The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to inform us about the Night of Qadr but two Muslims were quarreling with each other. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I came out to inform you about the Night of Qadr but such-and-such persons were quarreling, so the news about it had been taken away; yet that might be for your own good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramadan).
Virtues of the Night of Qadr
Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 2023
The Incident and Its Wisdom
The Prophet (ﷺ) intended to explicitly reveal which night was Laylat al-Qadr, but divine wisdom intervened due to the quarrel between two Muslims. This teaches us that discord among believers can obstruct divine blessings and knowledge.
Allah's wisdom in concealing the exact night serves multiple purposes: it encourages believers to worship throughout the last ten nights of Ramadan, increases spiritual exertion (ijtihād) in seeking this blessed night, and tests the sincerity of those who truly seek divine proximity.
Scholarly Commentary on the Specified Nights
The recommendation to search on the 25th, 27th, and 29th reflects the practice of seeking Laylat al-Qadr in the odd-numbered nights of Ramadan's last ten days. Scholars note these are among the most likely nights based on other authentic narrations.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bārī that the Prophet's guidance to search these specific nights demonstrates that while the exact night was concealed, Allah's mercy provided clear parameters for its pursuit.
Spiritual Lessons
This incident emphasizes the importance of maintaining unity and avoiding disputes, especially during sacred times. The believers' quarrel caused the loss of specific knowledge, showing how human actions can affect divine disclosure.
The statement "that might be for your own good" illustrates how apparent hardships may contain hidden blessings. The uncertainty pushes believers to increased worship, potentially yielding greater reward than knowing the exact night would have provided.