Al-Qadr, "The Night of Decree" (or "Power"), is the 97th surah — five verses on the single most honoured night of the year, the night on which the Quran first began to be revealed.1
What it is about
The surah asks, and answers, what that night is worth: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months." On it "the angels and the Spirit descend... by permission of their Lord for every matter," and it is "peace" until the break of dawn. A single night of nearness to God is presented as outweighing a lifetime of ordinary worship.
Why it matters
The Prophet ﷺ taught, "Whoever stands (in prayer) on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."2 This is why Muslims intensify prayer in the last ten nights of Ramadan, hoping to catch it. To read Al-Qadr in Arabic with translations and recitation, open it on Quran.com.