Fatwa

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  4. Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree)

There is no specified prayer for Laylatul Qadr
Fatwa No: 221692

Question

Assalamu alaikum.... In India, Bangladesh and Pakistan people used to pray specially 12 Rakat of Nafal prayer in Lailatul Qadr in congregation or individually which is known as salat of Lailatul Qadr in which they recite surah ikhlaas like 10, 15 or 20 times in each Rakat after surah Faatiha. Is it proven by saheeh hadith ? What the prophet muhammad (SAW) did during Lailatul Qadr ? Pls clarify me...

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Muslim scholars have stated that doing a particular act of worship regularly at a particular time without any specific religious evidence is classified as Bid‘ah (an innovation in religion).

Imaam Ash-Shaatibi said: "Bid‘ah is an innovated way in religion, a way that resembles the legitimate way. The purpose of following it is to exaggerate in worshipping Allaah, The Almighty." He also gave examples for it saying, "such as consistently performing certain acts of worship at certain times that were not specified in Sharee'ah."

As for what is called 'the prayer of Laylatul Qadr' in the way you have stated, we did not find any authentic or unauthentic Hadeeth as grounds for it. Also, there are no grounds that the early Muslims did it and thus it should be avoided and we should only adhere to the Islamic acts of that night, such as:

1- Observing I‘tikaaf (seclusion in the Masjid) for the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to observe I‘tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan, which include Laylatul Qadr. It was stated in Zaad Al-Ma‘aad by Ibn Al-Qayyim : "Once he (the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) observed I‘tikaaf in the first ten days of Ramadan, then in the middle ten days, then in the last ten days, seeking Laylatul Qadr. Then, he was told that it is in the last ten days, so he always observed I‘tikaaf during the last ten days, until he met his Lord."

2- Performing night prayer, as it was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever spends the night of Laylatul Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” [Al-Bukhari, Muslim. This wording is in Al-Bukhari]

3- Making a great deal of Du‘aa' (i.e. supplicating Allaah, The Almighty) especially what is established through evidence. It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allaah, If I know which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say?” He said: “Say: Allaahumma Innaka ‘Afuwwun Tuhibb Al-‘Afwa fa’fu ‘Anni (O Allaah, You are All-Forgiving and You love forgiveness so forgive me).” [Ibn Maajah - Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)]

4- Reciting a great deal of Quran and Thikr, and other similar acts of worship.

Allaah Knows best.

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