Dua for Laylatul Qadr: The Prayer Taught by the Prophet

Why This Dua Matters More Than You Think

There is a particular kind of longing that descends in the last ten nights of Ramadan. You want to catch Laylatul Qadr — the night the Quran describes as better than a thousand months — but you cannot know exactly which night it is. More than that, you want to know: what should I say?

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) brought this same question directly to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). His answer is one of the most treasured pieces of guidance in the entire Sunnah: a short, profound supplication that asks for the one thing that matters most — pardon from Allah.

Understanding this dua, and learning how to make it yours, can transform how you spend these sacred nights. For a full picture of what Laylatul Qadr is and why it carries such weight, our guide to Laylatul Qadr: The Night of Power covers its history and signs in depth.

The Dua for Laylatul Qadr

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrated: "I asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say?' He replied: 'Say:'"

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni

"O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me."

— (Jami' al-Tirmidhi 3513, Sunan Ibn Majah 3850)

Breaking Down the Meaning

Every word carries weight. Al-'Afuww (الْعَفُوُّ) — the Pardoner — is among the most beautiful names of Allah. It does not merely mean forgiving sins; it means erasing them completely, as though they never happened. When we say tuhibbul 'afwa — "You love to pardon" — we remind ourselves that we are not begging a reluctant judge. We are asking the One who genuinely wants to grant what we need.

The final phrase, fa'fu 'anni — "so pardon me" — is direct and personal. The construction is intimate. There is no distance in this dua, only a servant turning toward their Lord.

The Story Behind This Teaching

Aisha's question arose from genuine care and spiritual ambition. She did not ask what dua would be easiest to memorize — she asked what she should say, as if all of Ramadan had led to this moment.

The Prophet's answer points to what Allah prizes most on this night. He did not prescribe long recitations or complex rituals. He gave a three-phrase supplication centered entirely on seeking pardon.

The Quran describes Laylatul Qadr this way:

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

"The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months."

— (Surah Al-Qadr, 97:3)

On a night worth more than eighty-three years, the Prophet's guidance was: ask for pardon. That tells us everything about what it means to truly prepare for this night.

Making This Dua Part of Your Last Ten Nights

Knowing the dua is one thing. Building your worship around it is another. Here is a practical approach that works whether you are praying at home or at the mosque.

Recite it in every sujood. The Prophet (ﷺ) said the closest a servant is to their Lord is when they are in prostration. Our guide to making dua in sujood explains how to use this moment intentionally. The laylatul qadr dua is short enough to repeat many times within a single rak'ah.

Pair it with tahajjud. The last ten nights are the primary time for tahajjud prayer — rising before fajr when the world is still. Begin each session with sincere intention and close every set of prayers with this supplication. Repetition is not mechanical here; it is a way of keeping your heart oriented.

Use the window between taraweeh and fajr. If you attend taraweeh at the mosque, the time between taraweeh ending and fajr beginning is precious and often underused. Fill part of that window with this dua, personal supplication, and quiet dhikr.

Return to it whenever your focus slips. On a long night of worship, the mind wanders. Treat this dua as an anchor — when you feel distracted or spiritually unsteady, return to it. A few sincere repetitions can reset your heart.

The DeenBack blog offers practical guidance on building morning and evening adhkar routines that pair well with the spiritual intensity of the last ten nights.

Related Duas for These Sacred Nights

Beyond the primary laylatul qadr supplication, these duas pair naturally with the last ten nights.

Sayyid al-Istighfar — the master supplication for forgiveness:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ

Allahumma anta rabbi la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduka...

"O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant..."

— (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)

Dua for good in both worlds:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar

"Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire."

— (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:201)

For a comprehensive collection of supplications organized by moment and need, the Daily Duas for Muslim Life guide is a helpful starting point.

For additional Islamic reflection and spiritual development resources that complement Ramadan worship, Demi Manifest covers practical topics worth exploring.

Common Questions

How many times should I say this dua?

There is no fixed number. The spirit of Laylatul Qadr is abundance — recite it as often as you can throughout the night, especially in sujood and between prayers. Let quantity serve sincerity, not replace it.

What if I feel like I have not been sincere enough?

Sincerity is something we work toward, not something we achieve perfectly. Simply turning to Allah and asking — regardless of how you feel in the moment — is itself an act of trust in His mercy. The fact that you are asking for pardon is already a form of it.

Can I say this dua in English?

You can make personal dua in any language. However, making the effort to learn this short Arabic supplication is worthwhile because the Prophet (ﷺ) gave it to us in Arabic. Many Muslims find it helpful to understand the meaning deeply first, then repeat the Arabic while holding that meaning in their heart.

What if I am new to night prayers?

Start where you are. Our guide to how to read Quran as a beginner and the broader Ramadan Complete Guide can help you build step by step. Even a short tahajjud of two rak'ahs followed by sincere dua is far better than none.

These Nights Are a Gift

Laylatul Qadr is a mercy given specifically to this ummah. Allah granted us a single night worth more than a lifetime of worship, and He gave us the exact words to say on it. That is extraordinary generosity.

The Prophet's instruction to Aisha (رضي الله عنها) — and through her, to all of us — could not be simpler: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni. Ask for pardon. Ask sincerely. Ask often.