Among the nights of Ramadan is one special night, Laylatyul Qadr (Night of Decree) it was the night the Quran was send down and worship during the laylatul Qadr is equivalent to worship performed for a period of one thousand months (83 years). It is the night the Angles descend in abundance and as narrated by

Abu Hurairah (radhi Allaahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever performs the night prayer on the night of Al-Qadr with Eemaan (firm belief) and seeking reward will have all his past sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to seclude himself (in the mosque) during the last ten nights of Ramadan. He would say, “Search for Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the last ten nights of Ramadan.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Night of Decree (Laylatul Al-Qadr) occurs in the last ten nights of Ramadaan during odd nights (i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th) and this is based on the Prophet’s (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) saying: “Search for the Night of Al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.” [Al-Bukhaaree]

 

Importance of having a plan for Laylatul Qadr:

How many times have we entered the last ten nights of Ramadan and “wandered” aimlessly without a clear goal? Without knowing what our priorities are and what we really want to achieve? I am sure way to many times subhanallah. This is why it’s so important to enter the last ten nights with a plan because frankly we don’t know which night laylatul Qadr will be on and having a plan helps you clarify your most important priorities. It helps you maintain a balance by asking yourself when you want to wake up? How you want to spend your time during that time? What you want to do during those times? Will you pray taraweeh at the masjid or will you go to the Tahhajud? All of these small details serve as a road map for accomplishing what matters most inshaa allah.

Things to do on Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree):

There are many acts of worship we can do in the last ten nights of Ramadan, we can increase our Quran recitation and reflect upon it, give to charity, go into ikhtikaaf as well as make sincere Dua.  This article will be focusing on making dua and the manners of making Dua as Dua is a form worship that Allaah loves. He loves to be asked and He encourages us, His slaves to ask of Him. Allaah says:
“And your Lord said: “Invoke Me [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation)”
[Ghaafir 40:60]

The best dua to supplicate on Laylatul Qadr and the last ten nights is

It’s reported that Aishah (Radiyallahu anha) said “O Messenger of Allah! If I find the Night of Al-Qadr what should I say?” He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) replied,
Say : “O Allah! Verily You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.” [Ahmad 6:182]

Manners of making dua:

(Some of the points are Taken from Dr Saleh as Saleh (may Allaah preserve him) audio on Aburrahman.org I encourage you to listen inshaa allaah as I am just writing a quick summery).

     1.   Before supplicating it’s from the etiquette’s to praise Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’alaa and send salawaat to the prophet (sallaahu alaihi wasallam)
Al-Tirmidhi (3476) narrated that Fadaalah ibn ‘Ubayd (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: Whilst the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was sitting, a man came in and prayed and said, “O Allaah, forgive me and have mercy on me.” The Messenger of Allaah (sallaahu alaihi wasallam) said, “You have been too hasty, O worshiper. When you have prayed and are sitting, praise Allaah as He deserves to be praised, and send blessings upon me, then call upon Him.” According to another version (3477): “When one of you prays, let him start with praise of Allaah, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then let him ask whatever he likes after that.” Then another man prayed after that, and he praised Allaah and sent blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O worshiper, ask and you will be answered.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2765, 2767.

     2.   To admit/ confess of one’s sins, mistakes and wrong doings. This is why the dua of Yunus (Alaihi salaam) is one of the greatest dua.

Dr Saleh as Saleh also mentions the most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is to say

The prophet sallaahu alaihi wasallam said that “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.” [Sahih al-Bukhari; 8,75,318, at-Tirmidhi; 3393, an-Nasa’i; 5522, Ahmad; 16662]

      3.   Being in a state of humbleness with hope and fear
“Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret” [al-A’raaf 7:55]

4.    Having firmness, sincerity and determination when making dua and not saying inshaa Allaah, Allah will accept it.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Call upon Allaah when you are certain of a response, and remember that Allaah will not answer a du’aa’ that comes from a negligent and heedless heart.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3479; classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2766.

5.   Making dua under all situations at times of ease and/or hardship.

6.   Avoiding dua against yourself, family or wealth.

7.   To repeat the dua three times

8.    Asking frequently
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The slave will receive a response so long as his du’aa’ does not involve sin or severing of family ties, and so long as he is not hasty.” It was said, “What does being hasty mean?” He said: “When he says, ‘I made du’aa’ and I made du’aa’, and I have not seen any response,’ and he gets frustrated and stops making du’aa’.” Narrated by al-Bukahari, 6340; Muslim, 2735.

9.    To face the Qibla

10.    Raising your hands

11.    Using the siwak to clean ones teeth

12.    To do a righteous deed before the dua. The righteous deed can be giving charity, offering two rakaat, ext

13.    Making wudu

14.    The objective/ aim should be good for example making dua for wealth so one can help others with it.

     15.    We should ask of Allaah by His most beautiful names.
“And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names” [al-A’raaf 7:180]

May Allaah accept our fasting and dua, Ameen.