The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that some persons among the Companions of the Apostle of Allah ﷺ were shown Lailat- ul-Qadr while sleeping in the last week (of Ramadan). Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I see that your dreams agree regarding the last week;
so he who wants to seek it should seek it in the last week (during the night).

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ رِجَالاً، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أُرُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْمَنَامِ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " أَرَى رُؤْيَاكُمْ قَدْ تَوَاطَأَتْ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَمَنْ كَانَ مُتَحَرِّيَهَا فَلْيَتَحَرَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle ﷺ as saying: Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last week (of Ramadan).

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، عُمَرَ - رضى الله عنهما - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ " تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .

Salim reported on the authority of his father that a person saw Lailat-ul- Qadr on the 27th (of Ramadan). Thereupon Allah's Apostle ﷺ said: I see that your dreams agree regarding the last ten (nights of Ramadan). So seek it on an odd number (of these ten nights).

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ رَأَى رَجُلٌ أَنَّ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ " أَرَى رُؤْيَاكُمْ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَاطْلُبُوهَا فِي الْوِتْرِ مِنْهَا " .

Salim b. 'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that his father said: I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: So far as Lailat-ul-Qadr is concerned. some persons among you have seen it (in a dream) in the first week and some persons among you have been shown that it is in the last week;
so seek it in the last ten (nights).

وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ " إِنَّ نَاسًا مِنْكُمْ قَدْ أُرُوا أَنَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الأُوَلِ وَأُرِيَ نَاسٌ مِنْكُمْ أَنَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الْغَوَابِرِ فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْغَوَابِرِ " .

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) in the last (ten nights). If one among you shows slackness and weakness (in the earlier part of Ramadan), it should not be allowed to prevail upon him in the last week.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ حُرَيْثٍ - قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، - رضى الله عنهما - يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " الْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ - يَعْنِي لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ - فَإِنْ ضَعُفَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَوْ عَجَزَ فَلاَ يُغْلَبَنَّ عَلَى السَّبْعِ الْبَوَاقِي " .

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: He who is anxious to seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) should seek it in the last ten (nights of Ramadan).

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ جَبَلَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، - رضى الله عنهما - يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " مَنْ كَانَ مُلْتَمِسَهَا فَلْيَلْتَمِسْهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .

'Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: Seek the time of Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last (ten nights), or he said: in the last nine (nights).

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ جَبَلَةَ، وَمُحَارِبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " تَحَيَّنُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ " . أَوْ قَالَ " فِي التِّسْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr;
then some members of my family awoke me up, then I was caused to forget it. So seek it in the last week. Harmala said: (The Holy Prophet did not say:" I was made to forget," but he stated):" But I forgot it."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّاللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ " أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ ثُمَّ أَيْقَظَنِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي فَنُسِّيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْغَوَابِرِ " . وَقَالَ حَرْمَلَةُ " فَنَسِيتُهَا " .

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ spent in devotion (in i'tikaf) the middle ten nights of the month of Ramadan, and when twenty nights were over and it was the twenty-first night, he went back to his residence and those who were along with him also returned (to their respective residences). He spent one month in devotion. Then he addressed the people on the night he came back (to his residence) and commanded them as Allah desired (him to command) and then said: I used to devote myself (observe i'tikaf) during these ten (nights). Then I started devoting myself in the last ten (nights). And he who desires to observe i'tikaf along with me should spend the night) at his place of i'tikaf. And I saw this night (Lailat-ul-Qadr) but I forgot it (the exact night) ;
so seek it;
In the last ten nights on odd numbers. I saw (the glimpses of that dream) that I was prostrating in water and mud. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: It rained on the twenty-first night and the water dripped (from the roof) of the mosque at the place where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed prayer. I looked at him and as he completed the dawn prayer, (I found) his face was wet with mud and water.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ مُضَرَ - عَنِ ابْنِ الْهَادِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ، بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُجَاوِرُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الَّتِي فِي وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ فَإِذَا كَانَ مِنْ حِينِ تَمْضِي عِشْرُونَ لَيْلَةً وَيَسْتَقْبِلُ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَسْكَنِهِ وَرَجَعَ مَنْ كَانَ يُجَاوِرُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَقَامَ فِي شَهْرٍ جَاوَرَ فِيهِ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَرْجِعُ فِيهَا فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنِّي كُنْتُ أُجَاوِرُ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ ثُمَّ بَدَا لِي أَنْ أُجَاوِرَ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ فَمَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعِي فَلْيَبِتْ فِي مُعْتَكَفِهِ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ فَأُنْسِيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فِي كُلِّ وِتْرٍ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ مُطِرْنَا لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ فِي مُصَلَّى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَقَدِ انْصَرَفَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ وَوَجْهُهُ مُبْتَلٌّ طِينًا وَمَاءً .

