Question 637: What are the common and specific A’amaal we the Muslim can perform during the three Nights of Power (Laylatul Qadr)?
Answer 637: The Night of Power (Laylatul Qard) is the night, which is the most blessed and excellent of all nights. A prayer during this night is superior to the prayer of a thousand months.[1] The destiny for the year is decided (decreed) on this night.[2] That is why the Du`as for this night ask for special favours in the decree for the year. Believers are encouraged to stay awake the entire night, and pray for blessings and forgiveness. It is the holiest night of the year, and it would be unwise to be heedless of the tremendous benefits of this night. The Angels and Roohul Ameen (a highly dignified Angel) descend on this earth, with the permission of Allah (swt) & call on the Imam of the time, and what is ordained (by Allah) for everybody is presented before the Imam.[3]The month of Ramadan has been singled out for special worship (`Ibadat) and exclusive favours. It is a month unlike other months. One reason for this, as defined by the Holy Quran, is because the Holy Quran was revealed in this month.[4] In the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) says: “The month of Ramazan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction Therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein And whoever is sick or upon a journey, then) he shall fast (a) like (number of other days Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and) He desires (that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the Greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks”.[5]
Common A`amaal for the three nights of Qadr
On all three nights of Laylatul Qadr, the 19th, 21st, and 23rd of Ramadhan, the following acts are recommended:
First: Perform Ghusl near sunset. It is better to offer your Maghrib and Isha prayers with the Ghusl you performed near the sunset, according to Allamah Majlesi (ra).
Second: Two rak`aat namaz; in each rak`ah after reciting Sura alHamd recite Sura alIkhlas 7 times. After the prayer say the following 70 times and according to a hadith in which the holy Prophet (pbuh) says, do not stand up after your prayer until Allah (SWT) forgive you and your parents.[6]
Astaghfirullaaha waatoobu ilayh
استغفر الله وأتوب إليك
Translation: I seek forgiveness of Allah, and I turn (repentant) to Him.
Third: Open the holy Quran and say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّی أَسْأَلُکَ بِکِتَابِکَ الْمُنْزَلِ وَ مَا فِیهِ وَ فِیهِ اسْمُکَ الْأَکْبَرُ وَ أَسْمَاؤُکَ الْحُسْنَى وَ مَا یُخَافُ وَ یُرْجَى أَنْ تَجْعَلَنِی مِنْ عُتَقَائِکَ مِنَ النَّارِ
Translation: O Allah I ask You, for the sake of Your revealed Book, and what is in it, and in it is Your greatest name, and (all) Your beautiful names, and what is feared and hoped for, make me amongst those whom You have saved from the fire.
Then remember all your wishes and ask Allah, the Almighty to grant them.
Fourth: Place the holy Quran on the head and say:
اللَّهُمَّ بِحَقِّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ وَ بِحَقِّ مَنْ أَرْسَلْتَهُ بِهِ وَ بِحَقِّ کُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ مَدَحْتَهُ فِیهِ وَ بِحَقِّکَ عَلَیْهِمْ فَلا أَحَدَ أَعْرَفُ بِحَقِّکَ مِنْکَ
Then repeat each of the following ten times:
For Your sake, O Allah,
(bika yaallahu)
for the sake of Muhammad (pbuh),
(bi-muhammadin)
for the sake of `’Ali (as),
(bi-`aliyyin)
for the sake of Fatima (as),
(bi-fatimata)
for the sake of Hasan (as),
(bilhasani)
for the sake of Hussain (as),
(bilhussaini)
for the sake of `’Ali bin (son of) Hussain (as),
(bi-`aliyyi bni alhussaini)
for the sake of Muhammad bin Ali (as),
(bi-muhammadi bni `aliyyin)
for the sake of Jaafar bin Muhammad (as),
(bi-ja`fari bni muhammadin)
for the sake of Musa bin Jaafar (as),
(bi-musa bni ja`farin)
for the sake of `’Ali bin Musa (as),
(bi-`aliyyi bni musa)
for the sake of Muhammad bin Ali (as)
(bi-muhammadi bni `aliyyin)
for the sake of `’Ali bin Muhammad (as),
(bi-`aliyyi bni muhammadin)
for the sake of Hasan bin Ali (as),
(bilhasani bni `aliyyin)
for the sake of Al Hujjat (the proof) (as)
(bilhujjati)
Then ask Allah, the Almighty to grant all you wishes.
