Allah says:

Meaning: We sent it down on the Night of Decree. What will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend during it, by their Lord's permission, with every matter. It is peace until dawn breaks. Al-Qadr 97:1-5.

It is the night on which Allah sent down the Quran. Worship during it is better than worship over a thousand months without Laylat al-Qadr. The angels descend, including Jibril, who is meant by the Spirit in the verse.

The Prophet said:

Meaning: Whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking Allah's reward will have his previous sins forgiven. Al-Bukhari 2014, excerpt. This means believing Allah's promise and worshipping Him sincerely for His reward.

The promise is not a reason to neglect repentance. Ibn Baz explained that the forgiveness texts are understood alongside those requiring avoidance of major sins. Other people's rights remain binding; prayer does not erase debts or wrongs done to others. For more on seeking forgiveness, see The Virtue of Istighfar and Its Best Forms.

The name relates to honour and greatness, and to decree. Allah says of the blessed night:

Meaning: During it, every matter of wisdom is set out. Al-Dukhan 44:4.

Ibn Kathir explained that on Laylat al-Qadr the year's affairs, including lifespans and provision, are detailed from the Preserved Tablet to the recording angels. This annual decree is a detailing of the prior decree, as Ibn Baz explained. It does not mean that Allah acquires knowledge He previously lacked.

Allah's knowledge of everything precedes its occurrence. The Prophet taught that Allah wrote the decrees of creation fifty thousand years before creating the heavens and earth. Muslim 2653. The annual decree therefore does not mean Allah's knowledge changes or that dua operates outside His decree. A servant's worship and what Allah ordains for them are both within His knowledge and decree.

It is in Ramadan and should be sought during its last ten nights, particularly the odd ones. The Prophet said:

Meaning: Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of Ramadan's last ten. Al-Bukhari 2017. Counting from the beginning of the month, these include the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh and twenty-ninth. Nevertheless, the Sunnah is to strive throughout the ten; the Prophet exerted himself during them as he did not at other times. Muslim 1175.

Ibn Baz preferred the view that it moves among the last ten, with the twenty-seventh the most hopeful rather than fixed every year. Abu Said al-Khudri's report establishes that it occurred on the twenty-first in one year, when he saw mud and water on the Prophet's face after Fajr. Al-Bukhari 2018.

The last ten begin on the twenty-first night, at sunset after the twentieth day. Each night runs from sunset until true dawn, not from midnight, and its night-prayer period does not extend to sunrise. Continue making use of all the nights until Ramadan ends, whether the month has twenty-nine days or thirty.

No. Ibn Baz explained that someone whose prayer coincides with it, with faith and seeking reward, receives that virtue even without knowing it is Laylat al-Qadr.

A feeling of peace, tears or a dream is not conclusive proof of the date or the acceptance of a person's deeds. You may feel attentive one night and tired the next. Seek sincerity in worship rather than testing your feelings after each prayer. Established signs should not be denied, but you are not required to discover one before hoping for Allah's mercy.

Aishah asked what to say if she came upon Laylat al-Qadr. The Prophet taught her:

Meaning: O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me. Ibn Majah 3850. Al-Tirmidhi also narrated the report, 3513, and graded it hasan sahih. The Arabic wording here follows Ibn Majah's narration.

Repeat this dua with a sense of your need for Allah's pardon. The report sets no repetition count, and you may also ask for the other good you need in this life and the next. See Comprehensive Duas of the Prophet for other authentic supplications.

Keep up the obligatory prayers and your other duties first. Then pray what you can at night, recite the Quran, remember Allah, make dua, give charity and help others. Night prayer is an emphasised Sunnah, not obligatory. Do not stay up for voluntary worship and then miss Fajr or neglect another duty.

Pray in pairs of rakahs, and offer Witr if you have not already done so. No newly invented prayer with a special count or specified surahs is prescribed for Laylat al-Qadr without evidence. For the method, time and rakahs, see Qiyam al-Layl and Tahajjud.

Itikaf and completing the Quran are not conditions for benefiting from the night. Strive according to your ability throughout the ten, rather than letting an inability to worship for long stop you doing what you can.