—“I see that your dreams have all agreed upon the last seven nights; so whoever is intent on seeking it, let him seek it in the last seven nights.” This may refer to every year, or it may have applied to that particular year only; in any case, Laylat al-Qadr is within the last ten nights of Ramadan.

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—then quotes several hadith transmitted by ʿĀ’isha, which highlights this woman’s distinction. She preserved for the ummah of Muhammad ﷺ from his Sunnah what no other woman preserved. Indeed, she is the woman who narrated the greatest number of reports from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, safeguarding from Allah’s law and the Sunnah of His Messenger that which no other woman conveyed. May Allah reward her on behalf of Muhammad’s community with the finest reward.

ʿĀ’isha said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “If I happen to coincide with—or come to know—which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say during it?” He answered, “Say: Allāhumma innaka ʿafuwwun tuḥibbu l-ʿafwa faʿfu ʿannī (O Allah, You are Pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me).”

Al-ʿafw (pardon) means overlooking the misdeeds of His servants. He, exalted is He, is Pardoning and All-Powerful—He pardons while fully able to punish. Unlike human beings, who may forgo a right only when they are powerless, He pardons despite His absolute power; this is perfect pardon. He loves those who pardon others: “Whoever pardons and reconciles, his reward rests with Allah.” He likewise loves those who take what is easy from people, and He even commanded this, saying, “Take what is easy and enjoin what is right” (Q 7:199).

The scholars explain that “take what is easy” means: accept from people what they can readily offer; do not tighten the rope. Take what is easy and leave what lies beyond that. This is one of the Quranic etiquettes—that a person be broad-hearted toward the children of Adam, accepting what comes with ease. The point here is that the finest supplication one can make