Laylatul Qadr

Laylatul Qadr — the Night of Decree, or Night of Power — is the night in Ramadan that the Quran describes as better than a thousand months. Muslims seek it in the last ten nights of the month, especially the odd-numbered nights. We do not know the night in advance, and this page does not claim to.

What Surah al-Qadr says

The Quran’s short, complete chapter on this night is Surah al-Qadr (chapter 97). The Arabic below is the Uthmani text of the five ayahs. The English is our own brief meaning, not a copyrighted translation.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Reference: The opening of the surah (basmala). English meaning in our own words, not a copyrighted translation.

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ۝ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ ۝ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ ۝ تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍۢ ۝ سَلَٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ

We sent it down on the Night of Decree. And what will make you realise what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend in it, by the permission of their Lord, with every matter. It is peace, until the rising of the dawn.

Reference: Quran 97:1–5. English meaning in our own words, not a copyrighted translation.

“It” in the first ayah is understood as the Quran. “Better than a thousand months” is a measure of worth that no timetable can fully capture; the point is to treat the night as precious, not to turn it into a contest.

The dua to say

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said she asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “If I know which night is the Night of Decree, what should I say?” He said: say this wording. The report is in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (3513). More context is on our duas for Ramadan page.

Dua for Laylatul Qadr

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

O Allah, You are the One who pardons, and You love to pardon, so pardon me.

Source: Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3513. English meaning in our own words, not a copyrighted translation.

Tentative last-ten-night dates in 2027

If the first fast of Ramadan is Monday 8 February 2027, then:

• The last ten nights begin at Maghrib at the end of day 20, which would be the evening of Saturday 27 February 2027 (the start of night 21).
• The odd nights would then begin at Maghrib on 27 February (21), 1 March (23), 3 March (25), 5 March (27) and 7 March (29).
• Night 27, which many people especially hope for, would begin at Maghrib on Friday 5 March 2027.

If your community starts Ramadan on 7 February, every night moves one day earlier. If the month is only 29 days, there is no night 30. Confirm the start with your mosque, then count again. In Saudi Arabia, follow the official announcement; around Makkah and Madinah, local mosque times and the official calendar should lead any calculated timetable.

City calendars that include these evenings: Sydney, Melbourne, Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, plus cities already listed for the USA, the UK, Canada and the UAE. See the full calendar hub.

A plan you can keep

There is no single required programme for the night. Many people pray, recite Quran, give charity and make dua, and some do i’tikaf when they can. A short, honest plan — Isha, a few pages, this dua, and whatever extra you can manage — is better than an ambitious list that lasts one night.

Women who want a more secure reading before the last ten nights can start or resume Quran reading with Tajweed or the Tajweed rules course. Families can open a 30-day Khatam plan from the expected first fast, and keep children’s activities gentle on school nights.