to inform you about the Night of Decree, but so-and-so and so-and-so quarreled, and knowledge of it was taken away. Perhaps that may be better for you. So seek it on the ninth, seventh, and fifth nights.” (1)
Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsi informed us; Zahir ibn Ahmad informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Mus‘ab informed us, from Malik, from Nafi‘, from Abd Allah ibn Umar, that some men among the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, were shown the Night of Decree in dreams during the last seven nights of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I see that your visions have coincided concerning the last seven nights. So whoever seeks it should seek it in the last seven nights.” (2) (3)
It has also been narrated from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri that it is the twenty-first night.
Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsi informed us; Zahir ibn Ahmad informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Mus‘ab informed us, from Malik, from Yazid ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Had, from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Harith al-Taymi, from Abu Salamah ibn Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, who said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would observe retreat during the middle ten days of Ramadan. One year, when it was the twenty-first night—the night on whose morning he would leave his retreat—he said: “Whoever intends to observe retreat with me should observe retreat during the last ten nights. I was shown this night, then I was made to forget it; and I saw myself prostrating on its morning in water and mud. So seek it in the last ten nights, and seek it on every odd-numbered night.” (4) (5)
Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri said: It rained that night, and the mosque had a roof of palm branches, so it leaked.
Abu Sa‘id said: My own eyes saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, leave with traces of water and mud upon his forehead and nose on the morning of the twenty-first.
Others said: It is the twenty-third night.