Fifth: Ziyarat of Imam Hussain (as): It is reported that if a person visited the holy shrine of Imam Hussain (as) Allah, the Almighty would forgive all of his/her sins.
Sixth: Stay awake. It is reported in a hadith that Imam Musa bin Jaafar (as) said: Whoever keeps awake on the nights of Qadr shall have his/her sins forgiven even if they equal the number of the stars in the heaven. [7]
Seventh: It is also recommended to recite hundred rakaats (i.e. 50 namaz of 2 rak`aat each) on these three nights. The practice of performing Qadha prayers on these nights has no origin in the books of Hadith. However, it is emphasized to fulfil the Qadha prayers as soon as it is possible, and some believers use this opportunity to perform Qadha prayers of six days (i.e. 6 x 17 =102 rak`aats).
Eighth: Recite this following dua:
للَّهُمَّ إِنِّی أَمْسَیْتُ لَکَ عَبْدا دَاخِرا لا أَمْلِکُ لِنَفْسِی نَفْعا وَ لا ضَرّا وَ لا أَصْرِفُ عَنْهَا سُوءا أَشْهَدُ بِذَلِکَ عَلَى نَفْسِی وَ أَعْتَرِفُ لَکَ بِضَعْفِ قُوَّتِی وَ قِلَّةِ حِیلَتِی فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْجِزْ لِی مَا وَعَدْتَنِی وَ جَمِیعَ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ مِنَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ فِی هَذِهِ اللَّیْلَةِ وَ أَتْمِمْ عَلَیَّ مَا آتَیْتَنِی فَإِنِّی عَبْدُکَ الْمِسْکِینُ الْمُسْتَکِینُ الضَّعِیفُ الْفَقِیرُ الْمَهِینُ اللَّهُمَّ لا تَجْعَلْنِی نَاسِیا لِذِکْرِکَ فِیمَا أَوْلَیْتَنِی وَ لا [غَافِلا [لِإِحْسَانِکَ فِیمَا أَعْطَیْتَنِی وَ لا آیِسا مِنْ إِجَابَتِکَ وَ إِنْ أَبْطَأَتْ عَنِّی فِی سَرَّاءَ [کُنْتُ] أَوْ ضَرَّاءَ أَوْ شِدَّةٍ أَوْ رَخَاءٍ أَوْ عَافِیَةٍ أَوْ بَلاءٍ أَوْ بُؤْسٍ أَوْ نَعْمَاءَ إِنَّکَ سَمِیعُ الدُّعَاءِ
This dua has been narrated by Kaf’ami from Imam Sajjad (as) I have passed the evening as a very humble servant of Yours I have no control over the gains and losses for myself and I cannot drive back any evil from myself. I testify to this against myself. To You Do I confess of my powerlessness and my feebleness. So, (Please do) send blessings to Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and fulfill what You have promised me, as well as all the believing men and women; that is Your forgiveness at this night, and accomplish that which You have conferred upon me, for I am Your slave—the poor, the humble, the weak, the needy, and the humiliated. O Allah, (please) do not make me negligent of Your mention as regards that which You have bestowed upon me, do not make me inadvertent to Your favors to me as regards that which You have given me, do not make me despair of Your responding to me, even if such response is postponed, whether I be in prosperity, adversity, hardship, comfort, wellbeing, ordeal, misery, or bliss. Verily, You are the Hearer of prayers.
