina umma muslimatan laka wa arina mana sikana wa tub ‘alainna innaka anta at-Tawwab-ur-Rahim.” (Our Lord, and make us submissive to You and [make] of our descendants a Muslim [submissive] nation to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful).
- Allah (Exalted be He) says: “Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba’da idh hadaytana wahab lana min ladunka rahmatan innaka anta al-Wahhab. Rabbana innaka jami’u al-nas li yawmin la rayba fihi. innallaha la yukhlifu al-mi’ad.” (Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. Our Lord, indeed You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise).
Supplications from the Sunnah for Laylat al-Qadr
Many narrations from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) contain supplications that can be recited during this blessed night. Some of these include:
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma atina fid-dunya hasanatan wafi al-akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhab an-nar.” (O Allah, grant us in this world good and in the Hereafter good, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min zawali ni’matika, wa tahawuli ‘afiyatik, wa fuja’ati niqmati, wa jami’i sakhotik.” (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the withdrawal of Your blessings, the loss of Your well-being, the suddenness of Your wrath, and all Your displeasure).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma inni thalamtu nafsi thulmًا kathiran, wa la yaghfiru dhunuba illa Anta, faghfir li min ‘indika maghfiratan, innaka Anta al-Ghafur al-Rahim.” (O Allah, I have wronged myself a great injustice, and none forgives sins except You, so forgive me with a forgiveness from You. Indeed, You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, and I seek refuge in You from inability and laziness, and I seek refuge in You from cowardice and miserliness, and I seek refuge in You from the burden of debt and from the oppression of men.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min al-‘ajzi wal-kasali wal-jubni wal-bukhli wal-haram, wa a’udhu bika min ‘adhab al-qabri wa a’udhu bika min fitnat al-mahya wal-mamat.” (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from inability and laziness, cowardice and miserliness, old age, and I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave and from the trials of life and death).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma inni ‘abduka, ibnu ‘abdika, ibnu amatika, naasiyati bi yadi-ka, maadhin fiya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiya qada’uka, as’aluka bi-kulli ismin huwa laka, sammayta bihi nafsaka, aw anzaltahu fi kitabika, aw ‘allamtahu ahadًا min khalqika, aw ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm al-ghaybi ‘indaka, an taj’al al-Qur’an rabee’a qalbi, wa noora basari, wa jala’a huzni, wa dhahaba hammi.” (O Allah, I am Your servant, the son of Your servant, the son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your decree upon me is ongoing, Your command regarding me is just. I ask You by every name that is Yours, that You have named Yourself with or revealed in Your Book or taught to any of Your creation, or You have kept to Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen with You, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, the light of my sight, the removal of my sadness, and the departure of my anxiety).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma inni as’aluka min al-khayri kullihi ‘ajilihi wa ajilihi, ma ‘alimtu minhu wa ma lam a’lam, wa a’udhu bika min al-sharri kullihi ‘ajilihi wa ajilihi, ma ‘alimtu minhu wa ma lam a’lam.” (O Allah, I ask You for all that is good, both immediate and deferred, that which I know and that which I do not know, and I seek refuge in You from all evil, both immediate and deferred, that which I know and that which I do not know).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma inni as’aluka min khayri ma sa’alaka ‘abduka wa nabiyyuka, wa a’udhu bika min sharri ma ‘aadh habihi ‘abduka wa nabiyyuka, Allahumma inni as’aluka al-jannah wa ma qarraba ilayha min qawlin aw ‘amal, wa a’udhu bika min an-nar wa ma qarraba ilayha min qawlin aw ‘amal, wa as’aluka an taj’al kulla qada qadaytahu li khayra.” (O Allah, I ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet asked You for, and I seek refuge in You from the evil from which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and for whatever brings me closer to it, in word or deed, and I seek refuge in You from the Fire and from whatever brings me closer to it, in word or deed, and I ask You to make every decree You have decreed for me good).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min fitnat an-nar wa ‘adhab an-nar, wa fitnat al-qabr wa ‘adhab al-qabr, wa min shar fitnat al-ghina wa min shar fitnat al-faqr, wa a’udhu bika min shar fitnat al-Masih ad-Dajjal.” (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the trial of the Fire, and from the punishment of the Fire, and from the trial of the grave and from the punishment of the grave, and from the evil of the trial of wealth and from the evil of the trial of poverty, and I seek refuge with You from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah).
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allahumma ighsil khatayaya bima’i al-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqqi qalbi min al-khataya kama naqqayta al-thawb al-abya’d min al-danas, wa ba’id bayni wa bayna khatayaya kama ba’adt bayna al-mashriqi wal-maghribi.” (O Allah, wash away my sins with the water of snow and hail, cleanse my heart from sins as You have cleansed the white garment from dirt, and distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west).