An Islamic night comes before its day. The 21st night is the evening before the 21st fast. Seek Laylat al-Qadr in all ten nights, and most of all in the odd ones. Pray at night, read Qur'an, give charity, and say: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni.
The ten nights, with dates
Each night starts at sunset on the date shown and ends at dawn the next morning. The dark tiles are the odd nights.
| Night | Starts at sunset on | Ends at dawn on | Odd? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21st | Saturday 27 February | Sunday 28 February | Odd |
| 22nd | Sunday 28 February | Monday 1 March | |
| 23rd | Monday 1 March | Tuesday 2 March | Odd |
| 24th | Tuesday 2 March | Wednesday 3 March | |
| 25th | Wednesday 3 March | Thursday 4 March | Odd |
| 26th | Thursday 4 March | Friday 5 March | |
| 27th | Friday 5 March | Saturday 6 March | Odd |
| 28th | Saturday 6 March | Sunday 7 March | |
| 29th | Sunday 7 March | Monday 8 March | Odd |
All dates are for 2027 and assume Ramadan starts on Monday 8 February. The Umm al-Qura calendar expects a 29-day month, so there is no 30th night: the evening of Monday 8 March is the night of Eid. If your community starts Ramadan on Tuesday 9 February, move every night one day later.
See also Last ten nights 2027 and Laylat al-Qadr 2027 in our Hijri calendar.
Surah al-Qadr
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ
Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree.
Qur'an 97:1 · Surah Al-Qadr · Saheeh International
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ
And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?
Qur'an 97:2 · Surah Al-Qadr · Saheeh International
لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
Qur'an 97:3 · Surah Al-Qadr · Saheeh International
تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍۢ
The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.
Qur'an 97:4 · Surah Al-Qadr · Saheeh International
سَلَٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ
Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.
Qur'an 97:5 · Surah Al-Qadr · Saheeh International
Why these nights matter
When the last ten days began, the Prophet ﷺ tightened his waist belt, prayed through the night, and kept his family awake for prayer.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2024
He worked harder in worship in the last ten nights than at any other time.
Sahih Muslim 1175
"Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan."
Sahih al-Bukhari 2017
Whoever stands in prayer on the Night of Qadr with faith and hoping for reward has all their past sins forgiven.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1901
Which night is Laylat al-Qadr?
Nobody knows for sure. The Prophet ﷺ was about to tell the Companions, but two men were quarrelling and the knowledge was taken away. He said that might be better for them (Sahih al-Bukhari 2023).
- It moves between the odd nights each year. Many scholars hold this view.
- The 27th. Ubayy ibn Ka'b swore it was the 27th (Sahih Muslim 762). This is the most popular night.
- The 21st: in one year it rained that night, as the Prophet ﷺ had seen (Sahih al-Bukhari 2018).
- The 23rd: Abdullah ibn Unays held this view (Sahih Muslim 1168).
- Shia Muslims give special weight to the nights of the 19th, 21st and 23rd.
Counting from the end of the month can also land on even dates (Sahih al-Bukhari 2021). That is why many scholars say: give your best on all ten nights.
A sign. Ubayy ibn Ka'b said that on the morning after, the sun rises bright but without rays (Sahih Muslim 762). You only know this after the night has passed. Other "signs" people share, such as dogs not barking, are not from sound reports.
The dua for Laylat al-Qadr
Aisha asked the Prophet ﷺ what she should say if she knew which night it was. He taught her this:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni
“O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me.”
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3513 and Sunan Ibn Majah 3850 (both graded Sahih by Darussalam) · Full dua page
Some printed copies of Tirmidhi add the word karim ("Generous"). The form above is the one in Sunan Ibn Majah 3850, which has no extra word.
A simple nightly plan
- SunsetBreak your fast with dates and water. Pray Maghrib. Eat, but not so much that you feel heavy.
- EveningPray Isha and taraweeh. If you pray with the imam until he finishes, it is written for you as if you prayed the whole night (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 806, Sahih, Darussalam).
- Before sleepSet an alarm for the last third of the night. Sleep for a while.
- Last thirdWake up. Wake your family. Pray two rak'ahs at a time. Read Qur'an slowly. Say the dua for pardon many times. Ask for what you need.
- Before dawnEat suhoor. Pray witr if you have not yet. Pray Fajr.
- In the dayGive a little charity on each day of the ten. Then you have given on whichever night it is. Rest when you can.
Last ten nights 2027 tracker · niyatapp.com/ramadan/last-ten-nights/
Ten-night tracker
| Night | Taraweeh | Night prayer | Qur'an | Dua for pardon | Charity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Sat 27 Feb | |||||
| 22 Sun 28 Feb | |||||
| 23 Mon 1 Mar | |||||
| 24 Tue 2 Mar | |||||
| 25 Wed 3 Mar | |||||
| 26 Thu 4 Mar | |||||
| 27 Fri 5 Mar | |||||
| 28 Sat 6 Mar | |||||
| 29 Sun 7 Mar |
I'tikaf: the basics
I'tikaf means staying in the mosque to worship. The Prophet ﷺ did i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan every year until he died, and his wives did it after him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2026). The Qur'an mentions "staying for worship in the mosques" (2:187).
- When to go in. To be there for the 21st night, most scholars say enter before sunset on Saturday 27 February 2027.
- What you do. Pray, read Qur'an, make dhikr and dua. Talk less. Leave only for real needs, such as the toilet or a bath.
- What to bring. A sleeping mat, a few clothes, a towel, toiletries, a mushaf, and any medicine you take.
- Women. The Prophet's wives did i'tikaf (Sahih al-Bukhari 2026, 2033). Schools differ on whether a woman may do it in the prayer room at home.
Schools differ on the shortest i'tikaf, on whether you must be fasting, and on which mosques count. Some allow a short i'tikaf of a night or even an hour. Ask your mosque how they run it, and ask a scholar for your case.
Before Eid, pay Zakat al-Fitr for everyone in your home. It is due before the Eid prayer, expected on the morning of Tuesday 9 March 2027.
Questions people ask
When do the last ten nights of Ramadan 2027 start?
They are expected to start at sunset on Saturday 27 February 2027, the 21st night of Ramadan 1448. If your community starts Ramadan on Tuesday 9 February, they start a day later, on Sunday 28 February.
When is the 27th night of Ramadan 2027?
The 27th night is expected from sunset on Friday 5 March 2027 to dawn on Saturday 6 March. It moves one day later if Ramadan starts on Tuesday 9 February where you live.
Which night is Laylat al-Qadr?
Nobody knows for sure. The Prophet ﷺ said to search for it in the odd nights of the last ten (Sahih al-Bukhari 2017). Many hold it is the 27th; other reports point to the 21st or 23rd. Many scholars advise giving your best on all ten nights.
What should I say on Laylat al-Qadr?
Aisha asked the Prophet ﷺ what to say. He taught her: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni, "O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3513; Sunan Ibn Majah 3850).
Can women do i'tikaf?
Yes. The Prophet's wives did i'tikaf in the last ten days, during his life and after it (Sahih al-Bukhari 2026, 2033). Schools differ on whether a woman may do it in a prayer room at home.