Night before Eid al-Fitr or 'Laylatul Jaiza': Best practices, prayers for 'night of reward'

Eid al Fitr is likely to fall on Friday or Saturday this weekReuters

Ramadan is nearing its end, with only a handful of days left for fasting. Eid al-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on Friday or Saturday, depending on the sighting of the new moon in different parts of the country.

There is a high significance of the last ten days and nights of Ramadan and one of the nights is said to be "Laylat al-Qadr," also known as the "Night of Power" or "Night of Decree." Besides this important event in the Islamic history, there's another event that holds a high place among Muslims, which is called "Laylatul Jaiza."

What is 'Laylatul Jaiza'?

"Laylatul Jaiza" translates to the "Night of Rewards." Unlike "Laylat al-Qadr," which could be one of last ten nights of Ramadan, "Laylatul Jaiza" is the night before Eid al-Fitr and it is deemed extremely important.

Read: When is Eid al-Fitr 2018?

About the "Laylatul Jaiza", the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) is reported to have said:

"Whoever stands up (in worship) in the nights preceding the two Eids expecting rewards from his Lord, his heart will not die when the other hearts will die". (Ibn Majah)

A boy offers evening prayers at a mosque during the holy of Ramadan in Agartala, India.Reuters

It is this night, which is reported to have guaranteed acceptance of invocations (or du'as) by Allah, and Muslims seeking material and spiritual needs must take full advantage of it. There are several hadiths, sayings narrated by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and his followers citing the Messenger (PBUH), stressing upon the importance of "Laylatul Jaiza."

"Laylatul Jaiza" is also one of the five nights where Allah accepts all du'as. The other nights are: the night of Jumu'ah (Friday), the first night of Rajab (the seventh month of the Islamic calendar) and the 15th night of Sha'ban (the eighth month of the Islamic calendar).

The nights preceding both Eids, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) are declared as "Laylatul Jaiza."

Prayers for 'Laylatul Jaiza'

While it is natural to be occupied by the preparations for Eid on its preceding night, prayers of any kind seeking forgiveness from Allah for the sins of a lifetime are deemed highly honourable. There is no specific prayer one must engage in during "Laylatul Jaiza," but Muslims can engage in Salaah (namaz), dhikr, reciting Quran and other prayers.

It is reported that the Prophet (PBUH) would not sleep in the night preceding the day of Eid al-Fitr, instead, he would engage in nafl (supererogatory) prayers all night. Hence, it is best to follow the sunnah of engaging in nafl prayers among other forms of worship.

Below are the few verses from Quran and hadiths that speak highly of the different prayers such as reciting Quran, seeking forgiveness and more on the night of "Laylatul Jaiza":

Reciting Quran

"Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allaah, he will have a reward, and this reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that 'Alif, Laam, Meem' (a combination of letters frequently mentioned in the Holy Quran) is a letter, rather I am saying that 'Alif' is a letter, 'Laam' is a letter and 'Meem' is a letter." [At-Tirmithi]

Men read he Quran in a mosque during Ramadan month in Peshawar, Pakistan.Reuters

"Then do they not reflect upon the Quran? If it had been from [any] other than Allaah, they would have found within it much contradiction." [Quran: 4:82]

"Indeed the one who recites the Quran beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. As for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward." [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

Seeking forgiveness

"And seek forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."(Qur'an 73:20)

"And whoever does evil, or wrongs his own soul, but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, will find Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate." (Qur'an 4:110)

Nafl (Superogatory) prayers

There are two extremely important and highly-rewarding nafl prayers to be performed on "Laylatul Jaiza":

Salaatul Tasbih

The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said about Salaatul Tasbih that those who perform it will have his or her past and future sins forgiven. The Prophet (PBUH) has recommended reading this prayer once every Friday, once a month, once a year or at least once in a lifetime.

Tahajjud

Tahajjud is performed in the late hours of the night and is deemed extremely dear.

"In Paradise there is a castle reserved for those who read Tahajjud and those who pray at night will enter paradise without having to account for their acts in this life," the Prophet (PBUH) has said.

Muslims can also engage in dhikr, verses of Quran read in a loop, when not praying to gain maximum rewards on this night.