Is the Night of Decree visible to the naked eye?
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Question: Do you see the Night of Decree with the eye, meaning that it is seen by the unaided human eye, where some people say: if a person is able to see the Night of Decree, he sees light in the sky and the like? And how did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) see it? And how does a person know that he has seen the Night of Decree? And does a person receive its reward and merit even if it was on that night in which he was unable to see it? We ask for clarification of this, along with mentioning the evidence.
Answer: The Night of Decree may be seen by one whom Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has guided, and that is by seeing its signs. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to infer it by its signs, but not seeing it does not prevent its virtue from being attained by one who stands in prayer in it with faith and seeking reward. So the Muslim should strive to seek it out in the last ten nights of Ramadan – as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his Companions to do – seeking the reward and merit. If his standing in prayer with faith and seeking reward coincides with this night, he will receive its reward even if he does not know it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 2193Sahih (Darussalam) Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim, and in another narration outside the two authentic collections: .
It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what indicates that one of its signs is the rising of the sun on its morning without rays. Abu al-Dahdah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to swear that it is the twenty-seventh night, and he would infer it by this sign. The stronger position is that it moves among all the nights of the ten, and the odd-numbered nights are more likely, and the twenty-seventh night is the most emphatic of the odd-numbered nights in that. And whoever strives in all ten nights in prayer, recitation, supplication, and other forms of good, will attain the Night of Decree without doubt, and will succeed in what Allah has promised for one who stands in prayer in it, if he does so with faith.
Answer: The Night of Decree may be seen by one whom Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has guided, and that is by seeing its signs. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to infer it by its signs, but not seeing it does not prevent its virtue from being attained by one who stands in prayer in it with faith and seeking reward. So the Muslim should strive to seek it out in the last ten nights of Ramadan – as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his Companions to do – seeking the reward and merit. If his standing in prayer with faith and seeking reward coincides with this night, he will receive its reward even if he does not know it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever spends the night of Lailat Al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.
من قام ليلة القدر إيمانًا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه... whoever stands in prayer in it seeking it, and then it is granted to him, his previous and subsequent sins will be forgiven
... من قامها ابتغاءها ثم وُفِّقَت له غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه وما تأخرIt is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what indicates that one of its signs is the rising of the sun on its morning without rays. Abu al-Dahdah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to swear that it is the twenty-seventh night, and he would infer it by this sign. The stronger position is that it moves among all the nights of the ten, and the odd-numbered nights are more likely, and the twenty-seventh night is the most emphatic of the odd-numbered nights in that. And whoever strives in all ten nights in prayer, recitation, supplication, and other forms of good, will attain the Night of Decree without doubt, and will succeed in what Allah has promised for one who stands in prayer in it, if he does so with faith.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.