wikishia:Featured Article/2017/25

Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لَیلَة القَدر, Night of Power, Night of Value, Night of Measure, Night of Decree) is the best and most sacred night in the year based on Islamic teachings. At this night the destiny of the coming year will be determined. The whole Qur'an was sent down on the Prophet's (s) heart at this night. In the Qur'an, Laylat al-Qadr is mentioned in two Suras: Sura al-Qadr and Sura al-Dukhan.

The exact date of Laylat al-Qadr is unknown. However, according to many traditions, it is in the month of Ramadan. Shi'a believe that it is the night of 19th or 21st or 23rd of the month of Ramadan or 15th of Sha'ban. The majority of Sunni Muslims mark 27th of the month of Ramadan as Laylat al-Qadr.

According to narrations and Quran, the night is better than one thousand nights, and is the night in which the sins are forgiven, and the night is the heart of Ramadan.

On these nights, Shi'a follow their Imams (a) in staying awake the whole night, reciting the Qur'an, praying and performing other rituals. The anniversary of Imam 'Ali's martyrdom at 21st of Ramadan has increased the importance of these days among Shi'a. According to hadiths, Laylat al-Qadr is not only for the Prophet's time, rather there is Laylat al-Qadr in every year. Based on these hadiths, Shi'a demonstrated that there must be a living Imam so that the angels who descend on that night would descend on him, an Imam with similar characteristics as of the Prophet (s). Read more...