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ devoted (himself to prayer) in the middle (ten nights) of Ramadan. The rest of the hadith is the same except for these words:" That he adhered to his place of i'tikaf and his forehead was besmeared with mud and water."

وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، - يَعْنِي الدَّرَاوَرْدِيَّ - عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّهُ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُجَاوِرُ فِي رَمَضَانَ الْعَشْرَ الَّتِي فِي وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِمِثْلِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " فَلْيَثْبُتْ فِي مُعْتَكَفِهِ " . وَقَالَ وَجَبِينُهُ مُمْتَلِئًا طِينًا وَمَاءً .

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed i'tikaf (confined himself for devotion and prayer) in the first ten (days) of Ramadan;
he then observed i'tikaf in the middle ten (days) in a Turkish tent with a mat hanging at its door. He (the Holy Prophet) took hold of that mat and placed it in the nook of the tent. He then put his head out and talked with people and they came near him, and he (the Holy Prophet) said: I observed i'tikaf in the first ten (nights and days) in order to seek that night (Lailat-ul-Qadr). I then observed i'tikaf in the middle ten days. Then (an angel) was sent to me and I was told that this (night) is among the last ten (nights). He who among you likes to observe i'tikaf should do so;
and the people observed it along with him, and he (the Holy Prophet) said: That (Lailat-ul-Qadr) was shown to me on an odd (night) and I (saw in the dream) that I was prostrating in the morning in clay and water. So in the morning of the twenty-first night when he (the Holy Prophet) got up for dawn (prayer). there was a rainfall and the mosque dripped, and I saw clay and water. When he came out after completing the morning prayer (I saw) that his forehead and the tip of his nose had (traces) of clay and water, and that was the twenty-first night among the last ten (nights).

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَارَةُ بْنُ غَزِيَّةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ اعْتَكَفَ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَّلَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ الْعَشْرَ الأَوْسَطَ فِي قُبَّةٍ تُرْكِيَّةٍ عَلَى سُدَّتِهَا حَصِيرٌ - قَالَ - فَأَخَذَ الْحَصِيرَ بِيَدِهِ فَنَحَّاهَا فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْقُبَّةِ ثُمَّ أَطْلَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَكَلَّمَ النَّاسَ فَدَنَوْا مِنْهُ فَقَالَ " إِنِّي اعْتَكَفْتُ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَّلَ أَلْتَمِسُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفْتُ الْعَشْرَ الأَوْسَطَ ثُمَّ أُتِيتُ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ فَلْيَعْتَكِفْ " . فَاعْتَكَفَ النَّاسُ مَعَهُ قَالَ " وَإِنِّي أُرِيتُهَا لَيْلَةَ وِتْرٍ وَأَنِّي أَسْجُدُ صَبِيحَتَهَا فِي طِينٍ وَمَاءٍ " . فَأَصْبَحَ مِنْ لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَقَدْ قَامَ إِلَى الصُّبْحِ فَمَطَرَتِ السَّمَاءُ فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ فَأَبْصَرْتُ الطِّينَ وَالْمَاءَ فَخَرَجَ حِينَ فَرَغَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ وَجَبِينُهُ وَرَوْثَةُ أَنْفِهِ فِيهِمَا الطِّينُ وَالْمَاءُ وَإِذَا هِيَ لَيْلَةُ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ مِنَ الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ .

