The 'Umrah on the Night of the Twenty-Third of Ramadan

Question:
May Allah reward you. This questioner is asking about the 'Umrah on the Night of the Twenty-Third of Ramadan: does it have any special merit?

Answer:
There is no evidence for specifying the Night of the Twenty-Third for the 'Umrah. It is merely the independent reasoning of people, because it is the night in which the Night of Decree is sought more than any other. Some people say, "If I perform 'Umrah on the Night of Decree, that would be better." There is nothing wrong with that if he intends to do it at the beginning of Ramadan, in the middle, or at the end; all of that is fine. However, specifying it as the Night of the Twenty-Third and not performing 'Umrah on any other night has no evidence for it. Furthermore, the danger on the Night of the Twenty-Third has become severe due to the heavy and difficult crowds. Some people even take off their ihram and flee from Makkah, abandoning the 'Umrah because of the crowding and fear of danger. If he is with women or children, many of them take off their ihram. Then they ask later, "We did such and such; what is the ruling on us?" Why did you go on that night? Go at the beginning of the month when there is space, or in the first ten days, or in the middle of Ramadan. You are the ones who did this which has no basis, and then you behaved in this bad manner. Yes.