The night prayer during Ramadan

1) The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

“Whoever stands (for the night prayer during) Ramadan with belief and hope, (then) his past sins will be forgiven”,

[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

2) The Prophet (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) used to pray 13 rak'ahs at night,

[Transmitted by al-Bukhari]

3) The Prophet (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) did not exceed more than 11 rak'ahs (for the night prayer) during Ramadan and other than it,

[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

4) The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

“Whoever stands (for the night prayer on) the Night of Power (Laylatul-Qadr) with belief and hope, (then) his past sins will be forgiven”,

[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

5) The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

“Seek out Laylatul-Qadr during the odd nights of the last ten (nights) of Ramadan”,

[Reported by al-Bukhari]

6) Regarding the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam): “When the final ten nights or Ramadan arrived he used to spend the night awake and awaken his family, and exert himself (in worship) and tighten his waist belt,”

[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Translator's note: ‘tighten his waist belt’ is a manner of speech implying he used to exert himself in worship.

7) 'Aa.ishah (radhi-yAllahu 'anhaa) said: I said O Messenger of Allah: What should I say if I know which night is Laylatul-Qadr? He said:

“Say: O Allah! You are the One who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me,”

[Saheeh, Reported by at-Tirmidhi]