Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Decree)

Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: ليلة القدر), the Night of Decree or the Night of Destiny, is the most sacred night in the Islamic calendar. It is the night when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and the Quran dedicates an entire chapter to it: "Indeed, We sent it (the Quran) down on the Night of Decree. And what will tell you what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months" (Surah Al-Qadr 97:1-3).

In Shia tradition, Laylat al-Qadr falls on one of the odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadan, with special emphasis on the 19th, 21st, and 23rd nights. The 19th of Ramadan is the night when Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was struck in the mosque of Kufa, the 21st is the night he died as a martyr, and the 23rd is considered by many as the most likely night for Laylat al-Qadr.

Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: "On Laylat al-Qadr, all events for the coming year are determined — who will be born, who will die, what will happen — and this determination is entrusted to the Proof (Hujjah) of Allah," i.e., the living Imam (Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 94). This shows the close connection between Laylat al-Qadr and the doctrine of imamat in Shia Islam.

Worship during these nights (ihya' al-layl) includes: Salat al-Layl, recitation of the Quran, du'as from Mafatih al-Jinan (including Du'a Jawshan al-Kabir and specific a'mal for each night), istighfar, and general dhikr. Shia Muslims often spend the entire night in worship (ihya') in mosques and husayniyyahs. The Laylat al-Qadr programs are among the best-attended events in Shia Muslim communities.