Muslims across Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the world observed Shab-e-Qadr or Lailat-ul-Qadr with the religious reverence in the intervening night of Thursday-Friday with lakhs of lakhs of Muslims offering night-long prayers.The night 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 Ramazan and most likely to be the 27th of the holy month.Muslims offered prayers in local and central mosques and shrines across the Valley.The biggest congregation prayers was held at Dargah Hazratbal Shrine here where thousands of Muslims joined special prayers during the night and also listened to sermons on teachings of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (?).Thousands of Muslims also participated in night-long prayers at historic Jamia Masjid here where Kashmir’s chief cleric and Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivered a sermon after ‘Taraveeh’ prayers.Ulema and religious scholars in their sermons at different Masjids and shrines highlighted the teachings of Islam and various aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet (?) and urged Muslims to follow the same.
The congregational night long prayers were also held at all Masjids and shrines in Srinagar including 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, TRC Masjid, Rangar Masjid in downtown and other Masjids and Shrines.The night has special significance as in this night; the angels descend therein by the permission of Allah Almighty.Meanwhile, special arrangements were placed by the authorities for the devotees.District administration Srinagar and Srinagar Municipal Corporation had put in place special arrangements while a control room was also established at Dargah Hazratbal shrine and other places to redress grievances or complaints of devotees.Notably, Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah and others felicitated people on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Qadr.They also prayed for the peace and prosperity of the state. (KNS)