Khatm Al-Qur’an Prayers Draw Record Crowd of Worshipers
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News Staff

JEDDAH, 24 November 2003 — More than two million faithful
took part in special prayers marking the completion of the
recitation of the Holy Qur’an during taraweeh at the two
holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah last night.

At the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Sheikh Abdul Rahman
Al-Sudais led the prayers and called for Muslim unity in
the traditional supplications at the end of the Qur’an
recitation. He also prayed for forgiveness for all Muslims
and an improvement of their condition.

In the past, Khatm Al-Quran prayers were held on the 27th
night of Ramadan, believed to be the most likely date for
the Lailat Al-Qadr or the night of power, but they were
postponed to the 29th night to reduce overcrowding.

Hundreds of thousands of worshippers had been pouring into
the Grand Mosque since early hours of the day to perform
Umrah and attend taraweeh, Khatm Al-Qur’an and qiyamullail
prayers, and the huge mosque complex was filled to bursting
with the faithful.

The authorities had deployed additional security forces
including traffic police and civil defense officers to
handle the mammoth crowd of faithful, many of whom stood in
streets and pathways around the mosque to take part in the
prayers.

Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an as the first verses of
the holy book were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him) in Ramadan. The month is known as “the
springtime of the Qur’an,” and believers spend time reading
and learning it and reflecting on its verses.

Several sayings of the Prophet encourage recitation of the
Qur’an during Ramadan.

“Whoever recites an ayat (verse) from the Qur’an (in this
month) will receive a reward equal to the one received by a
person who recites the entire Qur’an in other months,” the
Prophet says.



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