Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to commend prayer at night during Ramadan, but did not command it as duty. He would say: If anyone prays during the night in Ramadan because of faith and seeking his reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven for him. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died, this was the practice, and it continued thus during Abu Bakr's caliphate and early part of Umar's. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by 'Uqail, Yunus, and Abu Uwais in like manner. The version of 'Uqail goes: He who fasts during Ramadan and prays during the night.

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَا:‏‏‏‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ الْحَسَنُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَمَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُرَغِّبُ فِي قِيَامِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُمْ بِعَزِيمَةٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ يَقُولُ:‏‏‏‏ "مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ"، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَتُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ كَانَ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فِي خِلَافَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَصَدْرًا مِنْ خِلَافَةِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ. قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد:‏‏‏‏ وَكَذَا رَوَاهُ عُقَيْلٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَيُونُسُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَأَبُو أُوَيْسٍ"مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ"، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَرَوَى عُقَيْلٌ"مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَقَامَهُ".

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet ﷺ as saying: If anyone fasts during Ramadan because of faith and in order to seek his reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven to him. If anyone prays in the night of the power (lailat al-qadr) because of faith and in order to seek his reward from Allah his previous sins will be forgiven for him. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted in a similar manner by Yahya bin Abi Kathir and Muhammad bin Amr from Abu Salamah.

حَدَّثَنَا مَخْلَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَابْنُ أَبِي خَلَفٍ المَعْنى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَا:‏‏‏‏ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:‏‏‏‏ "مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ". قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد:‏‏‏‏ وَكَذَا رَوَاهُ يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ.

Narrated Aishah, wife of Prophet ﷺ: That the Prophet ﷺ once offered (tarawih) prayer in the mosque and the people also prayed along with him. He then prayed on the following night, and the people gathered in large numbers. They gathered on the third night too, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come out to them. When the morning came, he said: I witnessed what you did, and nothing prevented me from coming out to you except that I feared that this (prayer) might be prescribed to you. That was in Ramadan.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَصَلَّى بِصَلَاتِهِ نَاسٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ صَلَّى مِنَ الْقَابِلَةِ فَكَثُرَ النَّاسُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ اجْتَمَعُوا مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "قَدْ رَأَيْتُ الَّذِي صَنَعْتُمْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ إِلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا أَنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ يُفْرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَذَلِكَ فِي رَمَضَانَ".

Narrated Aishah: The people used to pray (tarawih prayer) in the mosque during Ramadan severally. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded me (to spread a mat). I spread a mat for him and he prayed upon it. The narrator then transmitted the same story. The Prophet ﷺ said: O People, praise be to Allah, I did not pass my night carelessly, nor did your position remain hidden from me.

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ كَانَ النَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فِي رَمَضَانَ أَوْزَاعًا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَأَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَضَرَبْتُ لَهُ حَصِيرًا فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏بِهَذِهِ الْقِصَّةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَتْ فِيهِ:‏‏‏‏ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ تَعْنِي النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:‏‏‏‏ "أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَمَا وَاللَّهِ مَا بِتُّ لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ غَافِلًا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَا خَفِيَ عَلَيَّ مَكَانُكُمْ".