Abu Salama reported: 'We discussed amongst ourselves Lailat-ul-Qadr. I came to Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) who was a friend of mine and said to him: Would you not go with us to the garden of date trees? He went out with a cloak over him. I said to him: Did you hear the Messenger of Allah ﷺ making mention of Lailat-ul-Qadr? He said: Yes, (and added) we were observing i'tikaf with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the middle ten days of Ramadan, and came out on the morning of the twentieth and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ addressed us and said: I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr, but I forgot (the exact night) or I was caused to forget it, so seek it in the last ten odd (nights), and I was shown that I was prostrating in water and clay. So he who wanted to observe i'tikaf with the Messenger of Allah (inay peace be upon him) should return (to the place of i'tikaf). He (Abu Sa'id al-Khudri) said: And we returned and did not find any patch of cloud in the sky. Then the cloud gathered and there was (so heavy) a downpour that the roof of the mosque which was made of the branches of date-palms began to drip. Then there was prayer and I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrating in water and clay till I saw the traces of clay on his forehead.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ تَذَاكَرْنَا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ - رضى الله عنه - وَكَانَ لِي صَدِيقًا فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ تَخْرُجُ بِنَا إِلَى النَّخْلِ فَخَرَجَ وَعَلَيْهِ خَمِيصَةٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَذْكُرُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ اعْتَكَفْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْعَشْرَ الْوُسْطَى مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَخَرَجْنَا صَبِيحَةَ عِشْرِينَ فَخَطَبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ " إِنِّي أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ وَإِنِّي نَسِيتُهَا - أَوْ أُنْسِيتُهَا - فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ كُلِّ وِتْرٍ وَإِنِّي أُرِيتُ أَنِّي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ فَمَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلْيَرْجِعْ " . قَالَ فَرَجَعْنَا وَمَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ قَزَعَةً قَالَ وَجَاءَتْ سَحَابَةٌ فَمُطِرْنَا حَتَّى سَالَ سَقْفُ الْمَسْجِدِ وَكَانَ مِنْ جَرِيدِ النَّخْلِ وَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَرَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَسْجُدُ فِي الْمَاءِ وَالطِّينِ قَالَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ أَثَرَ الطِّينِ فِي جَبْهَتِهِ .

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Yahya b. Abu Kathir with the same chain of transmitters (with a slight variation of these words): I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ after he had completed (the prayer) and there was a trace of clay on his forehead and tip (of the nose).

وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الدَّارِمِيُّ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي، كَثِيرٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . نَحْوَهُ وَفِي حَدِيثِهِمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ وَعَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ وَأَرْنَبَتِهِ أَثَرُ الطِّينِ .

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed i'tikaf in the middle ten days of Ramadan to seek Lailat-ul-Qadr before it was made manifest to him. When (these nights) were over, he commanded to strike the tent. Then it was made manifest to him that (Lailat-ul-Qadr) was in the last ten nights (of Ramadan), and commanded to pitch the tent (again). He then came to the people and said: O people, Lailat-ul-Qadr was made manifest to me and I came out to inform you about it that two persons came contend- ing with each other and there was a devil along with them and I forgot it. So seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Seek it on the ninth, on the seventh and on the fifth. I (one of the narrators) said: Abu Sa'id, you know more than us about numbers. He said: Yes, indeed we have better right than you. I said: What is this ninth, seventh, and fifth? He said: When twenty-one (nights are over) and the twenty-second begins, it is the ninth, and when twenty-three (nights) are over, that which follows (the last night) is the seventh, and when twenty-five nights are over, what follows it is fifth. Ibn Khallad said: Instead of the word Yahliqan (contending), he said Yakhtasiman, (they are disputing).

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ خَلاَّدٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ اعْتَكَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْعَشْرَ الأَوْسَطَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ يَلْتَمِسُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُبَانَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا انْقَضَيْنَ أَمَرَ بِالْبِنَاءِ فَقُوِّضَ ثُمَّ أُبِينَتْ لَهُ أَنَّهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَأَمَرَ بِالْبِنَاءِ فَأُعِيدَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ أُبِينَتْ لِي لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ وَإِنِّي خَرَجْتُ لأُخْبِرَكُمْ بِهَا فَجَاءَ رَجُلاَنِ يَحْتَقَّانِ مَعَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ فَنُسِّيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ الْتَمِسُوهَا فِي التَّاسِعَةِ وَالسَّابِعَةِ وَالْخَامِسَةِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ إِنَّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِالْعَدَدِ مِنَّا . قَالَ أَجَلْ . نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ مِنْكُمْ . قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا التَّاسِعَةُ وَالسَّابِعَةُ وَالْخَامِسَةُ قَالَ إِذَا مَضَتْ وَاحِدَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَالَّتِي تَلِيهَا ثِنْتَيْنِ وَعِشْرِينَ وَهْىَ التَّاسِعَةُ فَإِذَا مَضَتْ ثَلاَثٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَالَّتِي تَلِيهَا السَّابِعَةُ فَإِذَا مَضَى خَمْسٌ وَعِشْرُونَ فَالَّتِي تَلِيهَا الْخَامِسَةُ . وَقَالَ ابْنُ خَلاَّدٍ مَكَانَ يَحْتَقَّانِ يَخْتَصِمَانِ .

