Surah Al-Qadr (chapter 97) is a short surah of five verses about one special night: Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, when the Quran was first sent down. That one night is "better than a thousand months." This guide explains the surah verse by verse, how to recite it with tajweed, and how to seek Laylat al-Qadr in Ramadan 2027.
The surah at a glance
Surah number | 97 |
Verses | 5 |
Revealed | In Makkah, according to most scholars |
Name | "The Decree", from Laylat al-Qadr |
Main theme | The night the Quran was sent down, and its greatness |
Meaning, verse by verse
Verse | Meaning (simplified) |
|---|---|
Indeed, We sent it (the Quran) down on the Night of Decree. | |
And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? | |
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. | |
The angels and the Spirit (Jibril) come down in it, by the permission of their Lord, with every matter. | |
Peace it is, until the rise of dawn. |
What these verses teach
- The Quran's value. The night is great because of what was sent down in it. Honouring the Quran honours that night.
- More than a lifetime. A thousand months is over 83 years. Worship on this one night is better than a whole lifetime of nights.
- Heaven comes close. So many angels descend, led by Jibril, that the night is full of peace until Fajr.
Seeking Laylat al-Qadr
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Seek it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan" (reported by al-Bukhari). He also said: "Whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and hoping for reward, his past sins will be forgiven" (reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, so the last ten nights are expected around the end of February and start of March 2027, depending on the moon sighting in your country.
The du'a for Laylat al-Qadr
'A'ishah asked the Prophet ﷺ what she should say if she found Laylat al-Qadr. He taught her:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni — "O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me" (reported by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah).
A simple plan for each of the last ten nights
Time | What to do |
|---|---|
After 'Isha | Pray Taraweeh or your night prayer |
Before sleeping | Read a juz, or at least Surah Al-Qadr and the last 10 surahs with meaning |
Last third of the night | Wake for a few rak'ahs and du'a |
Before Fajr | Repeat the du'a above, and ask for your family |
See our Ramadan khatm plans and how to prepare for Ramadan 2027.
Reciting Surah Al-Qadr with tajweed
Word | Rule |
|---|---|
Innā | Nun with shaddah: ghunnah for 2 counts. See what is ghunnah |
anzalnāhu | Natural madd on the nā: 2 counts |
al-qadr (stopping) | Dal is a qalqalah letter: when you stop on it, give it a clear bounce. See what is qalqalah |
al-malā'ikatu | Madd before a hamzah in the same word: 4–5 counts |
war-rūḥu | Lam shamsiyyah: the lam is silent and the ra is doubled. See sun and moon letters |
min kulli | Nun sakinah before kaf: ikhfa (hidden, with ghunnah). See what is ikhfa |
salāmun hiya | Tanween before ha: izhar (clear) |
maṭla'il-fajr | The ra at the stop is heavy, because the letter before it has sukun and the one before that has fatha |
Teaching it to children
Five short verses make Surah Al-Qadr easy for children to memorise in a week: one verse a day, then revision at the weekend. Tell them the story of the night when the Quran came down, and let them help plan your family's last ten nights. See how to help a child memorise short surahs.
To check your recitation before Ramadan, every learner at Ittiba starts with a free diagnostic lesson — see our Quran classes for adults and for kids.
FAQ
What is Surah Al-Qadr about?
The night the Quran was first sent down, Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months, when angels descend and there is peace until dawn.
When is Laylat al-Qadr in 2027?
It is in the last ten nights of Ramadan, most likely an odd night. With Ramadan 1448 expected to start around 8 February 2027, that is around the end of February and start of March 2027, depending on the moon.
What is the du'a for Laylat al-Qadr?
*Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni* — "O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me."
What does "better than a thousand months" mean?
Worship on this one night is better than worship over a thousand months — more than 83 years — that do not contain it.
How many verses are in Surah Al-Qadr?
5 verses. It is the 97th surah of the Quran.
Sources
- Surah Al-Qadr 97 — Quran.com
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2017 — seek it in the odd nights — Sunnah.com
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1901 — standing on Laylat al-Qadr — Sunnah.com
- Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3513 — the du'a for Laylat al-Qadr — Sunnah.com