Narrated Abu Dharr: We fasted with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during Ramadan, but he did not make us get up at night for prayer at any time during the month till seven nights remained; then he made us get up for prayer till a third of the night had passed. When the sixth remaining night came, he did not make us get up for prayer. When the fifth remaining night came, he made us stand in prayer till a half of the night had gone. So I said: Messenger of Allah, I wish you had led us in supererogatory prayers during the whole of tonight. He said: When a man prays with an imam till he goes he is reckoned as having spent a whole night in prayer. On the fourth remaining night he did not make us get up. When the third remaining night came, he gathered his family, his wives, and the people and prayed with us till we were afraid we should miss the falah (success). I said: What is falah? He said: The meal before daybreak. Then he did not make us get up for prayer during the remainder of the month.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَخْبَرَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْأَبِي ذَرٍّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "صُمْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَمَضَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمْ يَقُمْ بِنَا شَيْئًا مِنَ الشَّهْرِ حَتَّى بَقِيَ سَبْعٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَامَ بِنَا حَتَّى ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ السَّادِسَةُ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِنَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ قَامَ بِنَا حَتَّى ذَهَبَ شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏لَوْ نَفَّلْتَنَا قِيَامَ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا صَلَّى مَعَ الْإِمَامِ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ حُسِبَ لَهُ قِيَامُ لَيْلَةٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ الرَّابِعَةُ لَمْ يَقُمْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمَّا كَانَتِ الثَّالِثَةُ جَمَعَ أَهْلَهُ وَنِسَاءَهُ وَالنَّاسَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَامَ بِنَا حَتَّى خَشِينَا أَنْ يَفُوتَنَا الْفَلَاحُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ وَمَا الْفَلَاحُ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ السُّحُورُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِقِيَّةَ الشَّهْرِ".

Narrated Aishah: When the last ten days of Ramadan came, the Prophet ﷺ kept vigil and prayed during the whole night, and tied the wrapper tightly, and awakened his family (to pray during the night). Abu Dawud said: The name of Abu Ya'fur is Abdur-Rahman bin Ubaid bin Nistas.

حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَدَاوُدُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ سُفْيَانَ أَخْبَرَهُمْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَقَالَ دَاوُدُ عَنْ ابْنِ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ نِسْطَاسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْأَبِي الضُّحَى،‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ أَحْيَا اللَّيْلَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَشَدَّ الْمِئْزَرَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ". قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد:‏‏‏‏ أَبُو يَعْفُورٍ:‏‏‏‏ اسْمُهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ نِسْطَاسٍ.

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out and saw that the people were praying during (the night of) Ramadan in the corner of the mosque. He asked: Who are these people ? It was said to him that those were people who had not learnt Quran. But Ubayy bin Kab is praying and they would pray behind him. The Prophet ﷺ said: They did right and it is good what they did. Abu Dawud said: This tradition is not strong, the narrator Muslim bin Khalid is weak.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَخْبَرَنِي مُسْلِمُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِيهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَإِذَا أُنَاسٌ فِي رَمَضَانَ يُصَلُّونَ فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "مَا هَؤُلَاءِ ؟"فَقِيلَ:‏‏‏‏ هَؤُلَاءِ نَاسٌ لَيْسَ مَعَهُمْ قُرْآنٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَأُبَيُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ يُصَلِّي وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلَاتِهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:‏‏‏‏ "أَصَابُوا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَنِعْمَ مَا صَنَعُوا". قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد:‏‏‏‏ لَيْسَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ بِالْقَوِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏مُسْلِمُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ ضَعِيفٌ.

Zirr (b. Hubaish) said: I said to Ubayy bin Kab: Tell me about lailat al-qard, O Abu al-Mundhir, for our companion (Ibn Masud) was questioned about it, and he said: Anyone who gets up for prayer every night all the year round will hit upon it (i. e. lailat al-qadr). He replied: May Allah have mercy on Abu Abdur-Rahman. By Allah, he knew that it was in Ramadan, (Musaddad's version goes) bu he disliked that the people should content themselves (with that night alone) ; or he liked that the people should not content themselves (with the night alone). According to the agreed version: By Allah, it is the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan, without any reservation. I said: How did you know that, Abu al-Mundhir ? He replied: By the indication (or sign) of which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed us. I asked Zirr: What is the sign ? He replied: The sun rises like a vessel of water in the morning following that night ; it has no ray until it rises high up.

