LAHORE – Thousands of the faithful on Saturday started their Aitkaf at various mosques in the City to spend last ten days of Ramazan in prayers to seek forgiveness and blessings of Allah Almighty, without leaving the worship place even once. In addition to the Minhaj-ul-Quran Aitkaf City, supposed to be the world’s second biggest such gathering after two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia and the largest in Pakistan, the faithful started Aitkaf at mosques of Auqaf Department and the ones in their respective residential colonies to please Almighty Allah. As per the past traditions, Badshahi Masjid, Jamia Masjid Al-Qadsia, Masjid Wazir Khan, Data Darbar Masjid, Jamia Masjid Neela Gunmbad, Masjid-e-Shuhada, Jamia Mansoorah, Rehmania Masjid, Jamia Ashrafia, Ittefaq Masjid and Jamia Naeemia remained top choices of faithful to spend last ten days and nights of Ramazan while praying in seclusion.
As per the past traditions, Minhaj-ul-Quran and Jamaat-ud-Dawa made separate arrangements for women intending to perform Aitkaf out of their houses. In addition to that, hundreds of women also started Aitkaf at their homes to seek forgiveness and blessings of God Almighty. Around 15,000 people including women started Aitkaf at Minhaj-ul-Quran Aitkaf City in the company of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri. Over 3000 people including women started Aitkaf at Jamia Masjid Al-Qadsia in the company Dawa Ameer Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. As usual, Hafiz Saeed will expound on the tafseer of the Quran after Taraweeh during the last ten days of Ramazan.
At Minhaj-ul-Quran Aitkaf City, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri will deliver special address daily after every Fajr prayer till the conclusion of Aitkaf on sighting of Shawal moon. These lectures of Dr Qadri will cover wide areas and will be broadcast live around the world through Minhaj.tv. Minhaj-ul-Quran has made elaborate security arrangements at the Aitkaf City. 1000 workers of Mustafvi Students Movement and Minhaj-ul-Quran Youth League will also perform security duties in addition to the Police. Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Secretary General of Minhaj-ul-Quran, Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz and Jawad Hamid will be available in the Aitkaf venue round the clock to supervise the arrangements.
About 2,000 believers sat in Aitkaf at Data Darbar mosque. A Shahr-e-Motakfeen has been set up in Darbar’s basement for their security. The Auqaf Department has divided the “Shahr-e-Motkafeen” into four parts in which 96 cabins were set up. The parts are Bab-e-Ghausia, Bab-e-Farid, Bab-e-Bahoo and Bab-e-Ahmad Raza. There were 20 to 25 Motakfeen in every cabin set up in Bab-e-Ghusia and Bab-e-Farid while 30 to 35 in cabins set up in Bab-e-Bahoo and Bab-e-Ahmad Raza. – Nation
