Grand Mosque to Al Azhar Mosque Welcomes Itikaf Congregation "Lailatul Qadar" Night

Also read: Ramadan in Joy and Sorrow

The President of the Management of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Abdurrahman Al-Sudais, said that the last 10 days of Ramadan are the most important moments. Mosque management and the Government of Saudi Arabia have prepared a welcome for congregants who will itikaf or spend time at the mosque.

In the last 10 months of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to spend more time at the mosque. On the nights before odd dates or the nights of Lailatul Qadar, more people do Itikaf.

Everyone who wants to do Itikaf at the Grand Mosque must register via nusuk. The application was created by the Government of Saudi Arabia to serve Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

So far, as reported by Al-Arabiya, 15 million people have registered for itikaf at Masjid Nabawi. Specifically for Raudah, the area within Masjid Nabawi and adjacent to the tomb of Prophet Muhammad, 500,000 people have been granted permission to enter.

Also read: Historic Mosques in Medina After performing the Umrah at the Grand Mosque, many members of the congregation headed to the Nabawi Mosque and visited other places of worship and history. The authorities in Medina are ready to serve the congregation. More than 8.5 million meals for breaking the fast will be provided for the congregation.

According to government data, there are approximately 280 million members of the congregation at Masjid Nabawi throughout 2023. It is estimated that 90,000 people will come this year. With an area of around 67,000 square meters, Masjid Nabawi can be accessed through 24 staircases located near the mosque's entrance.

Recruitment of volunteers

Civil and military volunteers were deployed to serve the surge in congregation. The volunteers mainly focused on breaking up the crowd so that there was no accumulation of people in one location. At the Grand Mosque, pilgrims can see the density of the mosque online.

Also read: Backpacker Umrah and Hajj, Past and Present

Meanwhile, the General Authority for the Affairs of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina has tightened the regulations for the flow of people entering and leaving the mosque. Supervisors have been deployed to various points around the mosque.

Their duty is to ensure the smooth flow of movement in the corridor, prevent excessive density, and regulate the prayer area inside the mosque. They also help prepare the right place to pray and ensure that people can move freely and comfortably.

For Ramadhan this year, the Saudi Arabian government has determined that the ground floor of the Grand Mosque can only be entered by Umrah pilgrims. Anyone not wearing the ihram cloth and unable to show permission at the nusuk will be asked to go upstairs.

Riyadh also only allows each person to perform Umrah once during Ramadan. After that, pilgrims can go to the Grand Mosque, except on the first floor. By limiting this once, crowds can be more easily managed. Umrah permission must be obtained via puncture. The application will automatically reject the second and subsequent applications.

Also read: Hajj Safety Mitigation so that there are no more fatalities

Meanwhile, the Head of the Mecca Health Department, Wael Motair, stated that three emergency health services were deployed around the Masjidil Haram. Services are available on the first floor near the Raja Fahd wing, Safa Gate, and Ajyad Bridge. In addition, as reported by Arab News, there is a health service center in the Raja Abdullah wing.

Since various renovations, the capacity of the Masjid al-Haram has reached 130,000 people per hour. This capacity does not yet include the outer courtyard surrounding the mosque. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recorded 8 million Umrah pilgrims in the first half of Ramadan.

Another mosque

From Cairo, Egypt, it was reported that the management of the Al-Azhar Mosque was also preparing to serve the Itikaf congregation. In Ramadhan this year, as reported by Al-Ahram, the management also celebrated 1,084 years of the mosque.

Also read: Traditional Traces of Learning at Al-Azhar

Although history records that development began in the month of Jumadil Awal, the mosque's management established 7 Ramadan as the mosque's anniversary. The decision was made in 2018. Over 10 centuries old, Al-Azhar is one of the important mosques for Muslims in various countries. Therefore, every Ramadan, many people come to the mosque. Services provided by the management to the congregation include providing food and water for wudu and rinsing.

At Jamia Quetta Mosque in Pakistan, which was rebuilt in 2006, thousands of congregation members also spend their time during Ramadan. Like in various other mosques, the management prepares iftar and suhoor meal packages for the worshippers.

Now, the mosque has a capacity of up to 4,600 people. The capacity gets even bigger when counting the congregation that prays in the courtyard and terrace of the mosque.