Guide to the Holy Night of Laylatul Raghaʾib

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

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This is the second post following our Guide to Rajab, the Month of Allah.

Today is the first Thursday and the first Friday night of the holy month of Rajab. The night linking this Thursday to Friday is Laylatul Ragha’ib. It is a blessed night filled with great barakah.

These nights come together. Laylatul Ragha’ib and Friday night do not come separately. They come together and have greater blessings.

Shukr to Allah ﷻ for allowing us to reach this night. Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla has given us countless favours and blessings. May Allah ﷻ not deprive us of this beauty and goodness. May we not be among the heedless.

– Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

On this night, the world was given its greatest gift ﷺ, a mercy whose light will never fade. The beloved of Allah ﷻ, our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, was physically honoured into this world. It is the night when his blessed presence began to illuminate creation.

The first Thursday night of Rajab, from Thursday to Friday, is among the most special nights of the year. It is one of the five holy nights: two in Rajab, the middle night of Shaʾban known as Laylatul Baraʾah, Laylatul Qadr in Ramadan, and the night of the blessed Mawlid of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Such immense blessings descend on this night that the Prophet ﷺ himself urged us to honour it and not neglect it.

Alhamdulillah, we thank Allah ﷻ for granting us the honour of welcoming the blessed night of Lailatul Ragha’ib this Thursday, 25th December 2025.

We are strongly encouraged to fast on Thursday, 25th December and Friday, 26th December, if possible. One may intend Sunnah of Rajab, fasting on a Thursday and also include any qadha fasts that are due.

Below are the full recommended practices for this blessed night, to be performed according to one’s ability.

Ideally Performed Between Maghrib & ‘Isha:

① Breaking of Fast

② Make Intention for Seclusion

③ Perform the 12 Rakaat Raghaʾib Prayer

Our PDF contains two versions, a full version and a simplified version. Please follow what is manageable for you.

Full Version:

This is six sets of two rakaat prayer.

In each rakaat:

• 1 x Surah Al-Fatihah
• 3 x Surah Al-Qadr
• 12 x Surah Al-Ikhlas

After completing the twelve rakaats, sit in tahiyat (the sitting position of prayer) and recite salawat seventy times. Then, go into sujud and glorify Allah ﷻ seventy times. Return to tahiyat and seek forgiveness seventy times, then go again into sujud and glorify Allah ﷻ seventy times.

In this final sujud, seek sincere forgiveness and make abundant duʿas for yourself, your loved ones, your ancestors, your descendants, your dunya, your akhirah, and for the entire Ummah. Present all your needs and requests to Allah Almighty, for they will be answered, insyaAllah.

One of the best Duʿas is: “Rabbana Atina fid-Dunya hasanatan wa fil-Akhirati hasanatan wa Qina Adhaban-Nar,” meaning, “Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire” (Qur’an 2:201).

Simplified Version:

This is six sets of two rakaat prayer.

In each rakaat:

• 1 x Surah Al-Fatihah
• 11 x Surah Al-Ikhlas

After completing the twelve rakaats, recite salawat seventy times in tahiyat (the sitting position of prayer), then go into sujud glorifying Allah ﷻ. In this sujud, seek sincere forgiveness and make as much duʿas as possible for all your needs.

After ‘Isha:

④ Complete the Adab of Laylatul Raghaʾib

⑤ Recite Grandshaykh’s Du’a Al-Mathur

⑥ Perform Tasbih Prayer

This is a four rakaat prayer, performed similar to ‘Isha Prayer.

The goal is to complete a total of three hundred tasbih, which means seventy‑five tasbih in each rakaat.

The tasbih in each rakaat are distributed as follows: 15 tasbih after the Takbir, 10 tasbih after reciting the surahs, 10 tasbih in rukuʿ, 10 tasbih in iʿtidal, 10 tasbih in sujud, 10 tasbih between the two prostrations, and 10 tasbih in the second sujud. Repeat the same sequence for the remaining three rakaats.

⑦ Perform Shukur Prayer

This is a two rakaat prayer with a prolonged sujud at the end.

In the first rakaat: 1 x Surah Al-Fatihah and 2 x Surah Al-Ikhlas.

In the second rakaat: 1 x Surah Al-Fatihah and 1 x Surah Al-Ikhlas.

Additional Devotions:

⑧ Recite 100 times: Subhanal Hayyi lladhi la yamut as practised by Mawlana Shaykh Nazimق and Mawlana Shaykh Abdullahق

⑨ Khatam Khwajagan

⑩ Mawlid Nabi and Salawats

There are many accepted versions of the Mawlid, and we have included some that we hope you will find useful. You may continue with whichever version you are accustomed to.

