Lu'lu' wal-Marjan

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to observe i'tikaf during that ten days of Ramadan which fell in the middle of the month. After twenty nights had passed, when the night of the twenty-first would come, he would return home in the evening, and those who were observing i'tikaf with him would also return to their homes. In one Ramadan, when he was observing i'tikaf, he remained (in the mosque) even on that night in which it was his habit to return home. Then he delivered a sermon to the people and commanded them with whatever Allah the Exalted willed. Then he said: "I used to observe i'tikaf in this (second) ten days, but now it has been made clear to me that I should observe i'tikaf in the last ten days. Therefore, whoever has observed i'tikaf with me should remain in his place of i'tikaf. And I was shown this night (Laylat al-Qadr), but then it was made to be forgotten, so seek it in the odd nights of the last ten days. I saw myself (in a dream) prostrating in mud on that night." Then, on that very night, clouds appeared in the sky and it rained, and water began to drip (from the roof) at the place where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed. This was the night of the twenty-first. I myself saw with my own eyes that after the morning prayer, when he was returning, there was mud on his blessed face.