The Book of Fasting - Sahih Muslim 1169

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger Muhammad.

Context and Transmission

This noble hadith, transmitted through the chain of Waki', directs believers to seek Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) during the final ten nights of Ramadan. The instruction "look for" or "seek" indicates the necessity of active spiritual pursuit rather than passive waiting.

Scholarly Commentary

The concealment of Laylat al-Qadr's exact night is a divine wisdom encouraging increased worship throughout these blessed nights. Scholars note this ambiguity motivates believers to maximize devotion, seeking the reward of worship equivalent to that of a thousand months.

Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) explains that the Prophet's emphasis on the last ten nights indicates their superiority over earlier portions of Ramadan. The most likely nights are the odd-numbered ones, particularly the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th.

Practical Implementation

The seeker should intensify acts of worship during these nights - increasing prayer, Qur'an recitation, supplication, and remembrance of Allah. The recommended practice includes performing i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) in the mosque during these final nights.

One should particularly focus on the supplication taught by the Prophet: "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni" (O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me).

Divine Wisdom

The wisdom behind hiding the exact night includes testing the sincerity of worshippers and encouraging consistent devotion. This mirrors other divine concealments such as the acceptance of supplications and the hour of Friday, all designed to maintain continuous worship.

May Allah grant us the success to witness Laylat al-Qadr and benefit from its boundless blessings. Ameen.