TI0012 - English - ‘Amals (actions) to do during Lailatul Qadr

‘Amals (actions) to do during Lailatul Qadr

One might see pamphlets being distributed on the above topic in all masjids during the month of Ramadan. In that pamphlet, a plenty of worships would be mentioned. Based on that, reciting Qul huwa Allahu ahad (Surah Al-Ikhlas) a hundred times for praying, the tasbeeh prayer, performing zikr loudly as a congregation/group, etc many such worships have been carried out by people. There is no evidence in authentic hadiths for any of these.

In this blessed night, one should not destroy one’s own good ‘amals/acts, by doing acts of bidah which were not shown by the messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (saws).

Prophet Muhammad (saws) has not taught any prayer such that is specific and meant to be prayed for Lailatul Qadr only.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَتْ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَزِيدُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ فِي غَيْرِهِ عَلَى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي أَرْبَعًا فَلاَ تَسَلْ عَنْ حُسْنِهِنَّ وَطُولِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثَلاَثًا، قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَنَامُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوتِرَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا عَائِشَةُ، إِنَّ عَيْنَىَّ تَنَامَانِ وَلاَ يَنَامُ قَلْبِي ‏"‏‏.‏
Narrated Abu Salma bin `Abdur Rahman:
I asked `Aisha, "How is the prayer of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) during the month of Ramadan." She said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) never exceeded eleven rak`at in Ramadan or in other months; he used to offer four rak`at-- do not ask me about their beauty and length, then four rak`at, do not ask me about their beauty and length, and then three rak`at." Aisha further said, "I said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Do you sleep before offering the witr prayer?' He replied, 'O `Aisha! My eyes sleep but my heart remains awake'!"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1147
In-book reference : Book 19, Hadith 28
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 21, Hadith 248
  (deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/19/28

This hadith refers very clearly that Prophet Muhammad (saws) did not teach any prayer that was exclusively for Lailatul Qadr. It was the regular 8+3 eleven rak’ats night prayer which was prayed in a slow and steady manner by Prophet Muhammad (saws). Therefore, establishing the 11 rak’ats, rukoo, sujood, and every such elements of a prayer to be prayed by lengthening is the worship one needs to do during Lailatul Qadr.

Dua to be read on Lailatul Qadr:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الضُّبَعِيُّ، عَنْ كَهْمَسِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَلِمْتُ أَىُّ لَيْلَةٍ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَقُولُ فِيهَا قَالَ ‏ "‏ قُولِي اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏
Aishah narrated:
“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is your view if I know when the Night of Al-Qadr is, then what should I say in it?” He said: ‘Say: “O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, You love pardon, so pardon me (Allāhumma innaka `Afuwwun, tuḥibbul-`afwa fa`fu `annī).’”
Grade : Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3513
In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 144
English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3513
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/48/144

If a worship that was taught exclusively to be done on Lailatul Qadr, then it is this dua. Therefore, one should read this as much as possible during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

As per the method taught by the Allah’s Messenger Prophet Muhammad (saws), by staying in e'tikaaf in the last ten days, by getting up to pray on that night, let us achieve the night that is better than thousand months, the Lailatul Qadr!

Translated by: Abu Abdul Baari and Ummu Abdul Baari
The original source (Tamizh): 
(குறிப்பு : 2003 நவம்பர் மாதம் ஏகத்துவம் இதழில் வெளிவந்த கட்டுரை)