By Shaykh Mustafa Abdulla
13 March 2026

﷽ 

We are in the most beautiful days of our lives, days that come to us only once in the year. In these days there is a night that is extremely special: Laylatul Qadr. Allah honoured this night with the Qur’an, and Allah raised its station above all other nights.

Among the greatest blessings of Allah upon us are the blessing of Islam, the blessing of the Qur’an, and the blessing of reaching Ramadan. Allah says:

These are the nights in which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would strive more than he strove at any other time. A’ishah رضي الله عنها said that when the last ten nights entered, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would tighten his waistcloth, spend the night in worship, and wake his family.

This shows us the nobility of these nights and the rank they hold with Allah. These are not nights for heedlessness. These are nights in which we seclude ourselves for Allah, away from creation, away from our schedules, away from the distractions of life, and turn fully to the One who created us and allowed us to reach them.

Allah says:

He also says:

The connection between these verses is clear: the blessed night in which the Qur’an was sent down is Laylatul Qadr. The Qur’an explains itself, and its verses clarify one another. This is from the beauty of the Book of Allah.

But the question is this: if I am granted Laylatul Qadr, what should I say? What should I ask from Allah on that night? The Prophet ﷺ answered this when he taught our mother A'ishah رضي الله عنها to say:

اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني

“O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.”

Out of all the things a servant may ask for, the Prophet ﷺ taught us to ask for Allah’s pardon. This is because pardon is the gateway to every good. If Allah pardons, then the burden is lifted, the sin is erased, and the servant returns purified.

Allah decrees on that night what will unfold for His servants in the coming year. The books of tafsir mention provisions, lifespans, afflictions, and matters of ease and hardship. 

Yet Allah has opened for us the door of istighfar. A servant meets Allah’s decree with repentance, humility, and seeking forgiveness. This is why the du‘a of Laylatul Qadr is so powerful. On the night when matters are apportioned, the believer is taught to ask Allah for pardon, hoping that Allah decrees for him what is better, more merciful, and more blessed.

Allah gives us a powerful example in the words of Nuh عليه السلام. He said to his people:

This teaches us that istighfar is not only for the removal of sins. It is also a cause for mercy descending, provisions expanding, hardship being lifted, and life being filled with barakah. When a servant seeks forgiveness sincerely, the doors of rizq open and Allah responds with generosity.

On this night, Allah sends down the angels, led by Jibra‘il عليه السلام, by the command of their Lord. They descend upon the earth on a night that Allah calls peace until the break of dawn.

What a station it is for a believer to be found in worship while the angels descend. What an honour it is to be in qiyam, in dhikr, in recitation, in repentance, while the heavens are opened and mercy is spread across the earth. This is from the beauty of this deen.

For this reason, I remind myself and I remind the ummah not merely to read the Qur’an in Ramadan, but to pay attention to it, to seek understanding of it, and to learn its language and meanings.

Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, and Laylatul Qadr is the night of the Qur’an. So let us meet these days and nights with recitation, reflection, and humility. There are only a few nights left. If Laylatul Qadr has not yet passed us, then perhaps Allah will still allow us to witness it and to be among those whose sins are forgiven.

O Allah, make us among the people of the Qur’an. O Allah, allow us to reach Laylatul Qadr and to stand in it with faith and hope in Your reward. O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon us. O Allah, forgive our sins, shower us with Your mercy, decree for us what is best, and make us among those who remain in constant remembrance of You.

Ameen.

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