Guide to the Lailatul Qadr Night Prayer: Intention, Procedure, and Complete Dua
The Lailatul Qadr night prayer is one of the Sunnah prayers consisting of two or four rak’ahs performed in a single salam, and it can only be observed during the last ten nights of Ramadan. This night, regarded as a night of great honour, is believed to be the first night on which the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad SAW, and it is a night whose rewards are multiplied.
The Lailatul Qadr prayer can be performed individually or in congregation. It is normally offered after Tarawih prayers, during the night until dawn, or around 3 a.m.
What is the Intention (Niyyah) for the Lailatul Qadr Prayer?
Intention for two Rak’ahs of Lailatul Qadr:
ُصَلِّى سُنَّةً لَيْلَةُ الْقَدَرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى
“Ushalli sunnatan lailatul qadari rok’ataini (imaaman/ma’muuman) lillaahi ta’ala”.
Meaning: “I intend to perform the Sunnah prayer of Lailatul Qadr for two Rak’ahs, for Allah the Exalted.”
Intention for four Rak’ahs:
أُصَلَّى سُنَّةً فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ أَكْبَرْ
“Ushalli sunnatan fi lailatil qadri arba’a raka’atin mustaqbilal qiblati lillahi ta’ala”.
Meaning: “I intend to perform the Sunnah prayer of Lailatul Qadr for four Rak’ahs, facing the Qiblah, for Allah the Exalted.”
How is the Lailatul Qadr Prayer Performed?
In general, the night prayer of Lailatul Qadr is the same as the method of other Sunnah prayers, with the following guidance:
Make the intention (2 or 4 rak’ahs in a single salam)
Recite Surah Al-Fatihah in the first and second rak’ahs
Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas seven times in the first and second rak’ahs
Conclude with the salam and recite istighfar seventy times.
What supplication is recommended during the night prayer?
After performing the Sunnah prayer of Lailatul Qadr, the following supplications can be recited to complete the worship.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنَّا. يَا كَرِيمُ
“Allâhumma innaka ’afuwwun karîm, tuhibbul ’afwa fa’fu ’annâ. Yâ karîm.” (33 times)
Meaning: “O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, Most Generous; You love to forgive, so forgive us.”
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَتُبْ عَلَى
“Rabbighfir lī warhamnī wa tub ’alayya.” (7, 17, 70, or 100 times)
Meaning: “My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, and accept my repentance.”
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوْءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَى وَأَبُوْؤُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
“Allâhumma anta rabbī lā ilaha illā anta khalaqtanī wa anā ’abduka wa anā ’alā ’ahdika wa wa’dika mastatha’tu. A’ûdzu bika min syarri mā shana’tu abû’u laka bini’matika ’alayya wa abû’u bidzanbî faghfir li fa’innahu lâ yaghfirudz-dhunūba illā anta.” (7, 11, or 33 times)
Meaning: “O Allah, You are our Lord; there is no deity but You who created me, and I am Your servant. And I am upon Your covenant and promise as far as I am able. I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sins, so forgive me, for surely no one can forgive sins except You.”
By understanding the method of the Lailatul Qadr prayer, one can maximise worship at the end of Ramadan with sincerity, humility, and hope for forgiveness from Him.