Laylatul-Qadr: The Most Virtuous Night

"The night of qadr is the most virtuous night in the whole year. Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an: "We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months." Any action that is done in this night, such as reciting the Qur'an, making mention of Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of qadr.

It is preferred to seek this night during the last ten nights of Ramadan, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to strive his best in seeking it during that time. He would stay up during the last ten nights, wake his wives, and remain apart from them in order to focus on worship."

Recommended Acts of Worship in Laylatul-Qadr  

Laylatul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing person is keen to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.

Praying Qiyam:

It is recommended to make a long Qiyam prayer during the nights on which Laylatul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many Hadiths, such as the following:

Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, relates: "We fasted with Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, in Ramadan. He did not lead us in Qiyam (Night Vigil Prayer) at all until there were seven nights of Ramadan left. Then he stood with us (that night, in prayer) until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of the night had passed. So we said, 'Allah's Messenger! Wouldn't you pray with us the whole night?' He replied: 'Whoever stands in prayer with Imam until he (the Imam) concludes the prayer, it will be recorded for him that he prayed the whole night…” (Reported by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)

Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: "I heard Ahmad being asked, 'Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during Ramadan?' He replied, 'Pray with the people' I also heard him say, 'I would prefer for one to pray Qiyam with Imam and to pray Witr with him as well, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When a man prays with the Imam until he concludes, he’ll earn the reward of praying the rest of that night."

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever stands (in Qiyam) in Laylatul-Qadr (and it is facilitated for him) out of faith and expectation of Allah's reward, will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). The phrase "and it is facilitated for him", according to the version narrated by Ahmad, on the authority of `Ubadah Ibn As-Samit, means that a person is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.

Making Supplications:

It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that she asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, "O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul-Qadr, what should I say during it?" And he instructed her to say: "Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuh.ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee (O Allah! You are Oft-Forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me)." (Reported by Ahmad, Ibn Majah and At-Tirmithi)

Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship:

It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylatul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah. This is based on the following Hadith narrated by `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her: "Upon entering into the last ten (of Ramadan), the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would tighten his Izar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer), and wake up his family." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) She also said: "Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, used to exert more efforts (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights." (Reported by Muslim)

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from www.islam.com

How Can a Menstruating Woman Observe Laylatul-Qadr?

you have to keep in mind the fact that during their menses, women can read the Qur’an and make dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and du`a’ (supplication), though they are forbidden from fasting, performing Salah (prayer) and touching the Mushaf (copy of the Qur’an). In this way, they still have the opportunity to observe Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power) by reciting the Qur’an and making dhikr.

In his response to the question in point, the prominent Muslim scholar, Dr. Muhammad Abu Laylah, professor of the Islamic Studies & Comparative Religions at Al-Azhar Univ. states:

"A menstruating woman should not perform Salah (prayer) nor touch the Qur'an, but she can make du`a' (supplication) and share with other Muslims their prayer by watching and listening to TV channels or radio stations that broadcast Tarawih prayer live.

She can ask someone to put the Mushaf on a table or a stand and read from it without touching it. She can take a cassette and listen to Qur'anic recitation."

Stressing the permissibility of a woman reciting the Qur’an in their menses, we would like to cite the fatwa issued by the Saudi House of Fatwa headed by the late Sheikh Abdul-`Azeez Ibn Baz (may Allah bless his soul):

"There is nothing wrong with a menstruating woman or a woman in post-natal bleeding to recite the Qur'an, because there is no clear-cut authentic Hadith that forbids them from doing so. However, it is reported in an authentic Hadith that one who is Junub (one in a state of impurity following sexual intercourse or wet dream), must not read the Qur'an while he or she is impure, according to the Hadith reported by `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

The Hadith reported as regards the menstruating woman and the one experiencing post-natal bleeding reads: “The menstruating woman and the one who is Junub are not to read Qur'an". This Hadith is reported by Ibn `Umar, but it is Da`if (weak), because the Hadith was reported by Isma`eel Ibn `Ayyaash from the Hijaaziyeen, and he is famous for narrating Da`if Hadiths from them.

However, such woman (in menstruation or post-natal bleeding) should not touch the Mushaf; she can recite from her own memory [or from a copy of the Qur’an without touching it, as per the above opinion]. As for the Junub, he or she is not to recite the Qur'an, whether from memory or from the Mushaf, until he or she has performed Ghusl (purificatory bath). The difference between them is that the time span for the one who is Junub to have himself or herself purified is very short; he or she can do Ghusl right away after lovemaking or wet dream. The Junub does not stay in this condition for long, and it is up to him/her when he/she wants to make Ghusl; if he/she does not find water, he/she can do Tayammum (dry ablution) and then he or she can pray and read the Qur'an. But the woman in menses or in post-natal bleeding has no control over her situation – the matter is up to Allah the Almighty.

Therefore, it is permissible for them to recite the Qur'an so that they do not forget it and they do not miss learning the teachings of Shari`ah from the Book of Allah. If that is the case, then it should certainly be permissible for them to read books containing du`a' that are mixed with verses and Hadiths, etc. This is the view believed to be the most correct."

Finally, Sheikh Muhammad Iqbal Nadvi, Imam of Calgary Mosque, Alberta, Canada, and Former Professor at King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia, concludes:

"A menstruating woman is not supposed to pray. She can do the following:

1. Read as much as she can to increase he knowledge about Islam.

2. Make du’a’ and spend time making dhikr to Allah Almighty.

3. Listen to the Qur’an or read from her memory.

4. Watch Islamic programs or shows on TV or video to educate herself about Islam.

5. Attend religious classes to be always around the committed sisters."