When is Laylat ul-Qadr?

Merits of Laylat ul-Qadr

Laylat ul-Qadr means “Night of Qadr.” Qadr means “power” or “decree.”

Allah says ⟪We sent it down on Laylat ul-Qadr. What will show you what is Laylat ul-Qadr? Laylat ul-Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (Jibril) descend in it with every command. Peace it is until the coming of dawn.⟫ (Surah Qadr)

The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever fasts in Ramadan with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven. Whoever stands (in prayer) on Laylat ul-Qadr with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

Why is Laylat ul-Qadr Hidden?

The Sunnah of Allah is that immense reward requires effort. The reward of Laylat ul-Qadr is the most immense reward anyone can access in the year, a night worth a thousand months. As such, Allah did not give us Laylat ul-Qadr on a platter, but he gave us a timeframe to exert ourselves in order to get the reward of Laylat ul-Qadr.

Anas (RA) narrated from Ubadah ibn Samit (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, “I came out to inform you about Laylat ul-Qadr, but two people were arguing, so [the knowledge] was lifted. Perhaps that is better for you. […]” (Sahih Bukhari) It is better because then we will exert ourselves the most we can at the end of Ramadan.

Laylat ul-Qadr Is Somewhere in Ramadan

We can be sure that Laylat ul-Qadr is in Ramadan because Allah says ⟪The month of Ramadan is the one in which we sent down the Quran⟫ (Surah Baqarah) and says ⟪We sent it down on Laylat ul-Qadr.⟫ (Surah Qadr).

There are many reports from the Prophet (SAW) or his companions that encourage specific nights or groups of nights where to search for Laylat ul-Qadr.

None of the authentic hadith in this topic ever clearly say “Laylat ul-Qadr is here.” They are all phrased as encouragement: “Search for Laylat ul-Qadr here.” As such, these hadith should only be taken as strong evidence that Laylat ul-Qadr could be in those nights without certainty.

In reality, Laylat ul-Qadr could be any night of Ramadan despite some nights being more likely, so it is important for us to use every night of Ramadan properly. That is why in one hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever stands (in prayer) on Laylat ul-Qadr with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven,” and another hadith says, “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven.”

In this article, I will discuss the evidence of each of the likely nights and each of the groups of likely nights In sha Allah.

Uncertainty of the Day Ramadan Started

Depending on when the moon was sighted or what calendar is followed, different cities and people start Ramadan a day or two apart from each other. There is no sin on a person who follows either opinion and their fasts are valid without doubt.

However, since Laylat ul-Qadr is a specific night when angels descend, it is not possible to say it happens twice. Laylat ul-Qadr only happens once.

So, when there is difference of opinion about which night it is (20th or 21st), it is important to take both possibilities into account and plan accordingly, unless you wish to come on the Day of Judgement having worshiped all night on the 21st believing it to be Laylat ul-Qadr, but it was actually the 20th night in Allah’s schedule.

Especially in the last 10 nights, it is important to worship in all 10 nights to avoid the uncertainty. Aisha (RA) said: When the (last) 10 nights entered, the Prophet (SAW) would tighten his belt, pray the night, and wake his family. (Sahih Bukhari)

Evidence For Night Groups

Last 10 Nights (20-29 or 21-30)

There is a lot of strong evidence that the Prophet (SAW) encouraged searching for Laylat ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Aisha (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) used to do itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Search for Laylat ul-Qadr in the last 10 nights of Ramadan.” (Sahih Bukhari)

She also said: When the (last) 10 nights entered, the Prophet (SAW) would tighten his belt, pray the night, and wake his family. (Sahih Bukhari)

Ibn Umar (RA) narrated: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Search for Laylat ul-Qadr in the last 10 nights. If you are weak, do not [let your weakness prevent you] from the last 7.” (Sahih Muslim)

