Hadithcore
Sahih Muslim, 1168
sahih

'Abdullah b. 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 b. Unais used to say that it was the twenty-third (night).

وَحَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَهْلِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الأَشْعَثِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، الْكِنْدِيُّ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو ضَمْرَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، - وَقَالَ ابْنُ خَشْرَمٍ عَنِ الضَّحَّاكِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، - عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ، سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُنَيْسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏

‏ أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ ثُمَّ أُنْسِيتُهَا وَأَرَانِي صُبْحَهَا أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ ‏

‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَمُطِرْنَا لَيْلَةَ ثَلاَثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَصَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَانْصَرَفَ وَإِنَّ أَثَرَ الْمَاءِ وَالطِّينِ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ وَأَنْفِهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أُنَيْسٍ يَقُولُ ثَلاَثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ ‏.‏

Isnad

9 transmitters
  1. 1Sa'id bin 'Amr bin Sahl al-Kundial-Kufa · d. 230 AH
  2. 2'Ali bin KhashramMerv · d. 257 AH or after
  3. 3Abu Damra, Anas bin 'AyyadMedina · d. 200 AH
  4. 4al-Dahhak bin 'Uthman bin 'AbdullahMedina
  5. 5'Ali bin KhashramMerv · d. 257 AH or after
  6. 6al-Dahhak bin 'Uthman bin 'AbdullahMedina
  7. 7Salm Abi al-NadrMedina · d. 129 AH
  8. 8Basr bin Sa'id al-MadniMedina · d. ~100 AH
  9. 9'Abdullah bin 'Unays al-JuhaniMedina/Egypt/Syria · d. ~54 AH/674 CE
References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 13, Hadith 281
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Book 6, Hadith 2631 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
There is no doubt that the greatest month in the sight of Allah is the month of Ramadan, and the greatest night is Laylat al-Qadr. Therefore, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) diligently tried to specify it. So, numerous Hadīths were reported on determining this night. In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ’Unays (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was shown Laylat al-Qadr and then I was caused to forget it," i.e., I came to know on which day it occurs. Then, this knowledge was taken away from me. Jibrīl (Gabriel) (peace be upon him) informed him of its specific time in that year. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw in a dream - and the dreams of the prophets are true and truth, and constitute revelation from Allah Almighty - that its sign is that he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was prostrating in water and mud. Then, ‘Abdullāh ibn ’Unays (may Allah be pleased with him) related that it rained on the twenty-third night. The Prophet's vision of himself prostrating in water and mud came true. He led them in Qiyām al-Layl and departed after the prayer as the trace of water and mud was on his forehead and nose due to prostrating over them. This was confirmation of the Prophet's dream. The roof of his mosque was made of palm leaf stalks. Based on this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ’Unays (may Allah be pleased with him) used to determine Laylat al-Qadr to be the twenty-third night every year. Several Hadīths are reported specifying the time of Laylat al-Qadr. The scholars had a lot to say on reconciling these Hadīths or favoring some above others. This includes: that Laylat al-Qadr moves every year within the last ten days of Ramadan. It was called Laylat al-Qadr because of its high status and rank, or because the pious deeds performed therein are of great significance. Out of Allah's wisdom, He concealed it from people for them to diligently seek it within the nights, and thus, they will engage more in worship, which brings benefits to them. The Hadīth mentions prostration on water and mud. It states that the dreams of the prophets are true. It urges us to seek Laylat al-Qadr and utilize it for the performance of righteous deeds, given the increased merit and reward therein. It affirms prostration on the forehead and nose..