The Specific Amaal for the 19th night of Qadr:
- Say 100 times: “Astaghfirullaaha Rabbee Waatoobu Ilayh”
اَستَغفُرِاللهَ رَبی وَ اَتوبُ اِلَیه
- Say 100 times: “Allahumma il`an Qatalata ameeril mu’mineen”
اَللّهُمَّ العَن قَتَلَةَ اَمیرَالمومنینَ
- Recite this dua:
“يا ذا الَّذِي كانَ قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ خَلَقَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ يَبْقى وَيَفْنى كُلُّ شَيْءٍ، يا ذا الَّذِي لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِه شَيْءٌ، وَيا ذا الَّذِي لَيْسَ فِي السَّماواتِ العُلى وَلا فِي الأَرْضِينَ السُّفْلى وَلا فَوْقَهُنَّ وَلا تَحْتَهُنَّ وَلا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِلهٌ يُعْبَدُ غَيْرُهُ، لَكَ الحَمْدُ حَمْداً لا يَقْوى عَلى إِحْصائِهِ إِلاّ أَنْتَ، فَصَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلاةً لا يَقْوى عَلى إِحْصائِها إِلاّ أَنْتَ”.
- Recite this dua:
“اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِيما تَقْضِي وَتُقَدِّرُ مِنَ الاَمْرِ المَحْتُومِ وَفِيما تَفْرُقُ مِنَ الاَمْرِ الحَكِيمِ فِي لَيْلَةِ القَدْرِ وَفِي القَضاء الَّذِي لا يُرَدُّ وَلا يُبَدَّلُ أَنْ تَكْتُبَنِي مِنْ حُجَّاجِ بَيْتِكَ الحَرامِ المَبْرُورِ حَجُّهُمُ المَشْكُورِ سَعْيُهُمُ المَغْفُورِ ذُنُوبُهُمُ المُكَفَّرِ عَنْهُم سَيِّئاتُهُمْ، وَاجْعَلْ فِيْما تَقْضِي وَتُقَدِّرُ أَنْ تُطِيلَ عُمْرِي وَتُوَسِّعَ عَلَيَّ فِي رِزْقِي وَتَفْعَلَ بِي كَذا وَكَذا”
Instead of saying the words Kaza wa Kaza you are supposed to remember you wishes and ask Allah (SWT) to grant them.
The specific A’amaal for the 21st night of Qadr:
Ghus, stay wake, Ziyarat Imam Hussain a(as), prayer (recite surat al-Ikhlas 7 times after surat al-Hamd), place the holy Quran on head, offer 100 rakaats prayers, Dua Jawshan kabir and the like.
Then recite this dua:
“يا مُولِجَ اللَّيْلِ فِي النَّهارِ وَمُولِجَ النَّهارِ فِي اللَّيْلِ، وَمُخْرِجَ الحَيِّ مِنَ المَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجَ المَيِّتِ مِنَ الحَيِّ، يا رازِقَ مَنْ يَشاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ، يا الله يا رَحْمنُ، يا الله يا رَحِيمُ، يا الله يا الله يا الله، لَكَ الاَسماء الحُسْنى وَالاَمْثالُ العُلْيا وَالكِبْرِياءُ وَالآلاُء، أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَأَنْ تَجْعَلَ اسْمِي فِي هذِهِ اللّيْلَةِ فِي السُّعَداءِ، وَرُوحِي مَعَ الشُّهداء، وَإِحْسانِي فِي عِلِّيِّينَ، وَإِسائَتِي مَغْفُورَةً، وَأَنْ تَهَبَ لِي يَقِينا تُباشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِي، وَإِيماناً يُذْهِبُ الشَّكَّ عَنِّي، وَتُرْضِيَنِي بِما قَسَمْتَ لِي، وَآتِنا فِي الدُّنْيا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنا عَذابَ النَّارِ الحَرِيقِ، وَارْزُقْنِي فِيْها ذِكْرَكَ وَشُكْرَكَ وَالرَّغْبَةَ إِلَيْكَ وَالاِنابَةَ وَالتَّوْفِيقَ لِما وَفَّقْتَ لَهُ مُحَمَّداً وَآلَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ”.