Odd of the Last 10 Nights

There is a lot of strong evidence that the Prophet (SAW) encouraged searching for Laylat ul-Qadr in the odd of the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Aisha (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Search for Laylat ul-Qadr in the odd of the last 10 nights of Ramadan.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Ibn Umar (RA) narrated: A man saw in his dream that Laylat ul-Qadr was the 27th night (or some specific night), so the Prophet (SAW) said, “I see that your dreams agree on the last 10 nights, so look for it in the odd nights in them.” (Sahih Muslim)

Abu Bakrah (RA) narrated: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Look for Laylat ul-Qadr in the (last) 10 of Ramadan, when 9 nights remain, when 7 nights remain, when 5 nights remain, when 3 nights remain, and the last night.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: Hasan Sahih)

It is unclear whether the odd nights are odd when they are counted from the front (21st night) or from the back (10 nights remain). Many companions preferred the view that they are odd nights from the front. Abu Saeed (RA) and others held the view that the odd nights are odd when counted from the back. In the latter view, this would refer to the 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th, and 30th nights.

21, 23, 25 or 22, 24, 26

Ibn Abbas (RA) reported encouragement for the 21st, 23rd, and 25th or for the 22nd, 24th, and 26th nights.

Ibn Abbas (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Look for Laylat ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan, when 9 nights remain, when 7 nights remain, and when 5 nights remain.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Another narration from Ibn Abbas: The Prophet (SAW) said, “It is in the (last) 10. It is when 9 nights remain or when 7 nights remain.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Anas (RA) narrated from Ubadah ibn Samit (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, “I came out to inform you about Laylat ul-Qadr, but two people were arguing, so [the knowledge] was lifted. Perhaps that is better for you. So, look for it on the 9th (i.e. when 9 nights remain), the 7th, and the 5th.” (Sahih Bukhari)

I think this is assuming Ramadan has 30 nights and without counting the current night, so 9 nights remaining means the 21st night. Then, the hadith would be for 21, 23, 25. This is more in line with the narrations that specify odd nights.

If it means 9 nights remaining without counting the current night, it could be encouragement of the 22nd, 24th, and 26th. This is supported by a report from Abu Saeed al-Khudr (RA).

Abu Nadhrah narrated from Abu Saeed al-Khadri (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, “Laylat ul-Qadr was shown to me, but two men were arguing, so I was made to forget it, so search for it on the 9th, the 7th, and the 5th.” Abu Nadhrah asked Abu Saeed, “What nights are the 9th, 7th, and 5th?” He said, “When it is the 21st night, the one after it is the 9th (i.e. the 22nd), then skip one night, then the one after it is the 7th (i.e. the 24th night), then skip one, then the one after it is the 5th (i.e. the 26th night).” (Sahih Muslim)

Last 7 Nights (23-29 or 24-30)

There is strong evidence that the Prophet (SAW) encouraged looking for Laylat ul-Qadr in the last seven nights of Ramadan.

Ibn Umar (RA) said: Some companions of the Prophet (SAW) were shown Laylat ul-Qadr to be in the last 7 and some were shown it to be in the last 10, so the Prophet (SAW) said, “I see that your dreams agree on the last 7, so whoever is looking for it, let him look for it in the last 7.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

Malik narrated from his father Marthad ibn Abdullah from Abu Dharr (RA): No one asked about Laylat ul-Qadr more than me. […] I said, “Messenger of Allah, which night is it?” He (SAW) said, “If I am given permission, I will tell you, but look for it in the two sevens (i.e. the first seven of the last 10 nights or the last seven of the last 10 nights). Don’t ask me about it again.” Then, the Prophet (SAW) started talking about something else. After he was done, I asked, “Messenger of Allah, which of the sevens is it?” He became angry with me in a way he never became before or after that, then he said, “Didn’t I tell you not to ask me again? Look for it in the last seven.” (Ahmad; Weak because Malik and Marthad are not well-known)

25, 27, 29

Anas (RA) narrated from Ubadah ibn Samit (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, “I came out to inform you about Laylat ul-Qadr, but two people were arguing, so [the knowledge] was lifted. Perhaps that is better for you. So, look for it on the 9th, the 7th, and the 5th.” (Sahih Bukhari)

It is possible to interpret this hadith to mean the 29th, 27th, and 25th.

