Surah al-Qadr is Makkan (1).

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

“Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree (1). And what will make you realize what the Night of Decree is? (2)”

“Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree,” referring to the Quran, though it has not been mentioned explicitly. He sent it down all at once on the Night of Decree, from the Preserved Tablet to the lowest heaven, and placed it in the House of Might. Thereafter, Gabriel, peace be upon him, would bring it down in successive portions over twenty years (2).

He then impressed its greatness upon His Prophet, saying: “And what will make you realize what the Night of Decree is?” It is called the Night of Decree because it is the night on which matters and decrees are determined. On it, Allah determines the affairs of the year concerning His servants and lands, until the coming year, as He, exalted is He, says: “On that night every wise matter is made distinct” (al-Dukhan, 4).

It is the verbal noun of the expression, “Allah qadara a thing”—with the consonant ungeminated—meaning, “He decreed it.” Its verbal noun may be pronounced qadr or qadar, just as nahar and nahr, and sha‘ar and sha‘r 197/a. “He qaddarahu”—with the consonant geminated—means “He decreed it”; [and qadara—with the consonant ungeminated—has the verbal noun qadr] (3), all with one and the same meaning.

Al-Husayn ibn al-Fadl was asked: “Did Allah not decree all decrees before He created the heavens and the earth?” He replied: “[Indeed He did] (4).” He was asked, “Then what is the meaning of the Night of Decree?” He said: “It is the bringing of decrees to their appointed times and the execution of the decreed judgment.”

Al-Azhari said: “The Night of Decree” means the night of greatness and honor, as people say, “So-and-so has qadr with the ruler,” meaning status and rank. One may also say, “I qadartu so-and-so,” meaning, “I honored him greatly.” Allah, exalted is He, says: “They have not accorded Allah the esteem due to Him” (al-An‘am, 91; al-Zumar, 67), meaning that they have not magnified Him as He truly deserves to be magnified.

It is also said that it is so called because righteous deeds performed therein have great worth with Allah, since they are accepted.