Muslims from across the city will be mostly spending the nights in prayers
Muslims coming out after offering prayers at the Badi Masjid in Chilkalguda on Thursday. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad: The third Ashara or the last 10 nights of Ramzan have started and Muslims from across the city will be mostly spending the nights in prayers. “The last 10 days are very significant as on one of odd-numbered nights during the last 10 days of Ramzan, falls Shab-e-Qadr. These are called Taaq raat and no one knows on which day the Shab-e-Qadr falls. Praying on this particular night is said to be better than worshipping for a thousand months i.e., a period of 82 years,” explained Syed Mumshad Pasha Quadri, president of Markazi Majlis-e-Qadria Hyderabad.
It is similar with charity and good deeds too. Each deed is equivalent to that of repeating it over 1,000 months, the scholar said. “Layl-atul-Qadr (in Arabic) or Shab-e-Qadr (in Persian), also called the night of power or night of decree, is extremely significant as this was the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Mohammed,” said Asifuddin Muhammed, scholar and president of Islamic Academy for Comparative Religion Hyderabad speaking about the importance.
No one misses the blessed night of Layl-atul-Qadr and thus Muslims pray during all the 10 nights hoping that their previous sins are forgiven, scholars explain. “One will emerge so pure and sinless that the person will be judged as a newborn baby,” Mr Asifuddin added. “Such is the significance that it has been narrated that in the last 10 days of Ramzan, the Prophet used to pray all night and also keep his family members awake for the prayers,” Mumshad Pasha Quadri added.
I’tikaf: An opportunity to introspect:
As the last 10 days of Ramzan starts, many men from the Muslim community will retreat to the mosques for I’tikaf, a practice taken up during this period of Ramzan. “It literally means isolating yourself from the rest of the world for introspection, and worship,” said explained Asifuddin Muhammed, a student of comparative religion.
Hyderabad. Youngsters, adults and senior citizens alike flock the mosques for I’tikaf. During the period that one takes up I’tikaf, one is not supposed to leave the mosque for anything other than an emergency.
The mosque has arrangements for food, bathing, sleeping etc. and it is only after sighting that one leaves home. I’tikaf is Farz-e-Kifaya, meaning that at least one person in a locality has to take it up. If no one in a locality takes up I’tikaf in Ramzan, then it is as if the entire locality is sinned. One is forbidden from indulging or thinking about any worldly affairs.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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