However, more correctly, it is referring to when 9 nights are left, when 7 nights are left, and when 5 nights are left. Otherwise, it does not make sense why the Prophet (SAW) would mention them chronologically backwards. So, this hadith is actually encouragement for 21, 23, 25 (or 22, 24, 26).

Evidence For Nights

17th Night

Ibn Masud (RA) believed that the Battle of Badr was a likely time for Laylat ul-Qadr, and the Battle of Badr happened on the 17th of Ramadan.

Ibrahim al-Nakha’i & Hujair > Aswad:
Abdullah ibn Masud (RA) said, “Search for Laylat ul-Qadr on the 17th night, the morning of Badr, when the two armies met, or the 21st night, or the 23rd night.” (Abd al-Razzaq & Ibn Abi Shaibah; Sahih to Ibn Masud)

One transmission from Ibn Masud (RA) says Badr was on the 19th. That is probably mistaken and the above is more accurate.

I think the reason they thought Laylat ul-Qadr might have been the night before the Battle of Badr is because Allah says about Laylat ul-Qadr ⟪The angels and the Spirit (Jibril) come down in it⟫ and said about the Battle of Badr ⟪[Remember] when you [O Prophet] said to the believers, “Isn’t it enough for you that your Lord will reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?”⟫ (3:124)

19th Night

Some people said the Battle of Badr was on the 19th.

In a weak narration: Zaid ibn Arqam said about Laylat ul-Qadr, “There is no need for argument or doubt. It is the 19th night, the night of Furqan (when the truth was separated from falsehood), the night when the two armies met (i.e. the Battle of Badr).”

There was also the aforementioned weak transmission from Ibn Masud that Badr was on the 19th.

It is possible the Sahabah did not remember exactly which night the Battle of Badr was and that is why they differed, but the report from Ibn Masud (RA) about the 17th is much more authentic.

21st Night

The 21st night is included in the odd of the last ten nights and is specifically encouraged within a group in several hadith. Abu Saeed al-Khudri (RA) also reported a hadith that points to the 21st specifically.

Abu Saeed al-Khudri (RA) said: We did itikaf with the Prophet (SAW) in the middle 10 nights of Ramadan, then he came out on the morning of the 20th and addressed us, “I was shown Laylat ul-Qadr then I was made to forget it. So, look for it in the odd of the last 10 nights. Whoever was doing itikaf with me, let him come back (and continue the itikaf). I was shown that I would pray on water and mud.” Abu Saeed said: The sky filled with clouds that night, and the roof of the masjid started leaking where the Prophet (SAW) was praying–on the 21st night–and my eyes say the Prophet (SAW) when he turned to us after praying Fajr and his face was full of mud and water. (Sahih Bukhari)

Although the Prophet (SAW) mentioned his dream right after talking about Laylat ul-Qadr, he did not say nor does the dream contain anything strong that it is about Laylat ul-Qadr. It could be the dream just predicted the coming night, which was the 21st.

However, if the dream is taken to be about Laylat ul-Qadr, it is strong evidence that it may be the 21st night.

23rd Night

The 23rd night is included in the odd of the last seven nights and is specifically encouraged within a group in several hadith. The 23rd night was also a view narrated from the companions Abdullah ibn Unais, Bilal, and Ibn Abbas (RA).

