On this blessed night, the Lord of the worlds grants three divine permissions, which give Laylat Al-Qadr its great value and honor.
The First Permission:
Permission for the angels and the Spirit (Angel Jibreel) to descend to earth
On this night, Allah allows the angels and the Spirit (Jibreel, peace be upon him) to descend to the earth. Their number is so great that they are described as being as many as pebbles, to the extent that their presence softens and dims the sunlight at sunrise.
The angels and Jibreel descend on Laylat Al-Qadr to pray for those who remember Allah, whether through:
Prayer
Reading the Qur’an
Supplication
Sending prayers and peace upon the Prophet ﷺ
Glorification and seeking forgiveness
“The angels and the Spirit descend therein by the permission of their Lord for every matter.”
(Surah Al-Qadr)
They ask permission from their Lord to descend, and Allah grants them this permission.
The Second Permission:
Permission to bring people out of darkness into light, to the straight path
This is the permission of guidance—to move from darkness into light and to enter the straight path of Allah, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
“A Book We have revealed to you so that you may bring people out of darkness into light, by the permission of their Lord, to the path of the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.”
(Surah Ibrahim 1)
We notice the same expressions:
“We sent it down”
“By the permission of their Lord”
These words appear both in Surah Al-Qadr and Surah Ibrahim.
On Laylat Al-Qadr, remembrance of Allah reaches its highest level, unlike any other night of the year. The prayers of Allah and His angels upon the believers increase greatly, so they may be brought out of darkness into light.
“O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance.”
(Al-Ahzab 41)
“He is the One who sends blessings upon you, and His angels too, to bring you out of darkness into light.”
(Al-Ahzab 43)
This permission of guidance is especially granted on Laylat Al-Qadr.
It was on this very night that Jibreel first descended upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with the revelation: “Read in the name of your Lord who created.”
On that night, Allah brought the Prophet ﷺ out of darkness into light and revived his heart with divine light.
What Does “Permission” Mean?
The believer asks Allah in Surah Al-Fatiha:
“Guide us to the straight path.”
Guidance requires permission from Allah.
No one can enter the straight path except by the permission of its Owner—Allah, Lord of the worlds.
On Laylat Al-Qadr, the angels and the Spirit are given permission to open the door of guidance for sincere servants who call upon Allah with humility, tears, and truthfulness.
That is why the Qur’an says:
“By the permission of their Lord.”
The Third Permission:
Permission for salvation from Hellfire and entry into Paradise
When Allah grants guidance, it is followed by a third permission: salvation and Paradise.
“Those who believe and do righteous deeds will be admitted to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever, by the permission of their Lord.”
(Surah Ibrahim 23)
This permission is given to those who were guided out of darkness into light and entered the straight path through sincere faith and good deeds.
Laylat Al-Qadr: The Night of Three Permissions
Laylat Al-Qadr is the night of:
Permission for the angels and the Spirit to descend
Permission for guidance and entering the straight path
Permission for salvation from Hellfire and entry into Paradise
These three permissions are what make Laylat Al-Qadr so عظيمة (great and honored).
They are moments in which a person’s eternal success may be decided.
Therefore, we should increase our remembrance of Allah, humble ourselves, cry, and sincerely ask Him—hoping to be among those whom Allah guides, saves from the Fire, and admits into the highest Paradise.