I said to Ubayy b. Ka'b: Tell me about lailat al-qadr, O Abu al-Mundhir, for our companion (Ibn Mas'ud) was questioned about it, and he said: Anyone who gets up for prayer every night all the year round will hit upon it (i.e. lailat al-qadr). He replied: May Allah have mercy on Abu 'Abd al-Rahman. By Allah, he knew that it was in Ramadan, (Musaddad's version goes) but he disliked that the people should content themselves (with that night alone); or he liked that the people should not content themselves (with the night alone). According to the agreed version: By Allah, it is the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan, without any reservation. I said: How did you know that, Abu al-Mundhir? He replied: By the indication (or sign) of which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) informed us. I asked Zirr: What is the sign ? He replied: The sun rises like a vessel of water in the morning following that night; it has no rays until it rises high up.
The Excellence of Seeking Laylat al-Qadr
The narration from Ubayy ibn Ka'b demonstrates the wisdom behind Ibn Mas'ud's initial response. Though Ibn Mas'ud knew Laylat al-Qadr occurs in Ramadan, he encouraged continuous night prayer throughout the year. This reflects the classical scholarly principle of encouraging sustained worship ('ibadah) rather than limiting devotion to specific times, thereby cultivating a constant state of spiritual readiness and connection with Allah.
The Specific Night of Power
Ubayy ibn Ka'b's definitive statement that Laylat al-Qadr is the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan represents a scholarly position based on clear evidence from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). This certainty comes from divine indication rather than personal reasoning, showing that some matters of religion are established through definitive textual evidence (nass qat'i) that permits no other interpretation.
The Divine Sign of Laylat al-Qadr
The physical sign described—the sun rising without rays like a vessel of water—serves as Allah's confirmation of this blessed night. Classical scholars explain this as a miraculous sign (ayah) making the night recognizable to those who sought it. The subdued sunrise symbolizes the tranquility and divine peace (salam) that descends during Laylat al-Qadr, as mentioned in Surah al-Qadr.
Scholarly Methodology in Hadith Interpretation
This narration exemplifies proper hadith transmission and verification. The chain includes multiple reliable narrators, and the dialogue shows careful inquiry into both the ruling and its evidence. The classical approach requires understanding both the apparent meaning (zahir) and wisdom (hikmah) behind prophetic traditions, as demonstrated by comparing Ibn Mas'ud's pedagogical approach with Ubayy ibn Ka'b's specific revelation.