Makkah LiveSurah Al-Qadr (The Night of Decree) — Full Text in Clear Arabic Script
5 ayahs · Meccan· Hafs ‘an ‘Asim · reading time ~under a minute · the twentieth surah of Juz ‘Amma
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By Saad Al-Ghamdi
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
About Surah Al-Qadr
Surah Al-Qadr is the 97th surah in the order of the mushaf, and one of the Meccan surahs — revealed to the Prophet ﷺ before the migration to Madinah. It contains 5 ayahs, and it is the twentieth surah of Juz ‘Amma, the final part of the Quran that most Muslims begin their memorisation with.
The surah takes its name from «Laylat al-Qadr», the Night of Decree, on which the Quran was sent down — the commentators explain that it was sent down in its entirety to the lowest heaven on this night, and first revealed to the Prophet ﷺ in Ramadan. The surah then asks what can make anyone know the true worth of this night: it is better than a thousand months. In it the angels and the Spirit descend by their Lord’s permission with every matter, and it is peace, until the emergence of dawn.
The text shown on this page is the narration of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, the reading used in most of the Muslim world, in the Uthmani script that follows the Madinah mushaf. The audio recitation is by Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamdi.
Virtues and place of Surah Al-Qadr
1. Worth more than a thousand months
Ayah 3 declares that the Night of Decree is better than a thousand months — worship offered on this single night outweighs the worship of over eighty-three years. Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and hope of reward, his past sins will be forgiven” — recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
2. Knowing when to seek it
Aisha related that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan” — recorded by al-Bukhari. This guidance shapes how believers devote themselves to worship in the final third of the month.
3. The du‘a of the night
Aisha asked the Prophet ﷺ what to say if she found Laylat al-Qadr, and he taught her: “Say: O Allah, You are Pardoning and love pardon, so pardon me (Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni)” — recorded by at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.
Themes of the Surah
1. We sent it down on the Night of Decree (ayah 1)
The surah opens by declaring that the Quran was sent down on Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Decree, the night on which its revelation to the Prophet ﷺ began in Ramadan.
Read from ayah 1 →2. Better than a thousand months (ayahs 2–3)
A question is posed to draw the listener in — “and what can make you know what the Night of Decree is?” — before the answer arrives: the Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
Read from ayah 2 →3. Peace until dawn (ayahs 4–5)
The angels and the Spirit descend in it by their Lord’s permission with every matter, and the surah closes with a description of the night itself: it is peace, until the emergence of dawn.
Read from ayah 4 →Tips for reading and memorising
- With just 5 ayahs and a reading time under a minute, it can be memorised in a single sitting or two.
- Listen to the recitation above by Sheikh Saad Al-Ghamdi and repeat after him.
- Reflect on the meaning of “better than a thousand months” as you recite ayah 3.
- Recite it often in the last ten nights of Ramadan, especially the odd nights, seeking Laylat al-Qadr.
- Learn the du‘a taught to Aisha and say it in these nights.
- Use the “font size” buttons at the top of the page for a comfortable read, or print via Ctrl+P.
Frequently asked questions
How many ayahs are in Surah Al-Qadr?
Surah Al-Qadr has 5 ayahs. It is the 97th surah in the order of the mushaf, and it is a Meccan surah.
Why is it called Surah Al-Qadr?
It is called Surah Al-Qadr (“The Night of Decree”) after Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree named in its opening verse, on which the Quran was sent down.
What is Laylat al-Qadr and when does it fall?
Laylat al-Qadr is the Night of Decree in Ramadan on which the Quran was sent down. Aisha related that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan” — recorded by al-Bukhari.
What does “better than a thousand months” mean?
Ayah 3 states that the Night of Decree is better than a thousand months — meaning that worship offered on this single night outweighs the worship of over eighty-three years.
Who is “the Spirit” mentioned in ayah 4?
According to the commentators, “the Spirit” (ar-Ruh) mentioned alongside the angels is Jibril (Gabriel), who descends on this night by his Lord’s permission with every matter.
What is the reward for standing in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr?
Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and hope of reward, his past sins will be forgiven” — recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
What should I say if I find Laylat al-Qadr?
