Laylat al-Qadr as sacred time

Abstract

Ramadan as a holy month has special rituals performed throughout its full 29-30 days, fasting from sunup to sundown, and extra communal prayers in the nights. Apart from these, it also has a special night which is specified as the pinnacle of sacred time, Laylat al-Qadr, the night of decree. If praying in a mosque is better than praying at home, so is praying in Mecca as a sacred space even better compared to praying in a general mosque. Similarly, is praying during Laylat al-Qadr better compared to praying in the other nights of Ramadan. So, knowing the exact timing of Laylat al-Qadr becomes vital it would seem. Multiple traditions state it is on the uneven nights of Ramadan, but there are also traditions stating it is on the 19th or 21st, or on the 23rd as preferred in the Shīʿī tradition, or the 27th as preferred in the Sunnī tradition. There are even more diverse timings stated in other traditions. So, what to make of these diverse and seemingly contradictory statements?