Two common practices are worth avoiding because they go beyond what the texts establish. First, treating a single printed date as certainly the Night of Qadr — the hadith deliberately leave it among several odd nights, not one calendar day, and this varies with moon sighting and locality. Second, chasing folk 'signs' (a specific dream, an unusually still night, animals behaving oddly) as proof the night has arrived — these are not supported by strong hadith and can distract from the actual worship the night calls for.

The practical takeaway is simple: increase your worship steadily across the last ten nights, say the forgiveness du'a often, and let Allah's mercy — not a guessed date — be the focus. If you fall short of catching the night knowingly, sincere effort across the nights is itself richly rewarded.