Aisha asked the Prophet ﷺ what to say if she found Laylat al-Qadr, and he taught her: “Say: O Allah, You are Pardoning and love pardon, so pardon me (Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni)” — recorded by at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.
What is Surah Al-Qadr’s place in Juz ‘Amma?
Surah Al-Qadr is the twentieth surah of Juz ‘Amma — the 30th and final juz of the Quran — and it is among the surahs every Muslim memorises.
How long does it take to read Surah Al-Qadr?
Surah Al-Qadr can be read in under a minute. Because it is so short, it is one of the first surahs most Muslims commit to memory.
More surahs to read
- Surah Al-Fatihah — full text — Mother of the Book — recited in every rakah of every prayer
- Surah Al-Kahf — full text — recommended to read on Fridays
- Surah As-Sajdah — full text — recited in the Fajr prayer on Fridays and every night before sleep
- Surah Yasin — full text — the Heart of the Quran
- Surah Ar-Rahman — full text — the Bride of the Quran
- Surah Al-Waqi‘ah — full text — the terrors of the Day of Judgment and the three groups of people
- Surah Al-Mulk — full text — recommended every night before sleep
- Surah Al-Insan — full text — recited with As-Sajdah in the Fajr prayer on Fridays
- Surah An-Naba — full text — the first surah of Juz ‘Amma — a powerful proof of the Resurrection
- Surah An-Nazi‘at — full text — the angels who pull out souls, the story of Musa and Pharaoh, and the Great Calamity
- Surah ‘Abasa — full text — the blind man who came seeking, and the Day a man flees from his own brother
- Surah At-Takwir — full text — “when the sun is wrapped up” — as if witnessing the Day of Resurrection
- Surah Al-Infitar — full text — “O man, what has deceived you concerning your Generous Lord?”
- Surah Al-Mutaffifin — full text — woe to those who give short measure — honesty as a matter of faith
- Surah Al-Inshiqaq — full text — contains a verse of prostration — “you will surely ride stage upon stage”
- Surah Al-Buruj — full text — the People of the Ditch — steadfastness of the believers tested by fire
- Surah At-Tariq — full text — the piercing star — every soul has a keeper over it
- Surah Al-A‘la — full text — recited in the Eid and Friday prayers — “glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High”
- Surah Al-Ghashiyah — full text — recited with Al-A‘la in the Eid and Friday prayers — the two kinds of faces on the Last Day
- Surah Al-Fajr — full text — “O reassured soul, return to your Lord well-pleased”
- Surah Al-Balad — full text — the steep path — freeing the enslaved and feeding the hungry
- Surah Ash-Shams — full text — “he has succeeded who purifies the soul”
- Surah Al-Layl — full text — your striving is diverse — the path of ease and the path of hardship
- Surah Ad-Duha — full text — consolation after the pause in revelation — “your Lord has not forsaken you”
- Surah Ash-Sharh — full text — “indeed, with hardship comes ease” — the companion of Ad-Duha
- Surah At-Tin — full text — man created in the best of stature — “is not Allah the most just of judges?”
- Surah Al-‘Alaq — full text — the first revelation — “Read in the name of your Lord” — contains a verse of prostration
- Surah Al-Bayyinah — full text — the clear evidence — the best of creation and their reward
- Surah Az-Zalzalah — full text — “whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it”
- Surah Al-‘Adiyat — full text — the charging steeds — man’s ingratitude and the overturning of the graves
- Surah Al-Qari‘ah — full text — the Striking Calamity — the day the scales are set
- Surah At-Takathur — full text — rivalry in worldly increase — “until you visit the graves”
- Surah Al-‘Asr — full text — by time, man is in loss — the surah ash-Shafi‘i said would suffice the people
Selected verses
- Ayat al-Kursi — the greatest verse of the Holy Quran
- Khawatim Surah Al-Baqarah — “whoever recites them at night, they will suffice him”
- Allah does not burden a soul — the closing verse of Surah Al-Baqarah
Listen and watch
- Saudi Quran Radio — listen to recitations of the Holy Quran
- Live broadcast of Masjid al-Haram