‘Abdallah b. Unais told that he said, “Messenger of God, I have a place in the desert where I live and in which I pray praising God, but give me command about a night when I may leave it and come to this mosque.” He replied, “Come on the twenty-third night.” His son was asked how his father used to act and said he used to enter the mosque when he had prayed the afternoon prayer and not leave it for any purpose till he prayed the morning prayer. Then when he had prayed the morning prayer he found his beast at the door of the mosque, mounted it and got back to his desert region.
‘Ubada b. as-Samit said that the Prophet came out to inform them about lailat al-qadr, but finding two Muslims disputing together he said, “I came out to inform you about lailat al-qadr, but so and so and so and so had a dispute, and the knowledge of it has been withdrawn. That, however, may perhaps be better for you, so seek it on the ninth, the seventh and the fifth.”*
*i.e. the twenty-ninth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-fifth.
Abu Bakra said he heard God’s messenger say, “Seek it (meaning lailat al-qadr), on the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twentyseventh, or on the last night.”