The specific Amaal for the 23rd Night of Ramadhan:
According to Hadith, Laylatul Qadr is either on the 19th, 21st or 23rd night of Ramadhan. More emphasis is laid on the 21st and the 23rd, particularly the 23rd.
First: recite Surahs Ankabout and Room.
Second: Recite Surah Dukhan.
Third: Recite surah Qadr 1000 times.
Fourth: Continuously recite dua Faraj:
اللَّهُمَّ كُنْ لِوَلِيِّكَ الحُجَّةِ بْنِ الحَسَنِ صَلَواتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلى آبائِه فِي هذِهِ السّاعَةِ وَفِي كُلِّ ساعةٍ وَلِيّاً وَحافِظاً وَقائِداً وَناصِراً وَدَلِيلاً وَعَيْناً حَتّى تُسْكِنَهُ أَرْضَكَ طَوْعاً وَتُمَتِّعَهُ فِيْها طَوِيلا
Fifth: Recite this dua:
للَّهُمَّ امْدُدْ لِي فِي عُمْرِي، وَأَوْسِعْ لِي فِي رِزْقِي، وَأَصِحَّ لِي جِسْمِي، وَبَلِّغْنِي أَمَلِي، وَإِنْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الاَشْقِياءِ فَامْحُنِي مِنَ الاَشْقِياءِ وَاكْتُبْنِي مِنَ السُّعَداءِ، فَإِنَّكَ قُلْتَ فِي كِتابِكَ المُنْزَلِ عَلى نَبِيِّكَ المُرْسَلِ صَلَواتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: ﴿يَمْحُوالله ما يَشاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ اُمَّ الكِتابِ﴾
Sixth: Recite this dua:
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِيْما تَقْضِي وَفِيما تُقَدِّرُ مِنَ الاَمْرِ المَحْتُومِ وَفِيما تَفْرُقُ مِنَ الاَمْرِ الحَكِيمِ فِي لَيْلَةِ القَدْرِ مِنَ القَضاء الَّذِي لا يُرَدُّ وَلا يُبَدَّلُ، أَنْ تَكْتُبَنِي مِنْ حُجَّاجِ بَيْتِكَ الحَرامِ فِي عامِي هذا المَبْرُورِ حَجُّهُمُ المَشْكُورِ سَعْيُهُمُ المَغْفُورِ ذُنُوبُهُمُ المُكَفَّرُ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئاتُهُمْ، وَاجْعَلْ فِيْما تَقْضِي وَتُقَدِّرُ أَنْ تُطِيلَ عُمْرِي وَتُوَسِّعَ لِي فِي رِزْقِي
Seventh: Recite this dua:
يا باطِنا فِي ظُهُورِهِ، وَيا ظاهِراً فِي بُطُونِهِ، وَيا باطِنا لَيْسَ يَخْفَى، وَيا ظاهِراً لَيْسَ يُرى، يا مَوْصُوفاً لا يَبْلُغُ بِكَيْنُونَتِهِ مَوْصُوفٌ وَلا حَدٌ مَحْدُودٌ، وَيا غائِبا غَيْرَ مَفْقُودٍ، وَيا شاهِداً غَيْرَ مَشْهُودٍ، يُطْلَبُ فَيُصابُ، وَلَمْ يَخْلُ مِنْهُ السَّماواتُ وَالأَرْضُ وَمابَيْنَهُما طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ، لا يُدْرَكُ بِكَيْفٍ، وَلا يُؤَيَّنُ بِأَيْنٍ وَلا بِحَيْثٍ، أَنتَ نُورُ النُّورُ وَرَبُّ الأَرْبابِ، أَحَطْتَ بِجَمِيعِ الاُمور، سُبْحانَ مَنْ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ، سُبْحانَ مَن هُوَ هكَذا وَلا هكَذا غَيْرَهُ
Then remember all your wishes and ask Allah (SWT) to grant them.
