Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنِّي شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ عَلِيلٌ يَشُقُّ عَلَيَّ الْقِيَامُ فَأْمُرْنِي بِلَيْلَةٍ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ يُوَفِّقُنِي فِيهَا لِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ قَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالسَّابِعَةِ.
English Translation
A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, I am an old and sick man and standing is difficult for me. So direct me to a night that perhaps Allah may grant me success in catching the Night of Decree.' He said: 'You should observe the seventh (of the last ten nights).'