Recommended Supplications on Laylatu Al-Qadr

Under category: All about Ramadan

the supplication that should be recited on Laylatu Al-Qadr was first asked by the Mother of the Believers, ‘Aa’ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her. It was narrated that she said, "I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, if I know which night is Laylatu Al-Qadr, what should I say on that night?' He said: 'Say: 'Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun kareemun tuhibbu al-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are Ever Pardoning and Generous and You love pardoning, so pardon me!)'" [At-Tirmithi]

This authentic and beautiful Hadeeth (narration) says that one of the greatest and noblest supplications on this blessed night is "Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun kareemun tuhibbu al-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are Ever Pardoning and Generous and You love pardoning, so pardon me!)"

According to another authentic narration the Messenger of Allaah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) gave a different wording: "Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbu al-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are Ever Pardoning and You love pardoning, so pardon me!)" [Ibn Maajah]

Both supplications are good and you should use both.

This means that this great supplication is one of the best supplications to entreat Allaah therewith on this night. Saying this supplication implies several virtues:

First: Entreating Allaah The Almighty by means of His Noble Attributes. The supplication includes two great Attributes: the first is pardoning, since Allaah pardons, forgives, covers up, wipes out, expiates and replaces evil deeds with good deeds; and the second is generosity, which necessitates that the giving, bounty and forgiveness of Allaah is extremely vast. You actually entreat Allaah The Almighty by means of these two noble Names, The Ever Pardoning and The Ever Generous. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And to Allaah belong the best Names, so invoke Him by them.} [Quran 7: 180]

Then you assert this supplication by saying: "You love pardoning". It means that Allaah The Almighty is The Ever Pardoning and The Generous and that He loves to pardon His weak sinning servants. Then, you supplicate Allaah to pardon you by saying finally "so pardon me!" You ask Allaah to pardon you and when one is granted this advantage, he has obtained the highest degrees. Whoever is pardoned by Allaah, it is not only that his sins are forgiven and covered up, but he is also exalted in rank and elevated in position. Allaah The Almighty is vast when He gives and He is Generous. He replaces evil deeds with good deeds, as we referred to in the beginning.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allaah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 25: 70]

You should be keen to say this supplication and repeat it often. This is the supplication the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) specified for this great night.

It is also prescribed and recommended to supplicate Allaah with all other supplications. It does not mean that you have to use only the aforesaid supplication during this night; rather, you should intensify using it because the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) specified it. You should also use the other different supplications which bring you goodness in the two worlds, especially those reported from the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ). I will present to you some of these supplications at the end of the answer, by the permission of Allaah.

As for your question about the Quranic verses that should be recited on Laylatu Al-Qadr, there are no specific verses or Chapters whose recitation is recommended on this night. Nonetheless, it is recommended to recite the Quran in general. It is recommended to intensify recitation of the Quran as well as doing other righteous deeds, such as almsgiving, kindness, benevolence, and observing the voluntary night prayers. Rather, spending this night in observing voluntary prayers is one of the greatest acts of worship. The Prophet of Allaah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention )said: "Whoever prays at night during Laylatu Al-Qadr out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven." [Saheeh (authentic)]

You should be keen to seize this opportunity and spend this night in prayer as well as other acts of worship. You are not required to spend the whole night in prayer, as some people believe; rather, you should pray as much as you can. When you perform the Taraaweeh prayer in congregation along with other women in their place of prayer, this is permissible and you are rewarded with a complete reward of praying the whole night. The Mesenger of Allaah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever prays with the Imaam (i.e. the person leading the congregation in prayer) until he finishes, it will be counted as if he prayed the whole night."

However, your prayer at home is enough and you do not need to go to the Masjid (mosque) in order to receive this reward. 
Here are some Prophetic supplications that are recommended to supplicate Allaah therewith in all conditions:

These are chosen supplications and they are not specific to Laylatu Al-Qadr exclusively. Only the supplication mentioned at the beginning is specific to this night, as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) indicated. There are no Sharee‘ah restrictions in this regard. You should also intensify remembrance of Allaah The Almighty. The greatest form of remembrance is reciting the Quran, especially in prayer.

You should also be keen to supplicate Allaah to grant you the righteous husband who helps you to obey Allaah The Almighty. You can say something like, "O Allaah, grant me a righteous husband who helps me to obey you. My Lord, expand for me my heart [with assurance], make my matters easy and guide me to the straight path."

We ask Allaah The Almighty to expand your heart [with assurance], make all your matters easy, grant you the grace to spend Laylat-ul-Qadar in worship, pardon you and free us all from Hell.

Allaah is The Bestower of success.