Eighth: Perform another Ghusl at the end of the night
Ninth: Ziyarat of Imam Hussain (as).
Tenth: offer 100 rakaats prayers.
Eleventh: Recite this following dua and ask Allah, the Almighty for his forgiveness and to grant your wishes.[8]
“يا رَبَّ لَيْلَةِ القَدْرِ وَجاعِلَها خَيْراً مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ، وَرَبَّ اللّيْلِ وَالنَّهارِ وَالجِبالِ وَالبِحارِ وَالظُّلَمِ وَالاَنْوارِ وَالأَرْضِ وَالسَّماء، يا بارِيُ يا مُصَوِّرُ يا حَنّانُ يا مَنّانُ، يا الله يا رحَمنُ يا الله يا قَيُّومُ يا الله يا بَدِيعُ، يا الله يا الله يا الله، لَكَ الاَسماء الحُسْنى وَالاَمْثالُ العُلْيا وَالكِبْرِياءُ وَالآلاُء، أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَأَنْ تَجْعَلَ اسْمِي فِي هذِهِ اللّيْلةِ فِي السُّعَداءِ، وَرُوحِي مَعَ الشُّهداء، وَإِحْسانِي فِي عِلِّيِّينَ، وَإِسائَتِي مَغْفُورَةً، وَأَنْ تَهَبَ لِي يَقِيناً تُباشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِي، وإِيْمانا يُذْهِبُ الشَّكَّ عَنِّي، وَتُرْضِيَنِي بِما قَسَمْتَ لِي، وَآتِنا فِي الدُّنْيا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخرةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنا عَذابَ النّارِ الحَرِيقِ، وَارْزُقْنِي فِيْها ذِكْرَكَ وَشُكْرَكَ وَالرَّغْبَةَ إِلَيْكَ، وَالاِنابَةَ وَالتَّوْبَةَ وَالتَّوْفِيقَ لِما وَفَّقْتَ لَهُ مُحَمَّداً وَآلَ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ)
For further information in this regards, please refer to the following references and answers:
– Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, Vol. 2, Pg.s 506-508.
– Lavame’ Sahid Qirani, Vol. 6, chapter on the night of Qadr.
– Al-Fiqh al-Mansoob Ilal Imam al-Reza (as), Pg. 399, Chapter al-A’daab.
– Al-Kafi, Vol. 7, Pgs. 619-631.
– Wasael al-Shia, Vol. 8, Pgs. 18-288.
– Biharul Anwar, Vol. 94, Pgs. 1-391.
– Mafatih al-Jinan, The common and Specific Amaal for the three nights (Laylatul Qadr.
Index: The sign of Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Power, answer 065.
Index: Wisdom of placing the Holy Quran on our head, answer 112.
Index: Definition of Dua, Means and Intercession, answer 148.
Index: Reciting Dua or Dikr in any language during the Prayer, answer 579.
Index: Satans are chained during the Holy Month of Ramadan, answer 061.
[1] . Al-Fiqh al-Masnsoob (attributed to) lil Imam al-Reza (as), Pg. 204; Kuleini, Muhammad bin Yaqoub, Furu Kafi, Ali Akbar Ghafari, Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, 1391 A.H, Vol. 4, Pg. 158.
[2] . Mafatihul Jinan, Pgs. 439; Wasael al-Shia, Vol. 7, Pg. 258, H. 8; Tafsir Manhaj al-Sadeqin, Vol. 10, Pg. 303.
[3] . Surah Qadr, verses 1-5.
[4] . Tafsir al-Qummi, Vol. 2, Pg. 431.
[5] . Surah Baqarah, verse 185.
[6] . Mafatih al-Jinan, Pg. 439-441.
[7] . Hurr Ameli, Muhammad bin al-Hasan, Wasael al-Shia, Abdul Rahim Rabbani Shirazi, Beirut, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1412 A.H, sixth edition, Vol. 7, Pg. 262.
[8] . Mafatih al-Jinan, Pg. 439-479.