A renowned Islamic cleric and Chairman of the Council of Ulama in Kano, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, has cautioned Muslims against the widespread belief that Laylat al-Qadr (the night of decree) always falls on the 27th night of Ramadan, urging the faithful to intensify acts of worship throughout the last ten days of the holy month.
Khalil made the remarks during an interview with SolaceBase TV, where he highlighted the spiritual significance of the final ten days of Ramadan and the need for Muslims to remain consistent in devotion.
He explained that the Prophet encouraged Muslims to increase acts of worship during the final days of Ramadan rather than concentrate their efforts on a single night.
“The last ten days, as the Prophet advised, are a period when one should strive harder in worship. A person should attend Tarawih prayers and observe Tahajjud.
“Some people believe that if they perform one, they do not need to do the other, relying on a narration of Hudhaifa bin al-Yaman, but many scholars say such an understanding is incorrect,” he said.
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According to him, Muslims are encouraged to make the most of the period by engaging in good deeds, including charity, recitation of the Qur’an, and kindness to family members and neighbours.
He also warned against neglecting congregational prayers or treating acts of worship casually.
“If you can do good, give charity, read the Qur’an, and be kind to your family and neighbours. Even if you cannot do much, ensure that you do not harm anyone,” Khalil added.
Addressing the common belief that Laylat al-Qadr occurs specifically on the 27th night, the cleric said the night is not fixed to that date.
“The Night of Decree is not necessarily on the 27th. It only happened once to be on that night. It could be the 21st, 23rd, 25th or another odd night. People have simply focused their attention on the 27th,” he said.
He argued that if the night were permanently fixed, there would be no reason for Muslims to search for it during the last ten nights.
Khalil noted that the Prophet once intended to inform his companions of the exact night but refrained after seeing two people arguing, after which he advised Muslims to seek it during the final nights of Ramadan.
He also pointed out that large crowds often gather in the holy cities on the 27th night, particularly at the Masjid al-Haram and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, which he said reflects the widespread assumption that the night must occur then.
“If it were definitely the 27th every year, the wisdom behind concealing the night would be lost,” he said.
The cleric further spoke about the practice of I’tikaf, a form of devotion observed in the last ten days of Ramadan, explaining that it involves staying in a mosque and dedicating time to prayer, Qur’anic recitation and remembrance of God.
He said a person observing I’tikaf should only leave the mosque for necessities such as using the restroom or obtaining food.
“The essence of I’tikaf is to remain in the mosque for worship. If one becomes tired, they may rest, and if necessary, step outside briefly within the mosque’s vicinity for fresh air before returning,” he explained.
Khalil added that while light activities such as listening to the news may be permissible, the period should not be spent chatting on phones or engaging in distractions.
He noted that even spending a short period waiting for prayer in the mosque can carry the reward of I’tikaf, especially for individuals whose responsibilities to society make a prolonged retreat difficult.
“Leaders, doctors caring for patients, or people with responsibilities to the public may not be able to observe full I’tikaf, but they can still gain reward through devotion and remaining in the mosque while waiting for prayers,” he said.
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