wikishia:Featured articles/2025/12
Laylat al-Qadr (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 Shia 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, 21st or 23rd of the month of Ramadan. The majority of Shi'a emphasise 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.
Qadr, in Arabic, means measure and limit or value of something or destiny. Some reasons have been offered for its naming:
- It is said that it was called al-Qadr because the annual destiny of every person will be determined by God.
- Some say that if one stays awake at this night, one will reach a high state.
- Some have said that it was called al-Qadr because it is a grand and high-value night.
Other names such as "Laylat al-'Azama"; night of the greatness) and "Laylat al-Sharaf"; night of the honor) have also been mentioned for this night.
The Night of Qadr is the most superior and the most important night of the year in the Islamic culture. According to a hadith from the Prophet (s), the Night of Qadr is a divine endowment to Muslims, which was not enjoyed by any of the past nations. There is a full sura in the Qur'an characterizing and praising the Night of Qadr, and thus it is called Sura al-Qadr.......
Other featured articles: Imam al-Hasan b. Ali al-Askari (a) – Khums – Imam Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Mahdi (a)