⑪ Qurban (animal sacrifice and feeding the poor)

SufiHub (Naqshbandi ‘Aliyyah A’Posh Singapore) will be organizing a collective qurban for this blessed occasion, as well as for Israʾ Miʿraj.

Those who wish to contribute can find more information about our monthly charity efforts on our Telegram channel.

⑫ Night Vigil with istighfar and heartfelt duʿas

Mawlana Shaykh Muhammadق reminded us:

Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla sends down a lot of blessings and mercy to this world on this night, for whoever is willing to receive. Whoever makes Duʿa, whoever wants anything, Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla commands the angels to respond.

Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla is generous and kind. He ﷻ is the possessor of generosity. He ﷻ wants to give. He ﷻ wants to give to those who seek. Allah ‘Azza wa-Jalla says, “Take. Come and take.”

But people are not taking jewels. They don’t know their value.

So let us do our best to honour and treasure this special night.

This night also coincides with the blessed Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishtiق, the great saint who brought the Chishtiyya Order to South Asia, and the night preceding the Mawlid of Hasan al-Basriق, the renowned Sufi Gnostic and scholar.

This same blessed week also marks the Urs of our beloved Mawlana Shaykh Nazimق, as well as the Gregorian birthday of his khalifa in South East Asia, Shaykh Raja Ashman Shahق. Do remember them in your duʿas and devotions.

⑬ End the night with Ihda (Dedication), Duʿa and Surah Al-Fatihah.

May Allah ﷻ clothe our hearts with the lights of Laylatul Raghaib, forgive our shortcomings, and accept every prayer whispered in sincerity.

May He ﷻ grant us honour through loving and following His Beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and write us among those who receive the jewels of this blessed night.

We conclude this post with an excerpt from Mawlana Shaykh Nazimق’s Sohbah on Laylatul Raghaib:

It is a holy day, and we must give the highest respect to this holy month, Rajab. Strive to give as much respect as possible, your highest respect. We are reaching the first Friday of Rajab, and it is narrated that on this night, the holy light from the Malakoot, from the Heavens, was transferred from his father to his holy mother Aaminah.

On this holy night, the Heavens and the Earth are covered with heavenly lights. Everyone is adorned in a grand attire never worn before, for Allah Almighty never repeats and never makes a copy, no!

Last year was different, and this year brings a new heavenly manifestation. All of the Heavens are dressed in a holy attire. When we say holy, it is nothing compared to the holiness of the Heavens themselves. They are beautifully adorned, Huuu. “Oh, what is happening?” they ask.

It is the night of the holy soul of the Seal of all Creation ﷺ, when the mother of the Seal of Prophets ﷺ received that holy trust. That is too much, the greatest grant from the Heavens! It reached his mother, and all the Heavens were decorated with garments of honour.

Every year it repeats, and every year a new dressing comes from the Heavens for heavenly beings. The souls of those from the Children of Adam (AS) on Earth who honour this holy night are also adorned.

Therefore, all heavenly people and all beloved ones, through the Most Beloved One ﷺ, will be granted something special. Each is different. Not all the same like soldiers dressed in uniforms. No, it is not a uniform. Each heavenly dressing is different every year, celebrating the holy spirit of the Seal of Prophets ﷺ.

What reaches the Earth is only like a dharrah, an atom. All of creation could not carry it. No one knows the real being of the Seal of Prophets ﷺ except his Lord, Allah Almighty.

It is so big, azamatli, a glorified light! MasyaAllah.

Google Drive to the full devotions of this night here.

Access the Laylatul Raghaʾib PDF with clickable links here. Click the underlined text to go directly to the relevant devotions.

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This post has been compiled from the teachings of our beloved Sheikh, the late Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Sattar Khan (Al-Fatiha).

It also encompasses the teachings of great masters such as Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilaniق, Mawlana Shaykh Nazimق, Mawlana Shaykh Muhammadق, Shaykh Adnan Kabbaniق, various classical and contemporary kitabs along with the writings of Awliya and scholars of the Naqshbandi Way.

As such, it is intended as a comprehensive guide to the devotions one may practice on this blessed day.

However, as Mawlanaق has often reminded us, any form of worship is accepted by Allah ﷻ, no matter how small. We should always strive to do good, even in small amounts, for what matters most is sincerity and consistency.

One should not feel disheartened or overwhelmed and abandon worship altogether. No matter the measure of our deeds, our duty is to keep striving to improve in this beautiful Way. We are truly blessed to have Mawlanaق’s guidance always.

We pray this guide brings benefit, provides clarity, and supports you on your journey.

We seek forgiveness for any shortcomings or errors.

For any questions or suggestions, you are welcome to reach us at thesufihubteam@gmail.com.

Wassalam.

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