Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Sunday opened a week-long annual Qur’an recitation event, also known as “Mehfil-e-Shabeena,” at the city’s iconic Faisal Mosque, which was broadcast live on the state television.
Shabeena is an annual event in which the entire holy Qur’an, which has over 6,000 verses, is recited during the last days of Ramadan.
Renowned recites of the Qur’an, also known as Qaris, have gathered in Islamabad to participate in the event at the Faisal Mosque.
“Five portions (of a total of 30 portions of the Holy Qur’an) would be recited in Mehfil-e-Shabeena daily,” the religion ministry said in a statement.
“Four portions will be recited on the 26th night of Ramazan and the recitation of the Holy Qur’an would be completed with the last portion on the 27th night.”
The event began after the special Tarawih prayers on Sunday and was broadcast live on the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV).
Muslims around the world visit mosques frequently in the last ten nights of Ramzan, considered the most blessed of the holy month and in which believers around the world spend late hours saying voluntary prayers and reading the Qur’an.
Morover, around 300 people from twin cities started observing Aitekaaf after Asr prayer at Fasial Mosuqe on Sunday.
With this a large number of Muslims from the twin cities have formally started the Aitekaf for the next 10 days as the holy month of Ramazan enters its last Ashra (10 days). After sunset on Ramazan 20, devotees will formally enter mosques and remain in a state of ‘seclusion’ at designated places till the sighting of the Eid moon.
For security purposes, the names and data of every man coming to a mosque for Aetikaf is registered and shared with police and security agencies.
Meanwhile Capital Development Authority (CDA) has finalised arrangements of cleanliness in the city. According to the CDA official the teams of the Sanitation Directorate are also cleaning graveyards of the federal capital due to upcoming Eidul Fitr.
Islamic scholars say Aitikaf is the next stage of fasting in spiritual development and purification of soul wherein the mutakif (one who enters into Aitikaf) dissociates himself from all worldly affairs and spends his time in prayers and supplications.
