Millions to observe Aitkaf from today

LAHORE
Preparations are underway by millions of believers to observe Aitkaf from Wednesday evening (today) before Maghrib prayers in thousands of mosques across the country.
Aitkaf is an intensive worship observed during the last 10 days of Ramazan by remaining confined to a small place inside mosque or in the house (for women). It has been a regular Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and carries a multitude of the blessings of Almighty which are enviable for their cherished reward in the hereafter. Believers will conclude Aitkaf after the sighting of the Eidul Fitr moon.
Men observe Aitkaf in small cubicles set up inside the mosques by hanging large cloth sheets, whereas women observe it at any corner or quite place in the house which is not frequented by others.
City mosques in Lahore have been tastefully decorated and places allocated to the worshippers on the first-come-first-served basis because of an ever increasing number of those willing to observe Aitkaf. The worshippers spend their time reading Holy Quran, Nawafil and praying Almighty for showering His blessings on human beings in general and Muslims in particular. Talking to The News, a worshipper said he intended to offer special prayers for the security and solidarity of Pakistani nation and resolution of all the crises, including energy shortage, inflation, lawlessness and drought. He said he would especially pray for elimination of loadshedding and terrorism, and for the restoration of peace in the country.
Under the directives of district administration, special security measures have been taken at the mosques to ensure safety of the believers in view of the prevailing law and order. Majority of the mosques had collected copies of the CNICs and other particulars from the worshippers before allocating them places to observe Aitkaf. As a part of worship and regular practice during Ramazan, many philanthropists and common citizens send food items for Sehri and Iftari inside local mosques to facilitate the poor and the needy.
The city mosques which usually become the centre of Aitkaf are Badshahi Masjid, Data Darbar Masjid, Muslim Masjid, Shadman Masjid, Minhajul Quran Masjid Baghdad Town, Sunehri Masjid Lohari, Masjid Shuhada, Jamia Ashrafia and Jamia Naeemia.