wikishia:Featured Article/2021/05

Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لَیلَة القَدر, lit. the night of the measure or night of the destiny) is the night of the revelation of the Qur'an and the predestination of the coming year for everyone. In the Qur'an and hadiths, the Night of Qadr is said to be more valuable than one thousand months. It is the most virtuous night of the year and the night of divine mercy and the forgiveness of sins, when angels descend on the Earth. According to some Shiite hadiths, the angels present people's predestination for the coming year to the Imam.

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

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 (a)'s martyrdom at Ramadan 21 has increased the importance of these days among Shi'a. Read more...