Shab-e-Qadar observed with religious fervour

Srinagar, Mar 27: Amid light rains and low temperatures, thousands of devotees gathered across Kashmir to offer night-long prayers on the revered Shab-e-Qadar. The picturesque Dargah Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake reverberated with the echoes of prayers, Durood-o-Azkaar, and Naat Khawani throughout the night. Shab-e-Qadar is observed on the 27th of Ramadan and is considered a night of blessings. It holds immense significance, and Muslims across the world engage in night-long prayers and other religious gatherings until dawn. The night holds special importance to Muslims across the world as the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during this night.

Like every year, the Hazratbal shrine hosted the largest congregation, in which thousands of devotees across Kashmir participated. Devotees were seen dividing their time between Quran recitation, Naat Khawani, and Durood-o-Azkaar throughout the night.

The administration of the shrine said that special sermons were also delivered at Hazratbal that focused on the importance of the night and the holy month of Ramadhan.

Despite light rains and cold weather, the devotees had come from far-flung areas of Kashmir to be part of the largest gathering. “This is the best month of the year, and the night is the best night as per Islamic faith. Hazratbal holds a special place in our hearts, and every religious gathering feels incomplete to me if I am not present here. We prayed that the Almighty accepts our fasting and makes us benefit from this holy night,” Fayaz Ahmad, a devotee from south Kashmir said.  Meanwhile, authorities had made special arrangements in coordination with various departments, including the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), J&K Road Transport Corporation (J&K RTC), the Police, and the Power Development Department (PDD).

Officials said that each department did their work to facilitate devotees. Officials from Traffic Police said that they had placed men and machinery on the ground to coordinate and ensure smooth flow of traffic. “Our officers were on the ground and we had placed men and machinery to ensure that devotees did not face any issue. Like every year, we had put diversions and framed a special route plan to ensure smooth flow of traffic,” an official said. Chairperson J&K Waqf Board Darakshan Andrabi, who was inaugurating new Mimber at the historic Eidgah said that special arrangements have been put in place to ensure that all the religious gatherings are conducted smoothly. “Waqf is working round the clock to ensure that we live up to the expectations of people. All the arrangements are in place in view of Shab-e-Qadar, Jummat-ul-Vida, and Eid, and we will ensure that devotees don’t face any issue,” she said.

Congregational nightlong prayers were also held at all Masjids and shrines in Srinagar, including Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadith Gaw Kadal, Asar-e-Sharif Janab Sahib Soura, Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora, Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahib (RA), Khanqah-e-Maula, and other Masjids and shrines.

In south Kashmir, congregational nightlong prayers were held at Jamia Masjid Hanfia, Jamia Masjid Ahle Hadith, Bait-ul-Mukarram, and Rehat Ded Masjid in Anantnag town.

Nightlong prayers were also offered in Ziarat-e-Sharief Khiram, Kund, Aishmuqam, and Bijbehara areas of the district. In Kulgam, the biggest nightlong prayer gathering was seen in Jamia Masjid. A large congregational prayer gathering was also witnessed in Khanqah-e-Tral, Jamia Masjid Shopian, and Jamia Masjid Pulwama.