Laylat-ul-Qadr or Shab-e-Qadr – the night of power and blessings – was observed across Kashmir valley with religious fervour and gaiety on intervening Monday and Tuesday night.
As per common belief of followers of Islam, the night, when the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Allah, is considered to be equal to praying for 1000 months. This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramzan and most likely to be the 27th of the holy month, during which Muslims spend the whole night attending the religious gatherings and praying all night till dawn.
As part of the festivities, Muslims thronged mosques and shrines across the valley for prayers and recitation of the holy Quran.
Scores of devout Muslims, as per GNS, gathered at Hazratbal and other mosques and shrines across the valley, including at the Dast-e-Geer Sahib and Sayed Yaqoob Shah shrines here to offer special prayers.
Congregational night prayers were allowed by authorities at historic Jamia Masjid Nowhatta albeit after a hiatus of almost four years. A huge gathering was witnessed at the mosque, who remained engrossed in supplications and recitals of the holy Quran throughout the night.
The nightlong prayers were also held at other mosques and shrines in Srinagar including at Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadith Gawkadal; Asar-e-Sharif Janab Sahib Soura; Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib (RA), Khanqah-e-Maula.
District administration Srinagar had put in place special arrangements while control rooms were also established at Dargah Hazratbal shrine and other places to redress grievances or complaints of devotees.
In north Kashmir, the prayers were held at Jamia Masjid Bandipora, Jamia Masjid Baramulla, Jamia Masjid Kupwara, Masjid ul Murshideen Bumhama, Jamia Masjid Handwara and other local mosques alike.
In south Kashmir, prayers were held at Jamia Masjid Hanfia, Jamia Masjid Ahle Hadith, Bait-ul-Mukarram and Rehat-Ded Masjid in Anantnag town. The prayers were also offered in Ziarat-e-Sharief Khiram Kund, Aishmuqam and Bijbehara areas of the south Kashmir district.
In Kulgam, the biggest nightlong prayer gathering was seen in Jamia Masjid. Large congregational prayer gatherings were also witnessed in Khankah Tral, Jamia Masjid Shopian and Jamia Masjid Pulwama.
The preachers and religious scholars highlighted the teachings of Islam and various aspects of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and urged Muslims to follow the principles and tenets of Islam. (GNS)