Sahih Al-Bukhari: Chapter 32

The Prophet (PbUH) said, "Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping
for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in
the night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins
will be forgiven ."

Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet (PbUH) were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr
was in the last seven nights of Ramadan. Allah's Messenger (PbUH) said, "It seems that all your dreams agree
that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it (i.e. the Night of
Qadr) should search in the last seven (nights of Ramadan).

I asked Abu Sa`id, and he was a friend of mine, (about the Night of Qadr) and he said, "We practiced
I`tikaf (seclusion in the mosque) in the middle third of the month of Ramadan with the Prophet (PbUH) . In the
morning of the 20th of Ramadan, the Prophet (PbUH) came and addressed us and said, 'I was informed of (the
date of the Night of Qadr) but I was caused to forget it; so search for it in the odd nights of the last ten
nights of the month of Ramadan. (In the dream) I saw myself prostrating in mud and water (as a sign).
So, whoever was in I`tikaf with me should return to it with me (for another 10-day's period)', and we
returned. At that time there was no sign of clouds in the sky but suddenly a cloud came and it rained
till rainwater started leaking through the roof of the mosque which was made of date-palm leaf stalks.
Then the prayer was established and I saw Allah's Messenger (PbUH) prostrating in mud and water and I saw the
traces of mud on his forehead."

Allah's Messenger (PbUH) said, "Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan."

Allah's Messenger (PbUH) used to practice I`tikaf (in the mosque) in the middle third of Ramadan and after
passing the twenty nights he used to go back to his house on the 21st, and the people who were in
I`tikaf with him also used to go back to their houses. Once in Ramadan, in which he practiced I`tikaf,
he established the night prayers at the night in which he used to return home, and then he addressed
the people and ordered them whatever Allah wished him to order and said, "I used to practice I`tikaf
for these ten days (i.e. the middle third but now I intend to stay in I`tikaf for the last ten days (of the
month); so whoever was in I`tikaf with me should stay at his place of seclusion. I have verily been
shown (the date of) this Night (of Qadr) but I have forgotten it. So search for it in the odd nights of the
last ten days (of this month). I also saw myself (in the dream) prostrating in mud and water." On the
night of the 21st, the sky was covered with clouds and it rained, and the rainwater started leaking
through the roof of the mosque at the praying place of the Prophet (PbUH) . I saw with my own eyes the
Prophet at the completion of the morning prayer leaving with his face covered with mud and water.

The Prophet (PbUH) said, "Look for (the Night of Qadr).

Allah's Messenger (PbUH) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for
the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan."

The Prophet (PbUH) said, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan ,' on the night when
nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan (i.e. 21, 23, 25, respectively).

Allah's Messenger (PbUH) said, "The Night of Qadr is in the last ten nights of the month (Ramadan), either on
the first nine or in the last (remaining) seven nights (of Ramadan)." Ibn `Abbas added, "Search for it
on the twenty-fourth (of Ramadan).

The Prophet (PbUH) came out to inform us about the Night of Qadr but two Muslims were quarreling with
each other. So, the Prophet (PbUH) said, "I came out to inform you about the Night of Qadr but such-and-such
persons were quarreling, so the news about it had been taken away; yet that might be for your own
good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramadan).

With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (PbUH) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work
hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.