reading time ~5 mins

Things to do on Laylat al-Qadr

1. Avoid sins
2. Taraweeh / Tahajjud (Bukhari 2024) (best in the last third of night) (Bukhari 1145) (Muslim 758b)
3. Quran recitation with translation
4. Taddabur (contemplate) on the ayaat of the Quran
5. Special Laylat al-Qadr Dua for Forgiveness
   • اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عُفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
   • Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni
   • (Tirmidhi 3513 Sahih) (ibn Majah 3850 Sahih)
6. Personal Duas
7. Dua for Ummah
8. Remember Allah as much as possible
9. ‘Isha and Fajr in congregation – reward of entire night of standing in prayer (Tirmidhi 221 Sahih)
10. Speak less – guard the tongue – prefer and master silence (Bukhari 6474) (Bukhari 6475) (Bukhari 6478) (Tirmidhi 2410 Sahih)
11. Prioritize good deeds such as charity

Sunnah

1. Narrated ‘Aisha (رضي الله عنها) : With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Bukhari 2024)
2. Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Our Lord Almighty descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night, saying: Who is calling upon Me that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness that I may forgive him?” (Bukhari 1145) (Muslim 758b)
3. It was narrated from ‘Aisha (رضي الله عنها) that she said:”O Messenger of Allah, what do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?” He ﷺ said: “Say: ‘Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).’” (Tirmidhi 3513 Sahih) (ibn Majah 3850 Sahih)
   • اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عُفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
4. Uthman bin Affan (رضي الله عنه) narrated that :Allah’s Messenger ﷺ  said: “Whoever attends Isha (prayer) in congregation, then he has (the reward as if he had) stood half of the night. And whoever prays Isha and Fajr in congregation, then he has (the reward as if he had) spend the entire night standing (in prayer).”  (Tirmidhi 221 Sahih)
5. Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d (رضي الله عنه): Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.” (Bukhari 6474)
6. Narrated Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه): Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not hurt (or insult) his neighbor; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should entertain his guest generously.” (Bukhari 6475)
7. Narrated Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet (ﷺ); said, “A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire.” (Bukhari 6478)
8. Sufyan bin ‘Abdullah Ath-Thaqafi (رضي الله عنه) said: I said: “O Messenger of Allah! Inform me about a matter that I may hold fast to.” He said: ‘Say: My Lord is Allah, then be steadfast.’ I said: “O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most for me?” So he took hold of his tongue and said: ‘This.‘” (Tirmidhi 2410 Sahih)
9. Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. And whoever spends the night of Lailat Al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (an Nasai 5027)

Additional Reading

1. Blessings of Laylat al-Qadr
2. Guarding the Tongue
3. What to Do on Laylat al-Qadr (IslamQA)