“The Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—said regarding the Night of Decree: ‘It is a gentle, serene night, neither hot nor cold; and its sun rises the following morning weak and reddish.’”
Narrated by Abū Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī in his Musnad (no. 2802), with this wording; by Ibn Khuzaymah (no. 2192); and by al-Bayhaqī in Faḍāʾil al-Awqāt (no. 101), from the narration of Ibn ʿAbbās—may Allah be pleased with them both.
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ (no. 5475).
Brief Explanation of the Hadith
Laylat al-Qadr is a night of immense virtue and high rank. The Sunnah has mentioned signs by which it may be recognized. Among them is the statement of the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: “It is a gentle, serene night,” meaning one that is easy and pleasant, and his saying: “neither hot nor cold,” that is, moderate in climate, free from harshness or discomfort. And his saying: “Its sun rises the following morning weak and reddish,” meaning that its light is faint, without rays, such that one may look at it without harm. This is supported by what is reported in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: “It has no rays.”
And his saying, “reddish,” meaning intensely red. The Night of Decree is so named because on it the divine decrees and destinies are determined—what will occur in that year of appointed terms and provisions—as Allah the Exalted says: “Therein is decreed every wise matter” al-Dukhān (44:4).
It is not necessary that one who stands in prayer during it perceive its signs, nor does the absence of a sign entail that it did not occur; for Allah may conceal it from whom He wills.
The wisdom behind mentioning this sign is that the servant gives thanks to his Lord if He granted him success in standing in prayer during that night, and if he missed it, he feels regret and makes amends in the remainder of his life.
In the ḥadīth there is an indication of some of the signs by which the Night of Decree is recognized.