The encouragement of the 23rd night specifically is narrated from several chains to Abdullah ibn Unais (RA). All of them are only Hasan but may combine to become Sahih:

Abdullah ibn Unais (RA) narrated: I asked the Prophet (SAW) about Laylat ul-Qadr, and he (SAW) asked, “What night is it?” I said, “The 22nd.” He said, “It is tonight.” Then, after some time, he said, “Or tomorrow night (the 23rd).” (Abu Dawud; Not Sahih but Hasan)
Another narration from Ibn Unais (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, “Search for it tonight,” and it was the 23rd.
Another narration from Ibn Unais (RA): I said, “O Messenger of Allah, my home is very far away, so tell me a night that I should come (to the masjid).” The Prophet (SAW) said, “Come on the 23rd night.” (Muwatta Malik; Disconnected)
Another narration from Ibn Unais: The Prophet (SAW) said, “I was shown Laylat ul-Qadr but I was made to forget it. I was shown that I would prostrate on water and mud that morning.” So, it rained on the 23rd night, and the Prophet (SAW) led us in prayer. When he turned, I saw the remnant of water and face on his forehead. (Sahih Muslim; Hasan)
- I think the part about mud and water in this narration is mixed up with the hadith of Abu Saeed al-Khudri, but the narration does support that Ibn Unais (RA) advocated for the 23rd night In sha Allah.

Sunabihi said: I asked Bilal (RA) about Laylat ul-Qadr and he said, “It is the 23rd night.” (Ibn Abi Shaibah; Hasan not Sahih) This is what Muhammad ibn Ishaq (who was hasan) narrated. Ibn Lahee’ah (who was weak) contradicted him and said: 24th night.

A man came to the Prophet (SAW) and said, “I am a person of the wilderness, so tell me when is Laylat ul-Qadr so I can make sure to pray in it. The Prophet (SAW), “What about two nights?” He said, “One night.” So, the Prophet (SAW) told him something and he became happy, but no one knew what he was told. People said, “Watch which night he spends praying.” He used to return to his family on the 23rd night and spend it praying. (Abd al-Razzaq; Disconnected)

Saeed ibn al-Musayyab narrated: The Prophet (SAW) was with a group of his companions and said, “Should I tell you about Laylat ul-Qadr.” They said, “Of course, Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet (SAW) stayed silent for some time then said, “I said what I said some time ago and I knew it, but I was then made to forget it. Do you remember the day when we where in this or that place (on an expedition)? Which night was it?” The group started recounting the expedition until most of them settled on that being the 23rd night. (Abd al-Razzaq; Saeed did not meet the Prophet)

Ibn Abbas (RA) said: Someone came to me while I was sleeping in Ramadan and said, “This night is Laylat ul-Qadr.” I woke up and I was sleepy. I came to the Prophet (SAW) while he was praying, and I looked at the night–and it was the 23rd night.” (Ahmad; Weak)

24th Night

The 24th night is encouraged in the group 22, 24, and 26 as narrated by Abu Saeed al-Khudri (RA).

A mistaken hadith also specifies the 24th night.

Abu Saeed al-Khudr (RA) narrated: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Laylat ul-Qadr is the 24th night.” (Tayalisi; Clear Mistake) This is not authentic to the Prophet (SAW). It is a bad summarization of the above hadith of Abu Saeed (RA).

25th Night

The 25th night is an odd night in the last seven nights and it is encouraged within several groups. In fact, if you look at the encouraged groups (excluding the hadith about even numbered nights), it is the only night that is included in all the groups encouraged by the Prophet (SAW) in authentic hadith.

However, there is no specific evidence about it.

Ibn Abbas (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Look for Laylat ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan, when 9 nights remain, when 7 nights remain, and when 5 nights remain.” (Sahih Bukhari)

27th Night

The 27th night is an odd night from the last seven nights. Ubayy ibn Ka’b and Muawiyah (RA) supported the 27th night as being Laylat ul-Qadr. It is also reported that Umar and Huzaifah (RA) supported the 27th night. It has the strongest evidence of all the nights, but the evidence is still speculative.

