The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Seek it (laylat al-Qadr) in the last ten days of Ramadan. Seek it on the ninth, seventh and fifth night. I (AbuNadrah) said: You know counting better than us, AbuSa'id. He said: Yes. I asked: What do you mean by the ninth, seventh and fifth night? He said: When the twenty-first night passes, the night which follows it is the night; when the twenty-third night passes, the night which follows it is the seventh; when the twenty-fifth passes, the night which follows it is the fifth.
Abu Dawud said: I do not know whether anything remained hidden from me or not.
Book: Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Ramadan
Author: Sunan Abi Dawud | Hadith Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 1383
Hadith Text
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Seek it (laylat al-Qadr) in the last ten days of Ramadan. Seek it on the ninth, seventh and fifth night. I (AbuNadrah) said: You know counting better than us, AbuSa'id. He said: Yes. I asked: What do you mean by the ninth, seventh and fifth night? He said: When the twenty-first night passes, the night which follows it is the night; when the twenty-third night passes, the night which follows it is the seventh; when the twenty-fifth passes, the night which follows it is the fifth.
Abu Dawud said: I do not know whether anything remained hidden from me or not.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith provides specific guidance on seeking Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) during Ramadan's final ten nights. The Prophet (ﷺ) directed believers to intensify worship during the odd-numbered nights, particularly the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th.
The counting method described refers to the nights remaining in Ramadan. When 21 nights pass, the 22nd is the "ninth" of the last ten nights. Similarly, after 23 nights, the 24th is the "seventh" remaining, and after 25 nights, the 26th is the "fifth" remaining night.
Classical scholars note this demonstrates the Prophet's wisdom in specifying multiple odd nights, ensuring believers maintain consistent worship throughout Ramadan's conclusion rather than focusing on a single night.
Abu Dawud's final remark reflects the scholarly humility in transmitting knowledge, acknowledging potential limitations in understanding all nuances of the Prophet's teachings.
Legal Rulings
It is recommended (mustahabb) to perform i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) during Ramadan's last ten days.
Increased night prayers (qiyam), Quran recitation, and supplications are emphasized during these specified nights.
Scholars differ on whether Laylat al-Qadr shifts annually or remains fixed, but all agree on seeking it in the odd nights of Ramadan's final decade.