Who doesn’t want to receive its blessings on the Night of Lailatul Qadr? Just imagine, this one night of worship is better than a thousand months! But, what if we can’t do i’tikaf in the mosque? Can we still achieve the virtues of the Night of Lailatul Qadr? Let’s discuss it thoroughly!
Laylatul Qadar Night: A Night Full of Mystery
Allah ﷻ says:
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ
“Indeed, We have sent it down (the Qur’an) on the night of Lailatul Qadr. And do you know what the night of Laylatul Qadar is? The night of Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months. That night the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) descended with the permission of their Lord to arrange all affairs. Be prosperous (that night) until dawn.” (QS. Al-Qadr: 1-5)
This night is in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan, especially on the odd nights. So, for those of us who want to get its blessings, we must be prepared!
Also read: Tips for a Productive I’tikaf During the Last 10 Nights of Ramadan
I’tikaf in the Mosque: Obligatory or Sunnah?
Many people think that if they want to get Lailatul Qadr, they have to do i’tikaf in the mosque. In fact, i’tikaf is sunnah, not obligatory. The Prophet ﷺ always performed i’tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan, as in the hadith:
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَعْتَكِفُ العَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، فَإِذَا كَانَ عَامُ وَفَاتِهِ اعْتَكَفَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا
“The Prophet ﷺ always performed i’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. And in the year he died, he performed i’tikaf for twenty days.” (Narrated by Bukhari, no. 2040)
However, it does not mean that if we do not perform i’tikaf, we will lose the opportunity to get Lailatul Qadr. There are many other practices that we can do!
Also read: How to Get Healthy and Good Suhoor
Without I’tikaf, Can You Still Get Lailatul Qadr?
The answer is: absolutely! I’tikaf is recommended, but it is not the only way to achieve the blessings of the night of Lailatul Qadr. We can still get it with other practices, such as:
- Night Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا، غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ“Whoever keeps alive the night of Lailatul Qadr with faith and hopes for a reward from Allah, then he will be forgiven his past sins.” (Narrated by Bukhari, no. 1901; Muslim, no. 760)
So, even though you can’t do i’tikaf, keep up the spirit of night prayer!
- Reading the Qur’an
The night of Lailatul Qadr is the night the Qur’an was revealed. So, reading and contemplating the Qur’an can be the best way to live this night.
- Recommended Prayer Story
In a story, Aisyah radhiyallahu ‘anha once asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “O Messenger of Allah, if I encounter the night of Lailatul Qadr, what should I say?”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
“O Allah, You are Most Forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi, no. 3513)
This shows how important this prayer is during Lailatul Qadr, because we all need Allah ﷻ’s forgiveness.
- Congregational Isha and Fajr Prayers
Rasulullah ﷺ said:
مَنْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَامَ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَلَّى اللَّيْلَ كُلَّهُ
“Whoever prays Isha in congregation, it is as if he prayed half the night. And whoever prays Subuh in congregation, it is as if he prayed all night.” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 656)
So, even though you can’t stay up all night, praying Isha and Subuh in congregation can be an alternative!
- Increase Alms
Giving charity on the night of Lailatul Qadr, especially by giving alms, will get multiple rewards.
Also read: Ramadhan Kareem: Time to Increase Faith and Piety!
Characteristics of Lailatul Qadr Night
Lailatul Qadr Night has special signs that are mentioned in the hadith. Some of them are:
- The air is calm and cool.
- The moonlight looks softer and shines brightly.
- The sun rises in the morning with rays that are not too dazzling.
- There are no animal sounds that disturb the tranquility of the night.
Rasulullah ﷺ said:
إِنَّ أَمَارَةَ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ أَنَّهَا صَافِيَةٌ بَلْجَةٌ كَأَنَّ فِيهَا قَمَرًا سَاطِعًا، سَاكِنَةٌ سَاجِيَةٌ، لَا بَرْدَ فِيهَا وَلَا حَرَّ، وَلَا يَحِلُّ لِكَوْكَبٍ أَنْ يُرْمَى بِهِ فِيهَا حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ
“It was a clear night, bright as if there was a moon shining, calm, neither hot nor cold, and no stars were thrown (meteors) until morning.” (HR. Ibn Khuzaimah, no. 2192)
Also read: How to Manage Personal Finances of the Prophet Muhammad’s Companions
Conclusion
So, if you can’t do i’tikaf in the mosque, can you still achieve Lailatul Qadr? Of course you can! The important thing is, we remain enthusiastic about worshiping by praying at night, reading the Qur’an, remembering Allah, praying, and doing other good deeds.
Let’s not waste this golden opportunity. Come on, maximize our worship and achieve the blessings of the night of Lailatul Qadr!
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References
Al-Qur’an Al-Karim https://tafsirweb.com
Al-Bukhari, Muhammad bin Ismail. Sahih al-Bukhari. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/bukhari
Muslim, Abu al-Husain. Sahih Muslim. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/muslim.
Tirmidhi, Abu Isa Muhammad bin Isa. Sunan At-Tirmidhi. Accessed from https://www.hadits.id/hadits/tirmidzi
Ibn Khuzaimah, Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah Book, No. 2192