Lailatul Qadr

Lailatul Qadr History

Lailatul Qadr, also known as the Night of Power, is believed to mark the day when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, embracing a night of remembrance, prayer, and reflection. Observers often use this time for intense prayer and reading the Quran, seeking to draw closer to their faith. It's considered a night of great spiritual significance, as it is believed that the prayers and good acts performed on this night will be rewarded more than those performed in a thousand months.

Lailatul Qadr has been commemorated since the early days of Islam, its significance stemming from the revelation of the Quran on this night. For Muslims residing in Canada, it represents an opportunity to spiritually cleanse themselves, foster unity among the local Islamic community and have their past sins forgiven. It's seen as a time for introspection, prayer, and contemplation in the pursuit of spiritual awakening and enlightenment. Moreover, many Canadian Muslims use this occasion to contribute to charity, as doing good deeds is highly encouraged during this period.

In Canada, the observance of Lailatul Qadr is typically seen in communal prayers held in mosques across the country, and private prayer sessions at home, which are held throughout the entire night. Muslim communities come together for Iftar, the breaking of the fast, and partake in special prayers known as Taraweeh. Individuals also strive to read the entire Quran, if possible, seeking to gain the maximum benefit from the holy night. While the exact date of Lailatul Qadr is not definitive, it's generally observed during the last ten days of Ramadan, focusing on the odd-numbered nights. Therefore, the observance in Canada will depend on the sighting of the moon which marks the beginning of Ramadan.

Facts about Lailatul Qadr

• An entire chapter of the Quran, called Al-Qadr is devoted to explaining the merits of worshipping on Lailatul Qadr.
• According to Islamic tradition, the following are signs of The Night of Power every year: A peaceful night with moderate temperatures, no shooting stars, and a moon that shines without rays. The sun, when it rises, will appear as a disk with no beams of light coming out of it.
• The first mosque in Canada, Al Rashid Mosque was built in Edmonton, Alberta in 1938.Since immigration from Muslim-majority countries has increased, the number of Mosques and Islamic centers across the cities in Canada has risen, meaning the observance of Lailatul Qadr and other Islamic events has grown in prominence over the years.
• Many Muslim Canadians also attend a community meal (iftar) to break the fast together during the last ten days of Ramadan, which includes Lailatul Qadr.

In the News and Trending in Canada for Lailatul Qadr

Top things to do in Canada for Lailatul Qadr

• For Lailatul Qadr, Muslims typically congregate in mosques to pray and worship all night together. Imams often give sermons that teach listeners about the best prayers they can make that night.
• On this night, many Muslims give money away in charity, after more than 20 days of fasting. The rewards of charity are multiplied on Lailatul Qadr. This can be evidenced by the Prophet Muhammad's teachings: Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times - Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, 1887
• Attend Services at a Mosque - Mosques such as The Baitul Islam Mosque in Vaughan, The Islamic Centre of Canada (ISNA) in Mississauga, and Al-Salam Centre in Calgary, among others, hold special night-long prayers and recitations of the Quran.
• Read a book to learn more about Lailatul Qadr in Canada:
  The Night of Destiny: Lailat al-Qadr - by Moustafa Elqabbany: A detailed book that delves into the significance and importance of Laila al-Qadr in the Islamic religion and how it is observed throughout various countries, including Canada.
  Understanding Ramadan: The Month of Fasting, Prayer, Quran, and Nightly Worship - by Ali Budak: Provides general knowledge about Ramadan and covers the night of Lailatul Qadr extensively.