Pilgrims bid farewell to Ramadan

RIYADH - More than 3.5 million pilgrims and visitors in Makkah and Madinah will bid farewell to the month of Ramadan Tuesday night which is considered the 29th night of the fasting month

It is customary that on this night, the Imams of the Two Holy Mosques complete reciting the Quran. Each night during the taraweeh prayer, a full chapter is recited.

Muslims are keen to attend this special night of the 29th in the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah to listen to the tearful supplications of the Imams.


Many pilgrims and worshippers are particularly keen to be in Makkah and Madinah during the night of "the conclusion of the Quran" hoping that this will be Lailat Al Qadr (Night of Power) which is believed to be equivalent to more than 83 years of worship according to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)

More than 2.5 million pilgrims and worshippers attended the 27th night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque is this night is commonly believed to be the Lailat Al Qadr.

Lailat Al Qadr is special because it is believed that the gates of the skies open and that the prayers of the faithful is well received.

The Prophet did not specify the exact time of this night but had asked his followers to look for it on odd nights during the last 10 days of Ramadan

The inside of the Grand Mosque, its roof and outside plazas were overcrowded with worshippers.

The security, traffic and health plans formulated and executed by the Saudi authorities helped ensure the worshippers with comfort and enabled them to do their ritual easily and smoothly.

GULFNEWS
Assistant director of general security Maj. Gen. Nasser Al Arfaj said in press statements Monday that the movement of the large masses was organized by four security sectors.

He said the command of the Al Haram security forces organized worshippers inside the Grand Mosque and prevented people from praying in passages.

Al-Arfaj said the emergency forces organized the masses at the southern plazas while the Haj and Umrah forces were responsible for the eastern plazas.

More than a million visitors spend the Night of Power at the Prophet's Mosque. They prayed inside the Mosque and in the surrounding courtyards.

A number of Muslims have been doing etikaf (dedication for worship) in the two Grand Mosques during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

They will not have to go out or do worldly business during this activity. Everyone of keen to do good deeds during Ramadan which is the month of forgiveness and tolerance. It is, however, coming to an end on Friday.