Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 1117-1 — Laylat al-Qadr

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that his student Marthad (the father of Malik) asked him: Did you hear the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mention the Night of Decree? He replied: Yes. I said (in the presence of the Messenger): O Messenger of Allah, tell me about the Night of Decree: is it in Ramadan or outside Ramadan? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Rather, it is in Ramadan." I said: O Messenger of Allah, is this virtue only for as long as the prophets are present, so that when the prophets depart from the world it too will be taken up, or will it remain until the Day of Resurrection? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No, rather it will remain (every year) until the Day of Resurrection." I asked again: O Messenger of Allah, tell me in which part of Ramadan it is. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "In the last ten nights of Ramadan; do not ask me about anything (concerning it) after this." I said (again, out of eagerness): O Messenger of Allah, I adjure you by the right I have over you, tell me which of these ten nights it is. At this he (peace and blessings be upon him) became so angry with me that he had never been angry with me like that before, nor was he ever angry like that afterwards, and he said: "Had Allah willed, He would have informed you of it definitively. Seek it in the last seven nights (of Ramadan), and do not ask me anything further about it now."