JEDDAH, 12 December — Hundreds of thousands of believers poured into the holy city of Makkah yesterday seeking the blessings of the Night of Power, the most blessed night in the fasting month of Ramadan.
Thousands had to attend the congregational prayers outside in the streets leading to the Grand Mosque because of the huge crowd. Many have specifically come to the Haram to spend the night in prayers and supplication hoping to be blessed during the mystic Night of Power. About two million pilgrims performed Umrah yesterday.
A number of Muslim heads of state and government have also arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah.
An equally large crowd converged on the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to offer special prayers and take part in “taraweeh” and “qiyamullail” prayers.
Over the years the two holy mosques have been expanded to accommodate about one million worshipers each at a time.
Each year, Muslims all over the world eagerly await the arrival 27th night of Ramadan, thought to be the Lailatul Qadr, or the Night of Power, when the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
According to the Qur’an, the angels and the Spirit (the angel Gabriel) come down by God’s permission carrying His orders that determine the fate of humans and other creatures. Allah forgives the sins of all those who seek His pardon on this blessed night, “which is better than a thousand months.”
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims had come from abroad to perform Umrah as, according to a Saying of the Prophet, an Umrah during Ramadan equals Haj in reward.
Scholars differ on the exact date of Lailatul Qadr. The 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th nights have been suggested. According to an authentic Hadith, the Prophet asked his followers to seek it on the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan. Many believe that the 27th night is the most probable.
The authorities have been bracing for the heavy rush expected during the last ten days of Ramadan by mobilizing thousands of policemen, firefighters, religious guides, scouts, cleaners and other emergency staff, said Dr. Saleh ibn Abdullah ibn Humaid, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs.
As many as 6,000 people have been working round the clock to keep the holy mosque and surroundings clean.
All 95 gates leading into the Grand Mosque remained open to facilitate the pilgrims’ flow, which is monitored by 118 officers through 670 television, and close circuit cameras.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and senior members of the Cabinet are currently stationed in the holy city to oversee the services being rendered to pilgrims.
The presidency said Zamzam water is being supplied through 15,000 water coolers kept in various parts of the mosque. A large number of wheelchairs have been readied since the start of the month for use, free of charge, by the old and sick pilgrims.
Six health clinics inside the Grand Mosque are providing emergency services. Special units have been set up at the mataf (circumambulating area) around the Holy Kaaba to provide first aid during peak times.
“Our efforts are usually intensified during Ramadan but additional work is required during this time of the year when Makkah witnesses the heaviest vehicular and pedestrian traffic,” said Brig. Muhammad Al-Harithi, director of Makkah Police.
The police department is working at full strength to streamline the increasing flow of pilgrims by ordering drivers in the ihram to park at parking grounds at the entrances of the city.
Six large parking lots in the entrances of the city have been reserved for pilgrims’ cars. The police have set up special rooms with recreational facilities for lost children and opened lost-and-found counters to claim items lost by pilgrims.
