Thousands join special Ramadan prayers

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

The Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department organised a series of programmes during the Holy Month of Ramadan to commemorate the Laylat Al Qadr as part of the Ramadan Dubai activity.

The department held a major religious celebration at the Grand Rashidiya Mosque, Dubai, which witnessed the participation of thousands of worshippers early to commemorate Laylat Al Qadr by praying and seeking forgiveness.

The ceremony was presented by Sheikh Mahmoud Abu Shousha, Imam and preacher of the Great Rashidiya mosque, congratulating the worshippers on the month of fasting and talking about the virtues of fasting and of the Holy Month of Ramadan, especially this blessed evening, calling God Almighty to recognise this night and for worshippers to benefit from this great virtue.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Mulla, Senior Religious Guidance Specialist, delivered a valuable lecture on this blessed night of Laylat Al Qadr indicating the virtue of this occasion and the signs of the night of destiny.

He said that in this blessed night Allah revealed a surah in its name and called Surat al-Qadr. This surah clarified that the great Quran has been revealed in this night, and that it is a better night than a thousand months, in which the angels and the Spirit descend upon them with the permission of their Lord from every matter, and that it is a night of peace until the dawn and urged Muslims to be diligent on this night.

He added, “The Muslims must strive, continue performing prayers, seek forgiveness, and do good work to enjoy a place in the paradise in the future.”

Al Mulla concluded his lecture by praying for the Muslims and for the Muslim rulers and officials, for the good of the country, and for love and happiness of the people.

Earlier, the Department had hosted Sheikh Mishari Bin Rashid Al Affasi, Imam of the Grand Mosque in Kuwait. More than 10,000 worshippers performed their prayers with him at two venues – at the Grand Rashidiya Mosque on the night of 21st Ramadan and at the Sheikha Hind Bint Jumaa Al Maktoum Mosque in Zabeel, Dubai, on the night of 22nd Ramadan. Dr Omar Mohammed Al-Khatib, Executive Director at the Dubai Islamic and Charitable Activities Department, said that the worshippers intensify their efforts in the last ten days of the holy month because of its advantages as the most preferred ten nights of worship and good work. It was the most important days of Ramadan when the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions most keen on obedience, worship, remembrance.

Sheikha Al Marri, Head of Media and Communication Team of Ramadan Dubai Organising Committee, said, “The Rashid Bin Mohammed Ramadan Forum hosted 21 Islamic scholars from abroad and 102 from within the UAE. The event is one of the most important Ramadan events in the Gulf and the Arab world.”

The department hosted the eminent scholars of the Islamic world to revive the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), perform the rituals of Taraweeh prayers and Qayyam al-Layl, and listen to the recitations of the Holy Quran in the most revered voices in the Arab and Islamic world including Saad Bin Saeed Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia), Idris Abaker (Yemen), Adel Abdullah Rayyan (Yemen), Wadeea al-Yemeni (Saudi Arabia) and Hamza al-Far (Jordan).

Al Marri said that among the most prominent personalities who came during the last ten days of the holy month were Rabov Siratulu (Tajikistan), Fahad Wasel Al Mutairi (Kuwait), Mohamed Mubarak Al Faw (Bahrain), Ahmad Bin Shar Al Sheikhi (Saudi Arabia) and Ahmed Musa Al Balushi, Ismael Al Buraimi, Tariq Hatout and Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Sharid from the UAE.

Separately, the Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque & Centre (AFMC) welcomed over 10,000 worshippers at the Tahajjud night prayer performed by Muslims to mark Laylat Al Qadr on Saturday June 1.

Led by Sheikh Faris Al Mustafa, the Religious and Cultural Affairs Advisor, AFMC, the special overnight prayer marks the anniversary of the night that the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).