Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
Laylatu al-Qadr (the night of power) is most likely to be one of the odd nights in the last ten nights of Ramadaan. However, there is a lot of difference of opinion amongst the scholars and we do not know for sure.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ القَدْرِ فِي الوِتْرِ، مِنَ العَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَان
(Sayidah ) Aishah (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Seek Laylatul al-Qadr (the night of power) during the odd nights in the last ten of Ramadan.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2017).
Due to the Hadith above and other similar narrations, many scholars believe Laylatu al-Qadr (the night of power) to be one of the odd nights in the last ten nights of Ramadaan. However, there is a lot of difference of opinion amongst the scholars and we do not know for sure. There are Hadith narrations that open up other possibilities.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُجَاوِرُ فِي العَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ وَيَقُولُ: تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ القَدْرِ فِي العَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ
(Sayidah ) Aishah (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) narrated that in the last ten days of Ramadan the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say, ‘Seek Laylatul al-Qadr (the night of power) in the last ten (nights) of Ramadan.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari 2020).
In this particular narration no specification of the odd nights is found. Therefore, some scholars felt it is better not to specify the odd nights. Rather they would say it is in the last ten nights. Others felt the Hadith specifying the odd nights is more specific and therefore should be used to restrict the Hadith that does not specify. Thus they would say Laylatu al-Qadr is during the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani presented this in his commentary:
فِي هَذِهِ التَّرْجَمَةِ إِشَارَةٌ إِلَى رُجْحَانِ كَوْنِ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ مُنْحَصِرَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَخِيرِ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ فِي أَوْتَارِهِ لَا فِي لَيْلَةٍ مِنْهُ بِعَيْنِهَا وَهَذَا هُوَ الَّذِي يَدُلُّ عَلَيْهِ مَجْمُوعُ الْأَخْبَارِ الْوَارِدَةِ فِيهَا وَقَدْ وَرَدَ لِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ عَلَامَاتٌ أَكْثَرُهَا لَا تَظْهَرُ إِلَّا بَعْدَ أَنْ تَمْضِيَ مِنْهَا. (فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري)
And this title indicates that the sound opinion is that Laylatu al-Qadr is restricted to Ramadan. Then the last ten days. Then specifically the odd nights from them (the last ten days). This is the conclusion the gathering of the established narrations brings us to. And indeed, signs have been narrated for Laylatu al-Qadr. However, most of them do not appear until after the night has passed. (Imam Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari).
Therefore, in answer to the question, when is Laylatul Qadr (the night of power)? We have to say, we do not know for sure. However, it is most likely to be one of the odd nights in the last ten nights of Ramadaan.
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (20.04.2022)
See also:
What should you recite during Laylatul Qadr?
See video:
