Laylat al-Qadr dua: Arabic, transliteration and translation

What is the dua for Laylat al-Qadr?

Among all the supplications that may be made during the Night of Decree, one formula has a special place: the one the Prophet ﷺ taught directly to ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها when she asked what to say if she recognized Laylat al-Qadr.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Transliteration:
Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuḥibbu l-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘annī.

Translation:
O Allah, You are Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me and erase my faults.

This Laylat al-Qadr dua is reported in Jāmi‘ at-Tirmidhi, no. 3513 and is the formula to prioritize when looking for a supplication specifically connected with the Night of Decree.

Laylat al-Qadr dua in Arabic, transliteration and English

The complete formula to memorize is:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Transliteration:
Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuḥibbu l-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘annī.

Meaning:
O Allah, You are the One who pardons and erases faults, You love pardon, so pardon me and erase my faults.

‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها did not ask for a general Ramadan supplication, but specifically what she should say if she knew which night was Laylat al-Qadr. The Prophetic answer therefore places Allah’s pardon at the center of the supplications of this night.

What does “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun” mean?

“Allāhumma”

اللَّهُمَّ

Allāhumma means “O Allah”. The believer addresses the Lord directly with a personal request.

“Innaka ‘afuwwun”

إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ

Al-‘Afuw refers to pardon and the erasing of a fault, not merely escaping punishment.

“Tuḥibbu l-‘afwa”

تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ

This means: “You love pardon”. The believer asks Allah through an attribute and a quality that He loves.

“Fa‘fu ‘annī”

فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

The request becomes directly personal: “so pardon me”, with the meaning of erasing the fault.

Why especially ask for pardon during Laylat al-Qadr?

The choice of this dua is remarkable. The Prophet ﷺ could have taught a long list about provision, health or success, yet he taught a request centered on pardon.

This corresponds to the immense merit of the Night of Decree. Sahih al-Bukhari reports that whoever stands in prayer during Laylat al-Qadr with faith and hope of Allah’s reward will have previous sins forgiven.

Is Laylat al-Qadr really better than a thousand months?

Yes. The Quran states explicitly:

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

Transliteration:
Laylatu l-qadri khayrun min alfi shahr.

Translation:
The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.

Reference: Surah Al-Qadr, 97:3.

The verse says not merely equal to a thousand months, but better than a thousand months.

When should the Laylat al-Qadr dua be recited?

It may be recited during the nights in which Laylat al-Qadr is sought. There is no need to wait for absolute certainty that a particular night is the Night of Decree.

The Prophet ﷺ taught Muslims to seek it during the last ten nights of Ramadan, with special attention to the odd nights: 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th.

The safest way not to miss it is to increase worship throughout all ten nights according to one’s ability. See also our article on the signs of Laylat al-Qadr.

Does Laylat al-Qadr always fall on the 27th night?

No. It is not established that Laylat al-Qadr is necessarily and permanently the 27th night every year. The Prophet ﷺ taught more broadly to seek it among the odd nights of the last ten nights.

Restricting all worship to the 27th may therefore miss the very purpose of this guidance.

Must “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun” be repeated a fixed number of times?

No. The hadith imposes no fixed number of repetitions. There is no evidence that it must be recited 7, 33, 100 or 1,000 times to obtain the merit of Laylat al-Qadr.

One may repeat it as much as desired, but freely repeating a dua is different from turning an arbitrary number into a religious prescription.

Can other duas be made during Laylat al-Qadr?

Yes. The formula taught to ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها has a special place, but it does not exclude other supplications.

• pardon and guidance;
• steadfastness in faith;
• protection and a good ending;
• Paradise and protection from the Fire;
• health and lawful provision;
• a beneficial marriage and good offspring;
• ease during trials;
• good for parents and family.

Personal requests do not all require a special Arabic formula. See our guide on how to make dua when asking Allah for a wish.

Can Laylat al-Qadr duas be made in English?

Yes. A person may call upon Allah in the language they master for personal requests.

The formula specifically taught to ‘Ā’ishah should nevertheless be learned in Arabic when possible:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Transliteration can help at first, but understanding the words prevents purely mechanical recitation.

What should be asked for first during the Night of Decree?

The hadith of ‘Ā’ishah gives a clear priority: ask Allah for pardon.

1. ask sincerely for pardon;
2. ask for guidance and steadfastness;
3. ask for Paradise and protection from the Fire;
4. pray for parents and family;
5. present personal needs;
6. ask for good in this world and the Hereafter.

