O, so and so, did you observe fast in the middle of the month? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allah) said: When you break it, then observe fast for two days.  

يَسْمَعُ يَا فُلاَنُ أَصُمْتَ مِنْ سُرَّةِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ قَالَ لاَ قَالَ فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ  

How do you fast? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt annoyed. When 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) noticed his annoyance, he said: We are well pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our code of life, and with Muhammad as our Prophet. We seek refuge with Allah from the anger of Allah and that of His Messenger. 'Umar kept on repeating these words till his (the Prophet's) anger calmed down. Then Umar said: Messenger of Allah, what is the position of one who fasts perpetually? He ﷺ said: He neither fasted nor broke it, or he said: He did not fast and he did not break it. 'Umar said: What about him who fasts for two days and does not fast one day? He ﷺ said: Is anyone capable of doing that? He ('Umar) said: What is the position of him who fasts for a day and doesn't fast on the other day? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: That is the fast of David (peace be upon him). He ('Umar) said: What about him who fasts one day and doesn't fast for two days. Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allah) said: I wish I were given the strength to do that. Thereafter he ﷺ said: Fasting three days every month and that of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fasting. I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of 'Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years, and I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year.  

رَجُلٌ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَصُومُ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَأَى عُمَرُ ؓ غَضَبَهُ قَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ وَغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ فَجَعَلَ عُمَرُ ؓ يُرَدِّدُ هَذَا الْكَلاَمَ حَتَّى سَكَنَ غَضَبُهُ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ بِمَنْ يَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ قَالَ لاَ صَامَ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَ أَوْ قَالَ لَمْ يَصُمْ وَلَمْ يُفْطِرْ قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ وَيُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ ذَاكَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي طُوِّقْتُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثَلاَثٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ فَهَذَا صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ  

We are pleased with Allah as the Lord, with Islam as our Code of Life, with Muhammad as the Messenger and with our pledge (to you for willing and cheerful submission) as a (sacred) commitment. He was then asked about perpetual fasting, whereupon he said: He neither fasted nor did he break it, or he did not fast and he did not break it. He was then asked about fasting for two days and breaking one day. He (the Holy Prophet) said: And who has strength enough to do it? He was asked about fasting for a day and breaking for two days, whereupon he said: May Allah bestow upon us strength to do it. He was then asked about fasting for a day and breaking on the other, whereupon he said: That is the fasting of my brother David (peace be upon him). He was then asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It was the day on which I was born. on which I was commissioned with prophethood or revelation was sent to me, (and he further) said: Three days' fasting every month and of the whole of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fast. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Arafa (9th of Dhu'I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Ashura (10th of Muharram), whereupon be said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year. (Imam Muslim said that in this hadith there is a) narration of Imam Shu'ba that he was asked about fasting on Monday and Thursday, but we (Imam Muslim) did not mention Thursday for we found it as an error (in reporting).  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِهِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ: رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولاً وَبِبَيْعَتِنَا بَيْعَةً۔

قَالَ فَسُئِلَ عَنْ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ فَقَالَ: «لاَ صَامَ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَ أَوْ مَا صَامَ وَمَا أَفْطَرَ۔»

قَالَ فَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمَيْنِ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمٍ قَالَ: «وَمَنْ يُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ؟»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ: «لَيْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَوَّانَا لِذَلِكَ۔»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمٍ قَالَ: «ذَاكَ صَوْمُ أَخِي دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ۔»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ قَالَ: «ذَاكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ، وَيَوْمٌ بُعِثْتُ أَوْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ۔» قَالَ فَقَالَ: «صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانَ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ۔»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ فَقَالَ: «يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ۔»

قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ: «يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ۔»  

This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنْ شُعْبَةَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ  

This hadith has been narrated by Ghailan b. Jarir with the same chain of transmitters, but with one variation, that there has been made mention of Monday and not of Thursday.  

أَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ فِيهِ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ الْخَمِيسَ  

It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ  

Did you fast in the middle of Sha'ban? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: If you did not observe fast, then you should observe fast for two days.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ أَوْ لآخَرَ أَصُمْتَ مِنْ سَرَرِ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ لاَ قَالَ فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ  

Did you observe any fast in the middle of this month (Sha'ban)? He said: No. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Fast for two days instead of (one fast) when you have completed (fasts of) Ramadan.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ هَلْ صُمْتَ مِنْ سُرَرِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ شَيْئًا قَالَ لاَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ مَكَانَهُ  

Did you observe fast in the middle of this month. i. e. Sha'ban? He said: No. Thereupon he said to him: When it is the end of Ramadan, then observe fast for one day or two (Shu'ba had some doubt about it) but he said: I think that he has said: two days.  

أَنَّ ﷺ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ هَلْ صُمْتَ مِنْ سِرَرِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ شَيْئًا يَعْنِي شَعْبَانَ قَالَ لاَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ رَمَضَانَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ شُعْبَةُ الَّذِي شَكَّ فِيهِ قَالَ وَأَظُنُّهُ قَالَ يَوْمَيْنِ  

This hadith is narrated by 'Abdullah b. Hani b. Akhi Mutarrif with the same chain of transmitters.  

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ هَانِئِ ابْنِ أَخِي مُطَرِّفٍ فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِمِثْلِهِ  

The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God's month. al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ  

he attributed this to the Prophet ﷺ: He was asked which prayer is best after the obligatory prayers and which fasting is best after the month of Ramadan? He said: (1) The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the one offered in the middle of the night, and (2) the best fast after the month of Ramadan is the fast in the Month of Allah: al-Muharram.  

سُئِلَ أَىُّ الصَّلاَةِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَأَىُّ الصِّيَامِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ أَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ الصَّلاَةُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَأَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صِيَامُ شَهْرِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ  

A hadith like this has been reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ by 'Abd al-Malik with the same chain of transmitters in connection with fast.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ  

He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ  

I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying like this.  

أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ ؓ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ بِمِثْلِهِ  

Abu Ayyub reported a hadith like this (through another chain of transmitters).  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ ؓ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ  

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 In sha 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.  

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  

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).  

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  

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).  

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  

Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last week (of Ramadan).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ  

I see that your dreams agree regarding the last ten (nights of Ramadan). So seek it on an odd number (of these ten nights).  

أَنَّ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَرَى رُؤْيَاكُمْ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَاطْلُبُوهَا فِي الْوِتْرِ مِنْهَا  

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).  

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  

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.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ يَعْنِي لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَإِنْ ضَعُفَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَوْ عَجَزَ فَلاَ يُغْلَبَنَّ عَلَى السَّبْعِ الْبَوَاقِي  

He who is anxious to seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) should seek it in the last ten (nights of Ramadan).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ مُلْتَمِسَهَا فَلْيَلْتَمِسْهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ  

Seek the time of Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last (ten nights), or he said: in the last nine (nights).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَحَيَّنُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ أَوْ قَالَ فِي التِّسْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ  

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 Prophet did not say:" I was made to forget," but he stated):" But I forgot it."  

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ أَنَّاللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ ثُمَّ أَيْقَظَنِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي فَنُسِّيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْغَوَابِرِ وَقَالَ حَرْمَلَةُ فَنَسِيتُهَا  

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.  

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ 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  

" That he adhered to his place of i'tikaf and his forehead was besmeared with mud and water."  

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ 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  

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).  

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ 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  

'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 ﷺ 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.  

تَذَاكَرْنَا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ ؓ 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  

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).  

عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ وَفِي حَدِيثِهِمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ وَعَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ وَأَرْنَبَتِهِ أَثَرُ الطِّينِ  

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 contending 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).  

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ 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  

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).  

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  

Look for (and in the words of Waki, seek) Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ الْتَمِسُوا وَقَالَ وَكِيعٌ تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ  

We were talking about Lailat-ul-Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he said: He who amongst you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and it was like a piece of plate (at the fag end of the month in a state of waning).  

تَذَاكَرْنَا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ يَذْكُرُ حِينَ طَلَعَ الْقَمَرُ وَهُوَ مِثْلُ شِقِّ جَفْنَةٍ