'Abdullah bin Unais reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr; then I was made to forget it, and saw that I was prostrating in water and clay in the morning of that (night). He (the narrator) said: There was a downpour on the twenty-third night and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in prayer, and as he went back, there was a trace of water and clay on his forehead and on his nose. He (the narrator) said: 'Abdullah bin Unais used to say that it was the twenty-third (night).
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Abu Sa'id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu narrated the sign involving water and earth on the twenty-first night, while Abdullah ibn Unais radi Allahu anhu narrated it on the twenty-third night.
It is evident that the appearance of this sign occurred at different times during different odd nights.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 2775
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
1380. Commentary:
➊ For the special reward of worship, three mosques are specified in this world. And traveling to them for this purpose is legislated: Masjid al-Haram, the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid Nabawi), and Bayt al-Maqdis (Al-Aqsa Mosque). It is impermissible to travel to any other place for the virtue of worship. Furthermore, making special arrangements for worship during virtuous times is desirable and sought after.
➋ It should be noted that the virtuous times have also been specified by the Shari‘ah. This is not a matter of analogy (qiyas), as nowadays people have, on their own accord, considered the night and day of the Prophet’s birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and the night of Mi‘raj to possess special virtue.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 1380
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
1379. English Commentary:
➊ The twenty-second night can be considered as Laylat al-Qadr from this perspective. As will be mentioned in the upcoming hadith of Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu (1381), it is stated that one should seek it in the last ten nights; seek it in the last ninth, seventh, and fifth nights. Therefore, if the month consists of thirty nights, the last ninth night would be the twenty-second date. And Allah knows best.
➋ The etiquette of asking questions about religious matters from a teacher, instructor, or mentor.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 1379