Why Is the Night of Power Significant in Ramadan?

The Night of Power, or Laylat al-Qadr, is significant because Muslims believe it was the night when the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Jibril. It falls during Ramadan, making the month a time to remember the beginning of Allah’s guidance to humanity.

Why is it important?

The Qur’an describes the Night of Power as “better than a thousand months” (Surah 97). This expresses the exceptional value of worship on that night. The surah also describes angels descending and peace lasting until dawn. For Muslims, these teachings make it a night for prayer, reflection and seeking Allah’s forgiveness.

This does not mean that worship on other nights is unimportant. Rather, the description emphasises the special opportunity this night offers to draw closer to Allah. Muslims may also ask for forgiveness and consider how the Qur’an’s teachings should shape their everyday choices. That connects belief with a practical response.

The revelation of the Qur’an matters because Muslims regard it as Allah’s word and a source of guidance for how to live. Remembering its first revelation helps explain why many Muslims spend the night reciting the Qur’an and making du’a, meaning personal prayers to Allah.

When is it observed?

The exact date is not known. Muslims seek the Night of Power during the last ten nights of Ramadan, especially the odd-numbered nights. Some particularly observe the twenty-seventh night, but it should not be presented as the certain date.

For a GCSE answer, link the belief to its effect: because this night marks the beginning of the Qur’an’s revelation and is described as exceptionally valuable, Muslims may devote more time to worship during Ramadan’s final nights. A common mistake is to say that the whole Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad on this one night; the account concerns the first revelation.