Laylat al-Qadr Dua – Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
Read the authentic Laylat al-Qadr Dua in Arabic with transliteration, English meaning and hadith source. Learn when to recite it, whether there is a fixed count and what other duas you can make.
Laylat al-Qadr Dua taught in the Sunnah is a concise supplication for Allah's pardon. Aishah asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ what she should say if she knew which night was Laylat al-Qadr. He taught her: “Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni.” Muslims may repeat it throughout the final nights while also making other sincere duas.
Laylat al-Qadr Dua: Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Transliteration: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni.
Meaning: O Allah, You are Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.
What Is the Source of This Dua?
The supplication is recorded in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3513. Because Aishah specifically asked what to say if she recognized Laylat al-Qadr, this dua has a direct connection to the Night of Decree.
What Does Al-'Afuww Mean?
Al-'Afuww refers to Allah as the One who pardons. The phrase tuhibbul-'afwa means “You love to pardon,” followed by the personal request fa'fu 'anni — “so pardon me.” Understanding this meaning helps turn repetition into sincere supplication.
When Should You Read the Laylat al-Qadr Dua?
You do not need to wait for someone to announce a night with certainty. Use this dua throughout the final nights, especially while seeking Laylat al-Qadr. See the Laylat al-Qadr 2027 guide and Last Ten Nights of Ramadan.
How Many Times Should You Read It?
The hadith does not prescribe a required count such as 7, 33, 100 or 1,000. Repeat it sincerely as often as you wish. A website should not turn an unrestricted supplication into a fixed ritual number without evidence.
Is This the Only Dua You Can Make?
No. Muslims can also ask Allah for forgiveness, guidance, family wellbeing, lawful provision and goodness in this life and the Hereafter. Qur'an 2:201 contains a comprehensive supplication for good in this world and the Hereafter.
Can You Make Personal Dua in Your Own Words?
Yes. Established Qur'anic and Prophetic supplications can be combined with sincere personal requests. You do not need to spend the whole night repeating one sentence, nor should unsourced formulas be treated as guarantees of particular worldly results.
Do You Have to Say It in Arabic?
The transmitted Arabic is valuable to learn and preserve. A person may also make personal dua in a language they understand, subject to the normal juristic rules of the particular prayer context.
Pronunciation and Meaning
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ | Allahumma innaka | O Allah, indeed You |
| عَفُوٌّ | 'afuwwun | are Pardoning |
| تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ | tuhibbul-'afwa | You love to pardon |
| فَاعْفُ عَنِّي | fa'fu 'anni | so pardon me |
Does the Authentic Wording Include “Karim”?
A commonly circulated version adds karim. The widely referenced wording of Tirmidhi 3513 is Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni, without that additional word. Calling Allah Generous is true, but when quoting a specific hadith it is best to preserve its established wording.
Can Women Read This Dua During Menstruation?
Yes. Menstruation prevents ritual prayer and fasting, but not dua and remembrance of Allah. Questions about Qur'an recitation or touching a physical mushaf involve separate juristic details. See Ramadan Fasting Rules for Women.
Can You Make This Dua in Sujood?
Sahih Muslim 482 encourages abundant supplication in prostration. Detailed rules concerning wording or language inside formal salah can differ by school, so follow the prayer guidance you rely on.
Can You Read It After Taraweeh or Witr?
Yes, it may be made as personal supplication at appropriate times during the night. There is no requirement that it be recited only immediately after Taraweeh or Witr. See the Taraweeh Prayer Guide and How to Pray on Laylat al-Qadr.
A Simple Last-Ten-Nights Dua Plan
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 — Repent | Sincerely turn back to Allah. |
| 2 — Ask for pardon | Repeat the Prophetic Laylat al-Qadr dua with attention to its meaning. |
| 3 — Make personal dua | Ask for faith, guidance, family, lawful provision and the Hereafter. |
| 4 — Continue | Worship across the final nights rather than relying on one predicted date. |
Does Repeating the Dua Automatically Guarantee Forgiveness?
Muslims should have great hope in Allah's mercy, but the dua is not a mechanical formula detached from sincerity and repentance. Sahih al-Bukhari 1901 gives tremendous encouragement for standing on Laylat al-Qadr with faith and seeking reward.
Common Mistakes
- Inventing a fixed repetition count.
- Believing this is the only permissible dua.
- Adding words and presenting them as the exact transmitted hadith.
- Reciting without considering the meaning.
- Waiting for signs of Laylat al-Qadr before making dua.
- Restricting all worship to one assumed night.
- Sharing Arabic text without checking its accuracy.
Laylat al-Qadr Dua for Ramadan 2027
The dua itself does not change by year. Gregorian dates do. Use the Ramadan Calendar 2027 for planning while remembering that local lunar determination establishes Ramadan dates. Learn the authentic dua, understand its meaning, and use it throughout the final nights alongside prayer, Qur'an, remembrance, repentance and personal supplication.
How to Use the Laylat al-Qadr Dua During the Last Nights
The supplication taught to Aishah is concise, but it should not be turned into a single-formula night. Its central theme is asking Allah for pardon, so it fits naturally alongside repentance, voluntary prayer, Qur’an recitation, remembrance of Allah and personal dua. The hadith does not prescribe a fixed repetition count. A balanced approach is to understand the meaning, repeat it sincerely, and also ask Allah for guidance, steadfast faith, family wellbeing, lawful provision, protection from harm and a good end.
Laylat al-Qadr should also be sought across the final nights rather than by assuming in advance that one Gregorian date is guaranteed to be the Night of Power. Read the Laylat al-Qadr 2027 guide for the evidence about the last ten and odd nights, and use the Laylat al-Qadr prayer guide for night prayer, Witr and practical worship planning.
Understanding the Theme of Pardon
The wording asks Allah for ‘afw, commonly translated as pardon. That makes the dua especially suitable for a night associated with forgiveness and renewed devotion. Reciting it slowly with attention is more meaningful than treating it as a race to reach an invented number. A person can reflect on mistakes, ask Allah to erase their effects, and combine this Prophetic wording with sincere personal requests.
Women who are menstruating do not perform ritual salah, but dua and remembrance remain available forms of worship. See the Ramadan fasting rules for women for related guidance. Questions about Qur’an recitation or handling a physical mushaf involve separate juristic detail and should not be confused with the simpler issue of making dua.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Laylat al-Qadr dua?
Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni — O Allah, You are Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.
What is the Arabic Laylat al-Qadr dua?
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
What is its hadith source?
Aishah asked the Prophet ﷺ what to say if she knew Laylat al-Qadr, and he taught this supplication. It is recorded in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3513.
How many times should it be recited?
The hadith gives no fixed count. It may be repeated sincerely as often as desired.
Is it the only dua for Laylat al-Qadr?
No. Muslims may make other authentic and personal duas as well.
Can women recite it during menstruation?
Yes. Menstruation does not prevent dua and remembrance of Allah.
Does the authentic wording include Karim?
The widely referenced wording of Tirmidhi 3513 does not include the additional word Karim.
Must the dua be said in Arabic?
Learning the transmitted Arabic is valuable, while personal supplications may also be made in a language one understands, subject to normal prayer-context rules.