13/40. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1167a — I'tikaf and Odd Nights of Laylatul Qadr
The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it
I'tikaf and Laylatul Qadr on Odd Nights
Sahih Muslim : 1167a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1167a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ مُضَرَ - عَنِ ابْنِ الْهَادِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ، بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُجَاوِرُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الَّتِي فِي وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ فَإِذَا كَانَ مِنْ حِينِ تَمْضِي عِشْرُونَ لَيْلَةً وَيَسْتَقْبِلُ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَسْكَنِهِ وَرَجَعَ مَنْ كَانَ يُجَاوِرُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَقَامَ فِي شَهْرٍ جَاوَرَ فِيهِ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَرْجِعُ فِيهَا فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنِّي كُنْتُ أُجَاوِرُ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ ثُمَّ بَدَا لِي أَنْ أُجَاوِرَ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ فَمَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعِي فَلْيَبِتْ فِي مُعْتَكَفِهِ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ فَأُنْسِيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فِي كُلِّ وِتْرٍ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ " . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ مُطِرْنَا لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ فِي مُصَلَّى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَقَدِ انْصَرَفَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ وَوَجْهُهُ مُبْتَلٌّ طِينًا وَمَاءً .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) spent in devotion (in i'tikaf) the middle ten nights of the month of Ramadan, and when twenty nights were over and it was the twenty-first night, he went back to his residence and those who were along with him also returned (to their respective residences). He spent one month in devotion.Then he addressed the people on the night he came back (to his residence) and commanded them as Allah desired (him to command) and then said: I used to devote myself (observe i'tikaf) during these ten (nights). Then I started devoting myself in the last ten (nights). And he who desires to observe i'tikaf along with me should spend the night) at his place of i'tikaf. And I saw this night (Lailat-ul-Qadr) but I forgot it (the exact night); so seek it; In the last ten nights on odd numbers. I saw (the glimpses of that dream) that I was prostrating in water and mud.Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: It rained on the twenty-first night and the water dripped (from the roof) of the mosque at the place where the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed prayer. I looked at him and as he completed the dawn prayer, (I found) his face was wet with mud and water.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1167aIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 275USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2625
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1167a
This hadith gives a detailed picture of i'tikaf in Ramadan and the search for Laylatul Qadr. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reports that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم first spent the middle ten nights in devotion, then told the people that he would devote himself in the last ten nights. He said that he had seen the night but forgot its exact time, so they should seek it in the last ten nights, especially on odd nights. The report also mentions his dream of prostrating in water and mud. Then rain fell on the twenty-first night, and after dawn prayer his face was wet with mud and water. The teaching is focused: stay in worship, seek Laylatul Qadr, and give special attention to the odd nights.
What we learn from this hadith
- I'tikaf is shown here as a way to devote time to worship in Ramadan.
- Laylatul Qadr should be sought in the last ten nights, especially odd nights.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم acted on guidance and directed others to continue their worship.
