Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr)

In the night of the 27th of Ramadan, muslims celebrate Laylat al-Qadr.

Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لیلة القدر‎) (also known as Shab-e-Qadr , loaned from Persian), variously rendered in English as the Night of Power, Night of Decree, Night of Value, Night of Destiny, or Night of Measures, is in Islamic belief the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is one of the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan and is better than 1000 months of worship. Muslims believe that on this night the blessings and mercy of Allah are abundant, sins are forgiven, supplications are accepted, and that the annual decree is revealed to the angels who also descend to earth.

Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr was the night when the Quran was revealed to Muhammad from Allah. Most Muslims believe that revelation of the Quran occurred in two phases, with the first phase being the revelation in its entirety on Laylat al-Qadr to the angel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic) in the lowest heaven, and then the subsequent verse-by-verse revelation to Muhammad by Gabriel, across 23 years. The revelation started in 610 CE at the Hira cave on Mount Nur in Mecca. The first Sura that was revealed was Sūrat al-ʿAlaq (in Arabic العلق). During the first revelation the first five verses of this Sura, or chapter, were revealed.

Muslims often offer extra prayers, particularly the night prayer. They hold a vigil, pray, seek Allah's forgiveness and mercy, and hope that their supplications will be accepted on this night. Mostly, they perform tilawat (reading the Quran).

Those who can afford to devote their time in remembrance of Allah stay in the mosque for the final ten days of Ramadan. This worship is called Iʿtikāf (retreat). They fast during the day and occupy themselves with the remembrance of Allah, performing voluntary prayers and studying the Quran, day and night, apart from the obligatory prayers which they perform with the congregation. Food and other necessities of life are provided for them during their stay in the mosque. By devoting time to remember Allah, Muslims also hope to receive divine favors and blessings connected to Laylat al-Qadr.

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand:
Peace!...This until the rise of dawn! Sura 97 (Al-Qadr), āyāt 1-5

The verses above regard the night as better than one thousand months. The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting, praying, reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, and giving charity. However because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims strive [give more effort] harder in the last ten days of Ramadan since the Laylat al-Qadr could be one of the odd-numbered days in these last ten (the first, third, fifth, seventh or ninth). Normally, some Muslims from each community perform iʿtikāf in the mosque: they remain in the mosque for the last ten days of the month for prayers and recitation. Women also observe i'tikaf. They remain in prayer and meditation mostly, although they are allowed to do the minimum domestic work to run the family. When Muhammed observed i'tikaf in a tent, he saw a few tents around his. His wives joined him by pitching tents.