There are different transmissions of the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka’b:

Zirr ibn Hubaish asked Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA), “Your friend (Ibn Masud) says we need to pray the whole year to get Laylat ul-Qadr?” Ubayy said, “By Allah, it is in Ramadan, and by Allah, I know which night it is. It was the night the Prophet (SAW) told us to pray in. It is the 27th night. Its sign was (or is) that the sun would rise that morning white without rays.” (Sahih Muslim)
- It is unclear in this transmission: Is the sign about the sun from the Prophet (SAW)? Or did Ubayy (RA) simply recount something he noticed that night?
Ubayy (RA) said, “The most knowledge I have is that it was the night the Prophet (SAW) told us to pray in. It was the 27th night.” (Sahih Muslim)
- This transmission does not mention the sun at all and only mentions the reason for him thinking the 27th was the Prophet (SAW) told them to pray on that night.
Ubayy (RA) took an oath that it was the 27th night. Zirr asked, “How do you know this?” Ubayy (RA) said, “By the sign that the Messenger of Allah told us, that the sun would rise that day without any ray.” (Sahih Muslim)
- This transmission claims the sign came from the Prophet (SAW). The meaning is that the sun rising without rays was the sign of Laylat ul-Qadr on that year.
- This is the weakest transmission, despite being hasan, so I do not know if we can be certain of the attribution of the sign to the Prophet (SAW).

If Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA) knew the night because of the sign of the sun which the Prophet (SAW) informed people about and he saw the sun that morning and also saw the sun every other morning to verify those nights were excluded, then this is strong evidence to prove the 27th night.

If this sign did not come from the Prophet (SAW) and the only indication Ubayy (RA) had was the Prophet commanding them to pray that night or he did not check the sun every other morning, it is not strong evidence. Allah knows best.

Abu Dharr (RA) said: We fasted with the Prophet (SAW) and he did not lead us in prayer (Taraweeh or Qiyam) until seven (nights) were left from the month (i.e. the 23rd). On that night, he led us in prayer until a third of the night passed. Then, he did not lead us in prayer on the sixth. Then, he led us in prayer on the fifth (i.e. 25th) until half the night passed. We said, “Messenger of Allah, if only you prayed the rest of this night.” He said, “Whoever stands with the imam until he finishes, it will be written for him that he prayed the whole night.” Then, he did not lead us in prayer until three nights remained from the month (i.e the 27th). He called his family and wives on the third and led us in prayer until we feared the coming of suhur. (Sunan Tirmidhi; Hasan Sahih)

One day, Hajjaj ibn Yusuf was on the minbar and mentioned Laylat ul-Qadr and said (dismissively), “Some people mention Laylat ul-Qadr [is a specific night]…” Zirr ibn Hubaish was about to leap at him but people stopped him. Zirr said, “It is the 27th night. Whoever sees it should take a bath, do iftar with milk, and do his iftar at suhur.” (Ibn Abi Shaibah; Hasan In sha Allah)

Zirr said: If not for your fools (i.e. leaders), I would have put my fingers in my ears and called out, “Laylat ul-Qadr is the 27th night!” (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah; Hasan In sha Allah)

Zirr said: Umar, Huzaifah, and many people from the companions of the Prophet (SAW) had no doubt that Laylat ul-Qadr is the 27th night, when 3 nights are left. (Ibn Abi Shaibah; Weak or Hasan)

Mutarrif narrated: Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan (RA) said, “Laylat ul-Qadr is the 27th night.” (Tayalisi; Sahih to Mutarrif) One transmission mistakenly says Muawiyah (RA) narrated it from the Prophet (SAW). (Abu Dawud)

Ibn Hajr said, “It is more correctly mawquf (Muawiyah’s statement).” It is also unclear whether Mutarrif met Muawiyah (RA).

Abu Bakr ibn Abd al-Rahman, one of the seven great scholars of Madinah after the companions, said, “Laylat ul-Qadr is the 27th night on Friday.” (Ibn Abi Shaibah) Perhaps it was on Friday that year, or perhaps he held the opinion that it changes every year and Friday the 27th is a very likely time.

