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1,001 Sayings and Deeds of the Prophet

Prayers

Night of Qadr

The night of Qadr is a hit-or-miss sort of thing.

Narrated Ibn Umar:

Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet were shown in their dreams that the Night of Qadr was in the last seven Nights of Ramadan. Allah's Apostle said, "It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven Nights, and whoever wants to search for it (i.e. the Night of Qadr) should search in the last seven (Nights of Ramadan)."

Bukhari 32.232

Why Muhammad may have been unable to be more accurate as to the Night of Qadr:

Narrated Ubada bin As-Samit:

Allah's Apostle went out to inform the people about the (date of the) night of decree (Al-Qadr) but there happened a quarrel between two Muslim men. The Prophet said, "I came out to inform you about (the date of) the night of Al-Qadr, but as so and so and so and so quarrelled, its knowledge was taken away (I forgot it) and maybe it was better for you. Now look for it in the 7th, the 9th and the 5th (of the last 10 nights of the month of Ramadan)."

Bukhari 2.46

Why the night of Qadr is more propitious to getting your sins absolved than any other night during the month of Ramadan is not obvious.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven."

Bukhari 2.34

All of the nights of Ramadan are an auspicious time to get your sins forgiven.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said: "Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven."

Bukhari 2.36