Laylat al-Qadr means ‘night of power’. It is a very special time for Muslims as it specifically commemorates the giving of the first verses of the Qur’an to Muhammad, whom Muslims believe to be the last prophet.

When

No one knows the exact date of Laylat al-Qadr, but it is thought to be one of the odd dates towards the end of the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is most commonly observed on the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan.

What and why

The Qur’an states that Laylat al-Qadr is ‘better than a thousand months’. Good deeds and prayers are said to be magnified on this night. Hope of forgiveness and God’s blessing increases, leading some to spend hours praying at the mosque.

Although Muslims pray to God, they do not expect a response. They see God as distant and unknowable. They believe in sin, but not in original sin that requires the kind of sacrifice Jesus Christ made. They strive to be accepted but they can only vaguely hope that when the time comes they will be rewarded for their obedience.