so that he may win its reward, reap its goodness, earn its recompense, and receive its blessing. The truly deprived person is one deprived of its reward—one whom seasons of goodness and days of blessing and grace pass by while he persists in sin, continues in his waywardness, and remains engrossed in disobedience. Heedlessness has ruined him, turning away has destroyed him, and misguidance has barred him. How immense his regret and how bitter his remorse! If one is not eager to profit on this blessed night, when will he ever be eager? If one does not turn to Allah in repentance at this noble time, when will he ever do so? If one continues to hold back from good deeds on this night, when will he ever act?

Eagerness to seek this night, diligence in obeying Allah during it, and earnestness in supplication are among the traits of the virtuous and the marks of the righteous. Indeed, they persistently beseech Allah on this night to decree pardon and well-being for them, because it is the night on which all that will befall a person throughout the year is written. On this night they supplicate and plead insistently; throughout their year they strive and exert themselves, seeking help from Allah and asking Him to grant them success.

Al-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, and others narrated that the Mother of the Believers, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is the Night of Decree, what should I say during it?’ He replied, ‘Say: O Allah, You are the Ever-Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’”1.

This blessed supplication is profound in meaning, far-reaching in significance, and immense in its benefit and effect. It is perfectly suited to this night, for, as stated earlier, it is the night on which every matter of wisdom is ordained and the servants’ deeds are decreed for an entire year, until the next Night of Decree. Whoever is granted well-being on that night and is pardoned by his Lord has surely prospered, triumphed, and gained the greatest profit,