Laylatul-Qadr: Odd or Even Nights?

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah – Allah(SWT) have mercy on him – was asked about the Night of Decree (Laylatul-Qadr) while he was imprisoned in the Tower of Al-Jabal.

He replied:

All praise is for Allah(SWT). The Night of Decree occurs in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadaan. This is how it is authentically reported from the Prophet (PBUH). He said it is on one of the last ten nights of Ramadaan. [Recorded by al-Bukhari and others]

And it happens on one of the odd nights [of these ten]. However, the odd nights can be in terms of what has passed, so it is sought on the night of the 21st, the 23rd, the 25th, the 27th, and the 29th. And [odd nights] can also be in terms of what remains [of the month], as the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Seek it in the last ten nights], when nine [nights] remain, when seven remain, when five remain, or when three remain.”

[Recorded by al-Bukhari, see his chapter on Seeking Laylatul-Qadr on the odd nights of the last ten.]

Based on this, if the month is 30 days long, these (odd remaining nights) correspond to the [last ten] even nights (from the beginning of the month): the 22nd is when nine remain, and the night of the 24th is when seven remain. And this is how it was explained by Abu Sa’id al-Khudree in the authentic hadeeth. [Recorded by Muslim, Abu Dawud and others] And this is how the Prophet (PBUH) held the night prayers during the month.

And if the month is 29 days long, [counting the nights that] remain of the month [produces the same result as counting] what has passed.

That being the case, the believer should seek [the Night of Decree] on all of the last ten nights, as the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Seek it in the last 10 nights.”

‘Aa’ishah (RA) asked:

“O Messenger of Allah! If I find Laylatul-Qadr, what do you see that I should say in supplication?”

He replied:

“Say: ‘O Allah! You are the One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.”

(Allaahumma! Innaka ‘Afuwwun; Tuhibbul-‘Afwa Fa’fu ‘Annee)

[Tirmidhee (3513) and Ibn Maajah (3850) – authenticated by Tirmidhee and al-Albaani]