'Abdullah b. Unais reported Allah's Messenger (may peace beupon him) as saying: I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr;
then I was made to forget it, and saw that I was prostrating in water and clay in the morning of that (night). He (the narrator) said: There was a downpour on the twenty-third night and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in prayer, and as he went back, there was a trace of water and clay on his forehead and on his nose. He (the narrator) said: 'Abdullah b. Unais used to say that it was the twenty-third (night).

وَحَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَهْلِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الأَشْعَثِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، الْكِنْدِيُّ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو ضَمْرَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، - وَقَالَ ابْنُ خَشْرَمٍ عَنِ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، - عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ، سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُنَيْسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ " أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ ثُمَّ أُنْسِيتُهَا وَأَرَانِي صُبْحَهَا أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ " . قَالَ فَمُطِرْنَا لَيْلَةَ ثَلاَثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَصَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَانْصَرَفَ وَإِنَّ أَثَرَ الْمَاءِ وَالطِّينِ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ وَأَنْفِهِ . قَالَ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُنَيْسٍ يَقُولُ ثَلاَثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ .

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and Ibn Numair reported Allah's Messenger ﷺ as saying: Look for (and in the words of Waki, seek) Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، وَوَكِيعٌ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ " الْتَمِسُوا - وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ - تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ " .

Zirr b. Habaish reported: I thu asked Ubayy b. Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him): Your brother (in faith) Ibn Mas'ud says: He who stands (for the night prayer) throughout the year would find Lailat-ul-Qadr, whereupon he said: May Allah have mercy upon him;
(he said these words) with the intention that people might not rely only (on one night), whereas he knew that it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) is in the month of Ramadan and it is the twenty-seventh night. He then took oath (without making any exception, i. e. without saying Innsha Allah) that it was the twenty-seventh night. I said to him: Abu Mundhir, on what ground do you say that? Thereupon he said: By the indication or by the sign which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave us, and that is that on that day (the sun) would rise without having any ray in it.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، - قَالَ ابْنُ حَاتِمٍ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، - عَنْ عَبْدَةَ، وَعَاصِمِ بْنِ أَبِي النَّجُودِ، سَمِعَا زِرَّ بْنَ حُبَيْشٍ، يَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ أُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ - رضى الله عنه - فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ أَخَاكَ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَقُمِ الْحَوْلَ يُصِبْ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ . فَقَالَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ أَرَادَ أَنْ لاَ يَتَّكِلَ النَّاسُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّهَا فِي رَمَضَانَ وَأَنَّهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ وَأَنَّهَا لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ . ثُمَّ حَلَفَ لاَ يَسْتَثْنِي أَنَّهَا لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَقُلْتُ بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ قَالَ بِالْعَلاَمَةِ أَوْ بِالآيَةِ الَّتِي أَخْبَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لاَ شُعَاعَ لَهَا .

Zirr b. Hubaish reported that Ubayy b. Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him) said about Lailat-ul-Qadr: By Allah, I know well about it. Shu'ba said: To the best of my knowledge it was the twenty-seventh night for which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to stand for prayer. Shu'ba doubted these words: That it was the night for which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to stand for prayer. And (he further) said: This was narrated to me by a friend of mine from him (the Holy Prophet).

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَةَ، بْنَ أَبِي لُبَابَةَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ زِرِّ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ قَالَ أُبَىٌّ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَعْلَمُهَا - قَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَأَكْبَرُ عِلْمِي - هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِقِيَامِهَا هِيَ لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ . وَإِنَّمَا شَكَّ شُعْبَةُ فِي هَذَا الْحَرْفِ هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَنَا بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ . قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي بِهَا صَاحِبٌ لِي عَنْهُ .