29th Night

The 29th night is an odd night from the last seven nights.

Muhammad al-Baqir said: Ali (RA) used to search for Laylat ul-Qadr on the 29th, 21st, and 23rd. (Abd al-Razzaq) Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husain ibn Ali was Ali (RA)’s great grandson but never met him.

Summary

Everyone should analyze the reports for themselves to find the night they feel is most likely and be careful of minding the evidentiary power of the reports rather than the number of reports on a given night.

However, in my opinion, the following nights are most likely. You may agree or disagree:

27th
23rd
21st
17th

All of these are ± 1 night due to uncertainty about when the month started.

That being said, remember that the calendar difference and uncertainty means you should pay attention to all nights, especially in the last 10, not just the numbers I mentioned. And Allah knows best.

Does Laylat ul-Qadr Move?

Some people said Laylat ul-Qadr moves to a different night every year. The reason is the differing reports from the Prophet and companions. They said, whenever reports differ, that is because each of them was about a different year.

Abu Qilabah (one of the students of Anas ibn Malik RA) said, “Laylat ul-Qadr moves within the odd nights from the last ten.”

There is no evidence for this view and it does not make any sense and raises more questions than it answers.

Allah says ⟪We sent it (i.e. the Quran) down on Laylat ul-Qadr.⟫ How can the night the Quran was first sent down move? Someone might say, “Laylat ul-Qadr is its own night. It did not become Laylat ul-Qadr when the Quran was sent down. The Quran was sent down on a night that was Laylat ul-Qadr.”

This view, despite ostensibly being formed to explain why reports indicate different nights, fails to combine the reports with regards to which nights Laylat ul-Qadr rotates within. One report says “odd of the last ten nights,” another report says “last seven nights,” and another report says “21, 23, 25.” So, does Laylat ul-Qadr rotate to 21 or not? Does it rotate to 27 or 29 or not? Or is it a ‘weighted’ rotation where some nights are more likely than others?? What is the logic behind that?

The so-called contradiction between these reports is much more simply resolved by saying these were theories the Prophet (SAW) recommended for finding one night rather than saying the night itself moves. And Allah knows best.

Signs of Laylat ul-Qadr

Some people said Laylat ul-Qadr has signs to indicate it. This view is closely tied to the view that Laylat ul-Qadr moves.

Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA) said, “Its sign was (or is) that sun rises the following morning without rays.” (Sahih Muslim) As we mentioned before, one transmission explicitly mentions that this sign came from the Prophet (SAW).

Hasan al-Basri said about Laylat ul-Qadr, “It is a clear and calm night, neither cold nor hot. The sun rises the following morning without rays.” (Ismail ibn Jafar; Sahih to Hasan al-Basri)

I think he extrapolated the weather from Allah saying ⟪It is peace until the coming of dawn.⟫

This statement of Hasan al-Basri is also reported as a hadith of the Prophet (SAW), but that is weak and unacceptable.

Abu Saeed al-Khudri (RA) described a rainy night, implied to be Laylat ul-Qadr, as we mentioned in the section about the 21st night. That contradicts the idea that it is calm night.

The view that Laylat ul-Qadr has signs raises more questions than it answers. The weather is different in every place! If I see the sun rise without rays in Calgary, someone in Madinah may see it rise with rays. So, whose sign matters? Should we do a global survey to determine which night had the most rayless sunrises?

The hadith from the companions or the Prophet (SAW) about Laylat ul-Qadr’s “signs” only refer to the quality of the night that year in which the companion or the Prophet (SAW) described it.

Perhaps some people can tell a night was Laylat ul-Qadr due to their intuition and connection to the Allah and the angels, but I do not believe there are any external signs. And Allah knows best.

Also see: What to do on Laylat ul-Qadr? – Fussilat Blog

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