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَمُسَدَّدٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏الْمَعْنَى قَالَا:‏‏‏‏ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ زِرٍّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ لِأُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ فَإِنَّ صَاحِبَنَا سُئِلَ عَنْهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ مَنْ يَقُمْ الْحَوْلَ يُصِبْهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّهَا فِي رَمَضَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏زَادَ مُسَدَّدٌ:‏‏‏‏ وَلَكِنْ كَرِهَ أَنْ يَتَّكِلُوا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَوْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ لَا يَتَّكِلُوا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ اتَّفَقَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَاللَّهِ إِنَّهَا لَفِي رَمَضَانَ لَيْلَةَ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ لَا يَسْتَثْنِي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّى عَلِمْتَ ذَلِكَ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ بِالْآيَةِ الَّتِي أَخْبَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قُلْتُ لِزِرٍّ:‏‏‏‏ مَا الْآيَةُ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ تُصْبِحُ الشَّمْسُ صَبِيحَةَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ مِثْلَ الطَّسْتِ لَيْسَ لَهَا شُعَاعٌ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Unays: I was present at the gathering of Banu Salamah, and I was the youngest of them. They (the people) said: Who will ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for us about Laylat al-Qadr? That was the twenty-first of Ramadan. I went out and said the sunset prayer along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I then stood at the door of his house. He passed by me and said: Come in. I entered (the house) and dinner was brought for him. I was prevented from taking food as it was scanty. When he finished his dinner, he said to me: Give me my shoes. He then stood up and I also stood up with him. He said: Perhaps you have some business with me. I said: Yes. Some people of Banu Salamah have sent me to you to ask you about Laylat al-Qadr. He asked: Which night: Is it tonight? I said: Twenty-second. He said: This is the very night. He then withdrew and said: Or the following night, referring to the twenty-third night.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ السُّلَمِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ طَهْمَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَبَّادِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ ضَمْرَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُنَيْسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِيهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ كُنْتُ فِي مَجْلِسِ بَنِي سَلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَأَنَا أَصْغَرُهُمْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالُوا:‏‏‏‏ مَنْ يَسْأَلُ لَنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَذَلِكَ صَبِيحَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَخَرَجْتُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَوَافَيْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَاةَ الْمَغْرِبِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ قُمْتُ بِبَابِ بَيْتِهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَمَرَّ بِي، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "ادْخُلْ"، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَدَخَلْتُ فَأُتِيَ بِعَشَائِهِ فَرَآنِي أَكُفُّ عَنْهُ مِنْ قِلَّتِهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "نَاوِلْنِي نَعْلِي"، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَامَ وَقُمْتُ مَعَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "كَأَنَّ لَكَ حَاجَةً"قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ أَجَلْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَرْسَلَنِي إِلَيْكَ رَهْطٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلَمَةَ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "كَمْ اللَّيْلَةُ ؟ فَقُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ اثْنَتَانِ وَعِشْرُونَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ"، ‏‏‏‏‏‏ثُمَّ رَجَعَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "أَوِ الْقَابِلَةُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏يُرِيدُ لَيْلَةَ ثَلَاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ".

Narrated Abdullah ibn Unays al-Juhani: I said to the Messenger of Allah: I have a place in the desert where I live and in which I pray, with the praise of Allah; but give me command about a night when I come to this mosque. He replied: Come on the twenty third night. I (a sub-narrator, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim) said to his (Abdullah ibn Unays's) son: How would your father act? He replied: He used to enter the mosque when he had offered the afternoon prayer, and did not leave it for any purpose till he prayed the morning prayer. Then when he had prayed the morning prayer, he found his riding beast at the door of the mosque, mounted it and got back to his desert.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ ابْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُنَيْسٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِيهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏إِنَّ لِي بَادِيَةً أَكُونُ فِيهَا وَأَنَا أُصَلِّي فِيهَا بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَمُرْنِي بِلَيْلَةٍ أَنْزِلُهَا إِلَى هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "انْزِلْ لَيْلَةَ ثَلَاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ"، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقُلْتُ لِابْنِهِ:‏‏‏‏ كَيْفَ كَانَ أَبُوكَ يَصْنَعُ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ كَانَ يَدْخُلُ الْمَسْجِدَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ فَلَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ لِحَاجَةٍ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ الصُّبْحَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَإِذَا صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَجَدَ دَابَّتَهُ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَجَلَسَ عَلَيْهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَلَحِقَ بِبَادِيَتِهِ.