The dua for Laylatul Qadr is: 'Allahumma innaka 'Afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni' — O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me. Aisha asked the Prophet what to say if she knew which night was Laylatul Qadr, and he taught her this concise, powerful dua.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka 'Afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni.
Meaning: O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love to pardon, so pardon me.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi #3513Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months (Quran 97:3) — worship on this single night surpasses over 83 years of worship. The Prophet specifically chose this short, focused dua for the greatest night of the year, showing that sincerity and focus matter more than length. Al-'Afw (pardon) is greater than maghfirah (forgiveness) — it means complete erasure, as if the sin never occurred.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: Allahumma innaka 'Afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni.'