This chapter is about Lailat-ul-Qadr, the Night of Decree, a single night in Ramadan of immense value. The hadith encourage believers to fill it with prayer and devotion in hope of forgiveness.
A recurring theme is the search for this night within the last ten nights, especially the odd ones. The Prophet himself withdrew for worship during this period and roused his family, and he taught a short supplication asking Allah, who loves to forgive, for pardon. The lesson is to seek the night earnestly rather than to know its exact date.
Hadith 1189
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه" . ((متفق عليه)) .
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whosoever performs Qiyam during Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), with Faith and being hopeful of Allah's reward, will have his former sins forgiven." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Spending the Night of Decree in prayer, with faith and hope in Allah's reward, leads to forgiveness of one's past sins.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1189 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 199
Hadith 1190
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رجالا من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، أروا ليلة القدر في المنام في السبع الأواخر، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "أرى رؤياكم قد تواطأت في السبع الأواخر، فمن كان متحريها، فليتحرها في السبع الأواخر" ((متفق عليه)) .
Some of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) saw Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in their dreams in the last seven nights of Ramadan, whereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "I see that your dreams all agree upon the last seven nights. Whosoever seeks it, let him seek it in the last seven nights." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
When the companions' dreams pointed to the last seven nights, the Prophet guided those seeking this special night to look for it there.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1190 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 200
Hadith 1191
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها، قالت: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يجاور في العشر الأواخر من رمضان، ويقول: "تحروا ليلة القدر في العشر الأواخر من رمضان" ((متفق عليه)) .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to seclude himself (in the mosque) during the last ten nights of Ramadan. He would say, "Search for Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the last ten nights of Ramadan." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet would devote himself to worship in seclusion during the last ten nights of Ramadan and urged others to seek the Night of Decree within them.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1191 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 201
Hadith 1192
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعنها، رضي الله عنها، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "تحروا ليلة القدر في الوتر من العشر الأواخر من رمضان" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe I'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan and say, "Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadan." [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
The Prophet spent the last ten days of Ramadan in focused worship and pointed to the odd nights as the likeliest time for the Night of Decree.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1192 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 202
Hadith 1193
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعنها رضي الله عنها، قالت: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "إذا دخل العشر الأواخر من رمضان، أحيا الليلة، وأيقظ أهله، وجد وشد المئزر" ((متفق عليه)) .
When the last ten nights (of Ramadan) would begin, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would keep awake at night (for prayer and devotion), awaken his family and prepare himself to be more diligent in worship. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
As the last ten nights arrived, the Prophet intensified his own worship, woke his family, and prepared himself to strive harder. A model for making these nights count.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1193 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 203
Hadith 1194
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعنها قالت: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، يجتهد في رمضان ما لا يجتهد في غيره، وفي العشر الأواخر منه، ما لا يجتهد في غيره" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to strive more in worship during Ramadan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he strove in earlier part of the month. [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet worked harder in worship during Ramadan than at any other time, and hardest of all in its final ten nights. An example of finishing strong.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1194 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 204
Hadith 1195
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعنها قالت: قلت: يا رسول الله أرأيت إن علمت أي ليلة القدر ما أقول فيها؟ قال: "قولي: اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعفُ عني" ((رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح))
I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?" He (ﷺ) replied, "You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me)." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
The Prophet taught a simple, beautiful supplication for the Night of Decree, asking Allah, who is forgiving and loves to forgive, to pardon us.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1195 In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 205