A corroborating report is the hadith of Abu Saʿid al-Khudri, attributed to the Prophet, in the wording:

“Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan: when nine nights remain, when seven nights remain, when five nights remain, and when three nights remain.”

Al-Tayalisi narrated it (962), without mentioning the ninth night; Ahmad narrated it (3/71)—this is his wording—and its chain is authentic according to Muslim’s criteria. Muslim also narrated it (3/173) through another route, from Abu Nadrah, from him, with the wording: “Seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan; seek it on the ninth, seventh, and fifth.” He said: “I said, ‘O Abu Saʿid, you know the counting better than we do.’ He replied, ‘Indeed; we are more entitled to know it than you.’ I said, ‘What are the ninth, seventh, and fifth?’ He said, ‘When the twenty-first has passed, the following night is the twenty-second, and that is the ninth. When the twenty-third has passed, the following night is the seventh; and when the twenty-fifth has passed, the following night is the fifth.’” It is also found in Sahih Abi Dawud (1252).

The hadith has many corroborating reports from a number of Companions, including Jabir ibn Samurah, as narrated by al-Tayalisi, Ahmad, and al-Tabarani; Muʿawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, as narrated by Ibn Nasr in Qiyam al-Layl (106); and ʿUbadah ibn al-Samit, likewise narrated by him (p. 105) and by Ahmad (5/313, 318, 319, 321, and 324). One narration adds: “Whoever stands in prayer during it, seeking it and hoping for reward, and is granted it, will have his past and future sins forgiven.”

Its chain contains ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman. Ibn Abi Hatim mentioned him in connection with this chain (3/1/120), but did not cite any criticism or accreditation of him. As for Ibn Hibban, he included him among the trustworthy narrators (1/145), in accordance with his usual practice. ʿAbd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn ʿAqil narrated from him, and al-Haythami declared the hadith defective on his account, saying: