JEDDAH, 19 October 2006 — Millions of Muslim faithful thronged the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah yesterday to offer special prayers seeking the blessings of Lailat Al-Qadr (the Night of Power). The imams implored the Almighty to strengthen Islamic unity and improve the condition of Muslims around the world.
The Grand Mosque in Makkah, which can hold nearly a million people, overflowed with worshippers as thousands stood in the streets leading to the mosque to join taraweeh and qiyamullail prayers.
Many had come to perform Umrah as an Umrah in Ramadan, according to a saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), is equal to a Haj in reward. A large number of faithful stay inside the mosque during the last 10 days of Ramadan for the etikaf ritual following in the footsteps of the Prophet.
Abdul Wahid Koya, a British citizen of Indian origin, told Arab News in Makkah that he had never seen such a large crowd in his life. “You cannot see even an inch of vacant place in and around the Haram,” he said.
Egyptian Atiyat Mahmoud said she had come to the mosque before noon to perform Umrah and take part in prayers. “Luckily I have got a place inside the mosque and I don’t want to go outside for food, fearing I would lose this place,” she said.
Saudi security authorities said they have deployed more than 15,000 men in both Makkah and Madinah to control the heavy influx of worshippers. Maj. Gen. Yousuf Matar, commander of the Haram Security Forces in Makkah, said all gates of the mosque would be kept open to facilitate movement of pilgrims.
Col. Ahmed Al-Otaibi, director of Makkah traffic, said all roads leading to the Haram have been cleared of vehicles to ensure smooth flow of pilgrims. “We’ll stop vehicles entering the central region of Makkah four hours before the beginning of taraweeh prayers as many people pray on the roads,” he said. He said about two million cars and buses, most of them carrying pilgrims, have entered Makkah during this Ramadan.
The 27th night of Ramadan is believed to be the most likely night of the Lailat Al-Qadr, when the first verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet.
The Qur’an says that this night is better than a thousand months, and that on this night the angels descend to Earth. Lailat Al-Qadr is a time for prayer, seeking the blessings and forgiveness of God.
The Prophet said: “Whoever establishes the prayers on the Night of Power out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari Vol. 1, Book 2: 34).
In another Hadith, the Prophet said: “The Lailat Al-Qadr occurs during the last 10 (nights) and whoever stands for them (in prayer) seeking their reward, then indeed Allah will forgive his previous as well as his later sins. It is an odd night: the ninth or the seventh or the fifth or the third or the last night of Ramadan.” Ramadan is known as “the springtime of the Qur’an” when believers spend time reading and learning it and reflecting on its verses.
Several sayings of the Prophet encourage recitation of the Qur’an during Ramadan. “Whoever recites an ayah (verse) from the Qur’an (in this month) will receive a reward equal to the one received by a person who recites the entire Qur’an in other months,” the Prophet says.
