Over 3mln worshipers offer special prayers at Two Holy Mosques on 27th night of Ramadan
All the floors of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque and their courtyards were full of worshipers, and the rows of worshipers spilled over to the streets of the central Haram areas.
In an unparalleled spiritual ambience that the fasting month has offered, the faithful engaged in supplications, seeking Laylatul Qadr and the infinite blessings and forgiveness from Almighty God. The Holy Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet (peace be up on him) in the Night of Power which is better than a thousand months.
At the Grand Mosque, worshipers attended the Isha and special night prayers of Taraweeh and Qiyamullail that ended with the special supplication, led by Sheikh Abdurahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.
The tears of pilgrims and worshippers in the Grand Mosque mingled with the rain of mercy that fell heavily in the courtyards of the Holy Mosque. The faithful performed their prayers under the rain, raising their hands to the sky in supplication to God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has implemented a foolproof operational plan and integrated services for the faithful. The authority has mobilized all its human and mechanical resources to facilitate the smooth and orderly flow of pilgrims and worshipers within the Grand Mosque in coordination with all the concerned agencies and security forces.
There was a steady influx of Umrah pilgrims and worshippers arriving at the Grand Mosque and its courtyards from the early morning hours. All areas within the mosque, including its corridors, floors, rooftops, courtyards, basement, and the Third Saudi Expansion, were filled with worshippers, enabling them to perform their prayers and rituals in an environment of faith, serenity, security and peace.
Copies of the Holy Qur'an in multiple languages were accessible, cleaning efforts were intensified, and the operation of loudspeakers, ventilation fans, and air-conditioning systems were optimized for the comfort of worshippers. Golf carts, regular carts, and electric carts were provided through the "Tanaqol' app, operating efficiently according to systematic plans.
The Makkah region's health affairs department enhanced its services by deploying medical centers within the Grand Mosque and its courtyards, ensuring that pilgrims received the necessary medical care when needed.
More than 400 scouts from the Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association contributed to the crowd management inside the Grand Mosque. This effort was made in cooperation with the General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the Makkah Health Cluster, and Public Security.
They guided those lost, directed pilgrims to their destinations, managed crowds, facilitated movement, and reduced congestion, especially in densely populated areas. This helped enhance the comfort of pilgrims and facilitate the smooth performance of their rituals.
The scout units also provided qualitative support to the healthcare sector, supporting health centers and hospitals in Ajyad and the Grand Mosque by guiding patients and providing emergency support to medical teams, as part of integrated efforts aimed at improving the level of services provided to pilgrims.
At the Prophet's Mosque, the prayer halls were filled early in the morning with worshippers from within and outside the Kingdom. The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, in coordination with various departments and relevant authorities, has been keen to fully prepare the Prophet's Mosque and put in place all necessary arrangements to maintain the safety and comfort of the faithful.
This included getting ready of prayer areas with carpets, purification and cleaning services, fumigation and perfuming, provision of Zamzam water to worshippers, environmental protection services, care for facilities and restrooms, and the provision of trolley services and a monitoring and reporting system to achieve a high level of satisfaction with the services provided to visitors to the mosque.
© Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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Middle East Eye
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There's no electricity, no solar panels. Even basic food is missing,' he said. There is no bread. No medicine. No safety. 'Hala can't even take painkillers,' he says. 'She needs to eat before taking them, but there's no food. We survive on aid - mostly lentil soup. Every child gets one small plate per day. That's it. 'We are a family of seven. Some days we have only two pieces of bread. We divide them among us. The children cry for food. I have nothing to give them. It's a cruelty no parent should face. My child begs for bread, and I can't provide it. Sometimes, we just want to die instead of continuing this life in Gaza.' A mirror without reflection Hala's daily routine is now confined to the interior of a suffocating tent. She isolates herself from other children who react to her scarred head with confusion and fear. 'When I try to go outside, the children ask why I don't have hair. They get scared. So I stay inside. I play alone. I try to write and draw myself,' she says softly. 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'Gaza is starving to death' Hala's father speaks in anguish about the daily torment and mounting famine which has in recent weeks led to a growing number of deaths from malnutrition and dehydration. 'There's no flour, no rice, no milk or vegetables. Even when there's food in the market, the prices are too high for us. My four-year-old cries for bread. I can't bear it.' He recounts how their lives have shrunk into a punishing cycle of fear, hunger and helplessness. Former UN aid chief: Israel committing 'worst crime of the 21st century' in Gaza Read More » 'The bombs fall constantly. The children scream in terror. Gaza is in a state of disaster. We are unemployed. The borders are closed. No aid is coming in. As parents, we demand the world to act. This genocide must stop. 'We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for the basics - bread, water, medicine. We are asking for a chance for our children to live.' Hala's story is not an isolated tragedy. She is one of tens of thousands of children injured or killed in a war that has erased homes, schools and playgrounds, as well as whole families. Border closures have blocked any attempt to evacuate her for treatment. Her parents - both injured in separate attacks - desperately try to find sterile gauze, clean water and food to support her healing. 'She needs daily medical care,' says her mother, Mayada. 'She cries every day, remembering her hair. Her head is still full of ulcers and infections. If she doesn't get out soon, it will get worse.' Despite everything, Hala said she still dreams of a hospital bed in a foreign country where doctors will help her scalp heal. She dreams of brushing her hair and even one day becoming a doctor. 'I hope the world hears me. I hope someone helps me travel. I want my hair back. I want to be beautiful again.'