It is recommended to fast three days of every month, and to fast on the days of 'Arafah and 'Ashura', and to fast on Mondays and Thursdays
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الدَّارِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَبَّانُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ الْعَطَّارُ، حَدَّثَنَا غَيْلاَنُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ، فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ شُعْبَةَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ فِيهِ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ الْخَمِيسَ .
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.
It is recommended to fast three days of every month, and to fast on the days of 'Arafah and 'Ashura', and to fast on Mondays and Thursdays
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِيُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّرَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ " فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ " .
Abu Qatada Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Massenger (ﷺ) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me.
The virtue of fasting Muharram
حَدَّثَنِي قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، الْحِمْيَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ " .
Abu Haraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: 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.
The virtue of fasting Muharram
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ، الْمُنْتَشِرِ عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - يَرْفَعُهُ قَالَ 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 " .
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that he (the Messenger of Allah) was asked as to which prayer was most excellent after the prescribed prayer, and which fast was most excellent after the month of Ramadan. He said: Prayer offered in the middle of the night and the most excellent fast after (fasting) in the month of Ramadan is the fast in God's month al-Muharram.
The virtue of fasting Muharram
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ فِي ذِكْرِ الصِّيَامِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم . بِمِثْلِهِ .
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.
It is recommended to fast Six Days in Shawwal following Ramadan
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، - قَالَ ابْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، - أَخْبَرَنِي سَعْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، بْنِ ثَابِتِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ الْخَزْرَجِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ " .
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually.
It is recommended to fast Six Days in Shawwal following Ramadan
وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، أَخُو يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ . بِمِثْلِهِ .
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari reported (through another chain of transmitters): I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying like this.
It is recommended to fast Six Days in Shawwal following Ramadan
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ، - رضى الله عنه - يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ .
Abu Ayyub reported a hadith like this (through another chain of transmitters).
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ رِجَالاً، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُرُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْمَنَامِ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَرَى رُؤْيَاكُمْ قَدْ تَوَاطَأَتْ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَمَنْ كَانَ مُتَحَرِّيَهَا فَلْيَتَحَرَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that some persons among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were shown Lailat- ul-Qadr while sleeping in the last week (of Ramadan). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (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).
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، عُمَرَ - رضى الله عنهما - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last week (of Ramadan).
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَرَى رُؤْيَاكُمْ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَاطْلُبُوهَا فِي الْوِتْرِ مِنْهَا " .
Salim reported on the authority of his father that a person saw Lailat-ul- Qadr on the 27th (of Ramadan). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (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).
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ لِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ " إِنَّ نَاسًا مِنْكُمْ قَدْ أُرُوا أَنَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الأُوَلِ وَأُرِيَ نَاسٌ مِنْكُمْ أَنَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الْغَوَابِرِ فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْغَوَابِرِ " .
Salim b. 'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that his father said: I heard Allah's Messenger (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).
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم " 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 Allah's Messenger (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.
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ جَبَلَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، - رضى الله عنهما - يُحَدِّثُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " مَنْ كَانَ مُلْتَمِسَهَا فَلْيَلْتَمِسْهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who is anxious to seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) should seek it in the last ten (nights of Ramadan).
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَحَيَّنُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ " . أَوْ قَالَ " فِي التِّسْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .
'Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Seek the time of Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last (ten nights), or he said: in the last nine (nights).
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ ثُمَّ أَيْقَظَنِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي فَنُسِّيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْغَوَابِرِ " . وَقَالَ حَرْمَلَةُ " فَنَسِيتُهَا " .
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (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 Prophet (ﷺ) did not say:" I was made to forget," but he stated):" But I forgot it."
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَقَدِ انْصَرَفَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ وَوَجْهُهُ مُبْتَلٌّ طِينًا وَمَاءً .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (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.
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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) 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."
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 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).
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم يَذْكُرُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ اعْتَكَفْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعَشْرَ الْوُسْطَى مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَخَرَجْنَا صَبِيحَةَ عِشْرِينَ فَخَطَبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْجُدُ فِي الْمَاءِ وَالطِّينِ قَالَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ أَثَرَ الطِّينِ فِي جَبْهَتِهِ .
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 (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.