Religious & festival
Laylat al-Qadr: The Night of Power and Its Food in Morocco
Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Power or Night of Destiny — is described in the Quran as better than a thousand months, the night on which the first revelation came to the Prophet. Falling in the last ten days of Ramadan and most commonly observed on the twenty-seventh night, it is the holiest night of the Muslim year. In Morocco it draws the most devoted worship of Ramadan and, around it, some of the month's warmest food and family traditions.
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- Religious & festival
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- 20 July 2026
At a glance
- Laylat al-Qadr is the holiest night of Ramadan, most often marked on the 27th night.
- The iftar and post-prayer table are especially generous on this night.
- Children are celebrated with henna, new clothes and a first symbolic fast.
- Worship continues late into the night, sustained by dates, sweets and tea.
The night and its worship
Laylat al-Qadr falls in the final ten nights of Ramadan; while its exact date is not fixed in scripture, Moroccan tradition centres the observance on the twenty-seventh night. Mosques fill for long night prayers, the Quran is recited, and many worshippers stay awake until dawn in devotion. It is the spiritual summit of Ramadan, and the food of the night is shaped by both celebration and the need to sustain long hours of prayer.
Because the whole of Ramadan shifts earlier each year with the lunar calendar, Laylat al-Qadr moves through the seasons over the years, but its place as the twenty-seventh night of the fasting month is constant.
The table of the night
The iftar that breaks the fast on Laylat al-Qadr is often the most generous of the month, and the family may prepare special dishes and the finest sweets. After the meal and the long prayers, a lighter spread sustains those who stay awake.
- Harira: the rich tomato, lentil and chickpea soup that breaks the fast, served with dates.
- Chebakia and sellou: the honeyed sesame pastries and toasted-flour sweet that define Ramadan energy.
- Briouat: crisp filled pastries, sweet and savoury, made in extra abundance.
- A festive main: couscous, a tagine or grilled meats served later in the evening.
- Dates, milk and tea: the sustaining foods for the hours of night worship.
Children and the celebration
Laylat al-Qadr has a special place for children in Morocco. It is traditionally the night a child keeps a first symbolic fast, and girls in particular are dressed in fine traditional clothes — a caftan and jewellery — with henna applied to their hands. The night becomes a rite of passage as well as a religious observance, and the sweets and celebration make it memorable.
For the wider food of the fasting month, see the Ramadan iftar guide and the Ramadan sweets guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is Laylat al-Qadr?
Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, is described in the Quran as better than a thousand months — the night the first revelation came to the Prophet. It falls in the last ten nights of Ramadan and is most commonly observed on the twenty-seventh night. It is the holiest night of the Muslim year.
What food is eaten on Laylat al-Qadr in Morocco?
The iftar that breaks the fast is especially generous, with harira and dates followed by chebakia, sellou and briouat, and often a festive main such as couscous or a tagine. Later, dates, milk and tea sustain those who stay awake for the long night prayers.
How are children involved in Laylat al-Qadr?
It is traditionally the night a child keeps a first symbolic fast. Girls are often dressed in fine caftans and jewellery with henna on their hands, and children are celebrated with sweets. The night is both a religious observance and a cherished rite of passage for the young.
Why is the twenty-seventh night chosen?
Scripture does not fix the exact date of Laylat al-Qadr, saying only that it falls in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Islamic tradition, followed widely in Morocco, centres the observance on the twenty-seventh night, when mosques fill for long prayers lasting until dawn.