The answer: Without doubt, the sound view is that it remains. As for what is reported in the hadith—that it was raised—the intended meaning is that knowledge of its precise date was removed for that year. The Prophet ﷺ had seen it, then went out to inform his Companions of it, but two men were disputing, so it was raised. (1) This is how the hadith is narrated.

The second matter: Is it in Ramadan or at another time?

The answer: There is no doubt that it is in Ramadan. The evidence for this includes:

First: Allah Most High says, “The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was sent down” [al-Baqarah: 185]. Thus, the Quran was sent down in the month of Ramadan. Allah Most High also says, “Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree” [al-Qadr]. When this verse is joined to the other, it necessarily follows that Laylat al-Qadr is in Ramadan. For if it were in a month other than Ramadan, it would not be correct to say, “The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was sent down.”

This is a composite proof, and a composite proof cannot serve as evidence unless each proof is joined to the other. Composite proofs have examples, one of which is this example.

Another example is that the shortest period of pregnancy after which a child, if born, may live is six months. We know this from Allah’s saying, “His gestation and weaning take thirty months” [al-Ahqaf: 15], while He says in another verse, “His weaning is in two years” [Luqman: 14]. When we subtract two years from thirty months, six months remain; thus, this is the period of pregnancy.