Muslims across much of the world will tonight will mark Shab-e-Qadr, the “night of power” on which the Noble Qur’an is believed to have first been revealed.

Mosques across Pakistan, India and Australia will hold special prayer services in anticipation of higher attendance numbers. It is said that prayer and deeds on Shab-e-Qadr, also known in Arabic as Laylat al-Qadr, are worth “more than one thousand months”, and that one’s destiny is decided on that night.

It is believed that Shab-e-Qadr is the night on which the Qur’an was revealed in its entirety to the angel Jibril (known as Gabriel in Christianity), with the revelations to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taking place verse-by-verse over the following 23 years. Shab-e-Qadr is widely considered the holiest night during the fasting month of Ramadan, and the significance of this night forms the basis for the observance of the fast.

Confusion exists as to exactly which night Shab-e-Qadr falls on. Most Islamic scholars agree that it occurs on the eve of 27th Ramadan, that being the night of Sunday 4th August in most countries this year. As observance of Ramadan began one day later in the subcontinent this year, Shab-e-Qadr is expected to fall on the night of Monday 5th August (tomorrow) in Pakistan and India.  Some Shi’a scholars believe that Shab-e-Qadr occurs on the 19th Ramadan, while others still claim it could occur on any of odd nights in the final week of Ramadan.

Delhi’s Jama Masjid is one of countless mosques where Shab-e-Qadr will draw thousands.

The date for Eid-e-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr in Arabic) – the end of Ramadan festival – is yet to be confirmed, awaiting the sighting of the crescent moon. Australian scholars are pointing to Thursday 8th or Friday 9th August as possible days, while Pakistani and Indian Muslims will most likely celebrate on Saturday 10th August. Stay tuned to urbanvoice, or connect with us on our Facebook or Twitter pages for Eid announcement updates later this week.