لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ 3
Translations
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
Transliteration
Laylatul-Qadri khayrun min alfi shahrin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the unparalleled spiritual excellence of Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), declaring that a single night of sincere worship during this blessed night surpasses in merit and reward approximately 83 years of ordinary worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this comparison illustrates the immense divine grace concentrated in this night—the angels descend, mercy is abundantly distributed, and the Quran was first revealed during it, making worship performed with faith and hope for Allah's reward extraordinarily valuable in the sight of Allah.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca to highlight the significance of Ramadan and specifically Laylat al-Qadr, which falls within the last ten nights of the month. The context emphasizes the blessed nature of this night and motivates believers to seek it and maximize their spiritual efforts during Ramadan, particularly in the odd-numbered nights of the final ten days.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Whoever stands in prayer during Laylat al-Qadr with faith and sincerity, all his previous sins will be forgiven' (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). Additionally, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet instructed seeking Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan (Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that spiritual quality transcends quantity—a single night of sincere, dedicated worship with genuine faith can outweigh years of routine practices. It encourages Muslims to maximize their efforts during Laylat al-Qadr and Ramadan, recognizing that Allah values intention and sincerity over mere duration of worship.