The Last Seven Nights in Ramadhaan

Follow @AhleDhikr

Chapter 40: What has Been Mentioned about the Last Seven Nights of Ramadhaan
Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (d.795) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] says in his book Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif (Pg. 149-158)

It is narrated in Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar [May Allaah be Pleased with you] that two men were arguing about the date of Laylat al-Qadr and the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] came out from his sleep and said, “I have seen in my dream that it will occur in the last seven nights, so whoever wants to seek it, do it in those nights.”

It is also narrated in Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Look for it in the last ten nights but if one of you is sick or unable to then seek it in the last seven nights.”

We have already discussed in the previous chapters that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] would strive harder in worshipping Allaah, more so than in any other time of the year. Especially towards the end of Ramadhaan, he would stand for longer and stay in the Masjid I’tikaaf, seeking Laylat al-Qadr.

It is also reported in Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of ‘Aaishah [May Allaah be Pleased with her] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] would seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten of Ramadhaan.

It is also narrated in Bukhaaree with the wording, “…in the odd nights during the last ten nights of Ramadhaan.”

There is also another narration of Ibn ‘Abbas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Seek it in the odd nights of the last nights of Ramadhaan.”

It is also narrated in Muslim on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Seek in the last odd nights.”

The with this meaning are many, meaning we should seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last ten odd nights.

It is also narrated in Bukhaaree on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the last odd nights of Ramadhaan, it could be in within the last nine or within the last seven or the last five.”

In another narration is has the wording, “It is in the last ten, I can guarantee it is in the last seven, a surety that it is in the last seven.”

Aboo Bakrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] used to pray in Ramadhaan as he would throughout the other months in the year until the twentieth night in Ramadhaan, from then on he would seek harder and would order others to seek it in the last seven nights.

These Ahaadeeth prove to us that Laylat al-Qadr occurs within the last seven nights, as this was guaranteed to us. 

These Ahadeeth can also be used as proof to support the view by some scholars who say that it occurs on the twenty third or twenty fifth or any of the remaining odd nights, however some have stated that it won’t occur on the twenty first night because it is not within the final seven nights.

This is based on the statement of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him], “It occurs within the last seven nights.”

It is also reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree that Bilal [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “It occurs in within the last seven nights.”

It has also been narrated by Ibn Abee Shaybah with the wording, “…it occurs on the twenty third.”

This is also the view of Imaam Maalik [May Allaah have Mercy on him].

Ayoob as-Sakhteeyaanee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] used to have a bath on the twenty third and apply his best perfume on that night as well as the twenty forth night.

In fact, a group from the Salaf would do this and would try especially hard on the twenty forth night this was narrated to be the practice of Anas and Hasan.

It is narrated from Anas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that he said, “I saw the sun on the twenty forth day for a period of twenty years, and it always appeared without any rays.”

It is also narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him], as was narrated by Bukhaaree, that he said, “It is preserved on the twenty third night and the Quraan was revealed on the twenty forth.”

Likewise, it was narrated from Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that Laylat al-Qadr would occur from the twenty forth or onwards, presuming that the month will be thirty days.

This view was also supported by Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr and some of our companions.