This is a practical way to organize one’s requests, not an imposed Prophetic formula.

What else should be done during Laylat al-Qadr?

Reducing Laylat al-Qadr to a single dua would be too restrictive. One may combine night prayer, Quran recitation, dhikr, istighfār, salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ, personal duas, sincere repentance and charity where possible.

Our complete guide to Ramadan places Laylat al-Qadr within the wider worship of the month.

Must the whole night be spent in prayer?

Whoever is able may devote a large part of the night to worship, but someone who cannot remain standing until dawn has not necessarily “missed” the entire night.

Abilities differ according to age, health, work and family obligations. A modest but attentive practice is better than a long night of distracted mechanical recitation.

What is the difference between pardon and erasure in “al-‘afw”?

The word ‘afw is central to this dua:

الْعَفْو

It is commonly translated as “pardon”, but also carries the meaning of erasure. This is why the formula may be rendered: “O Allah, You are the One who pardons and erases faults...”

Does the version contain the word “Karīm”?

A widespread version reads:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

with the word Karīm, “Generous”. Some editions and transmissions mention this addition, while the commonly retained wording without it is:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

For a simple teaching aid, it is preferable to memorize the latter wording, without turning a transmission difference into unnecessary controversy.

What mistakes should be avoided during Laylat al-Qadr?

Avoid spending much of the night on social media trying to prove immediately that “this is definitely Laylat al-Qadr”, and avoid treating the 27th night as the only night that matters.

Also avoid unsourced lists claiming a particular dua must be repeated a fixed number of times to obtain marriage, pregnancy, money or the immediate fulfillment of a wish.

How can a dua list for Laylat al-Qadr be prepared?

Before the last ten nights, a person may write a few requests under five headings:

• religion: faith, guidance, constancy, pardon;
• Hereafter: Paradise, protection from the Fire, a good ending;
• family: parents, spouse, children and relatives;
• daily life: health, work, studies and provision;
• personal difficulties: trials, decisions and specific needs.

This is simply a tool for greater concentration, not a religious obligation. See also the best times to make dua in Islam.

How can the Laylat al-Qadr dua be memorized easily?

Divide it into three parts:

1. Allah’s attribute:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ

Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun — O Allah, You are the One who erases faults.

2. What Allah loves:

تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ

Tuḥibbu l-‘afwa — You love pardon.

3. The request:

فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Fa‘fu ‘annī — So pardon me.

Understand the Arabic words related to Laylat al-Qadr

• ليلة — laylah: night;
• القدر — al-qadr: the term in Laylat al-Qadr;
• دعاء — du‘ā’: supplication;
• عفو — ‘afw: pardon, erasure;
• قيام — qiyām: night prayer or standing;
• اعتكاف — i‘tikāf: spiritual retreat;
• ذكر — dhikr: remembrance of Allah.

These terms form part of useful Islamic Arabic vocabulary for understanding Ramadan and religious texts.

Deepen your understanding of Laylat al-Qadr beyond one dua

Memorizing Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun... is an excellent first step, but Laylat al-Qadr belongs to a wider framework of Ramadan, night prayer, Quran, repentance, dhikr and the rulings of worship.

Al-Dirassa offers individual online Islamic studies courses to study fiqh, creed, hadith and Muslim practice progressively with a teacher.

FAQ about the Laylat al-Qadr dua

What dua should be recited during Laylat al-Qadr?

The Prophet ﷺ taught ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها to say: Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuḥibbu l-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘annī.

What is the Laylat al-Qadr dua in Arabic?

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

It is reported in Jāmi‘ at-Tirmidhi 3513.

How many times should the dua be repeated?

No fixed number is established in the hadith.

Is Laylat al-Qadr always the 27th night?

No. The Prophet ﷺ taught Muslims to seek it among the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Can one ask for things other than pardon?

Yes. The pardon dua has a special place, but any lawful good for faith, family, future and the Hereafter may be requested.

Can the dua be made in English?

Personal requests may be made in English. For the formula specifically taught by the Prophet ﷺ, learning its Arabic text and meaning is beneficial.

Religious references

• Quran, Surah Al-Qadr, 97:1-5: revelation of the Quran during Laylat al-Qadr, a night better than a thousand months, descent of the angels and peace until dawn.
• Jāmi‘ at-Tirmidhi, no. 3513: the dua taught to ‘Ā’ishah رضي الله عنها.
• Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 2017: seeking Laylat al-Qadr among the odd nights of the last ten nights.
• Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 2014: merit of praying during Laylat al-Qadr with faith and hope of Allah’s reward.