25-03-2025
Watch: Sharjah mosque braces for massive crowds as thousands expected to gather for Laylat Al Qadr
After a night steeped in devotion and powerful emotion on the 25th of Ramadan, all eyes are now on Sheikh Saud Al Qasimi Mosque, popularly known as the Bukhatir Mosque, as it prepares to welcome its largest congregation yet on the 27th night, widely believed to be Laylat Al Qadr (Night of Power).
On Monday night, the mosque and its surrounding streets in Sharjah's Al Shahba neighbourhood saw crowds swell beyond its official capacity of 2,300 during the last ten days of Ramadan also known as Qiyam-al-Layl.
Volunteers lined the streets, handing out water bottles to worshippers as they gathered in the area. Among them was Uday from Palestine, who, despite using crutches due to a leg injury, carried boxes from the back of a sedan, balancing them on his forearms. 'If I can stand, I can serve,' he said, pausing to catch his breath. 'It's the least I can do on a night like this.'
Families laid prayer mats along sidewalks, traffic medians, and intersections — a precursor, worshippers say, to the even bigger turnout expected this Wednesday night.
'This is nothing compared to what is coming,' said Abdul Qadeer, a 55-year-old sourcing manager from Hyderabad, India, who attended with his teenage sons, Abdul and Qayum. 'On the 27th, people will be here from every corner of the UAE.'
Anywhere between 7,000 and 10,000 faithful gather on each of the 21st, 23rd, and 25th nights of Ramadan, according to mosque officials. But that number is expected to triple on the 27th night. 'The entire neighbourhood transforms into a giant open-air mosque,' said one of the volunteers. 'People pray wherever they can find space — on roads, pavements, even traffic islands. If you are driving, park at least 2km away. Or better, arrive by 11pm.'
Internal roads in Al Shahba are likely to be closed for traffic on Wednesday night, with diversions linking motorists to a network of roads through the Hilwan area.
A cool breeze blew through the crowd. The night felt unusually calm, and many whispered to each other, recalling the hadith: 'Laylat Al Qadr is a calm night, neither hot nor cold, and the sun rises on it red and feeble.'
At the heart of this spiritual gathering is Sheikh Salah Bukhatir, the Emirati who has led the Laylat Al Qadr prayers at this mosque for the past 36 years. His recitations — calm, steady, and profoundly emotional — have become synonymous with these final ten nights of Ramadan.
Salah bin Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad Bukhatir, better known simply as Sheikh Salah Bukhatir, blends business acumen with deep spiritual grounding. A graduate in Industrial Management from the United States, he memorised the Quran during his university years and completed it soon after graduation.
Today, he is the CEO of the Bukhatir Group and serves as Chairman and Board Member of several companies and educational institutions across the UAE. Yet, despite his corporate responsibilities, it is his Quranic recitation that has earned him a devoted following.
'His voice reminds me of Sheikh Al Sudais from Mecca,' said Omar Abdelrehman Musa from Sudan. 'There's the same depth and power. When he makes duaa, it feels like he's speaking for all of us.'
Hisham, 57, has been attending prayers at Bukhatir Mosque for over two decades. On Monday night, the long-time Sharjah resident stood near the rear entrance with his relatives, visibly moved. 'Tonight, I prayed again for my country,' he said. 'The ceasefire has collapsed and Israel has resumed relentless bombing in Gaza. All I can do is raise my hands and ask Allah for mercy.'
That emotion resonated throughout the mosque. Hiba from Egypt said she wept through the long supplications. 'It's like the Sheikh knows what our hearts want to say but can't express,' she said.
Others, like Farha from Bihar, India, have made these nights an annual pilgrimage. She and her husband, Chaudhary Mohammad Faziullah, haven't missed a single final night of Ramadan at this mosque in over 20 years. 'We plan our whole month around these prayers,' she said. 'Wednesday night is the one we look forward to the most.'
Laylat Al Qadr believed to be better than a thousand months, is described in Islamic tradition as a night when angels descend, prayers are accepted, and divine mercy envelops the faithful.
As the 27th night approaches, the anticipation is unmistakable. The tears, prayers, and silent hopes witnessed earlier this week have set the tone. On Wednesday night, mosques across the UAE will fill with worshippers — and for many, it will be more than a ritual. It will be a night of surrender, remembrance, and spiritual awakening.
What is Laylat Al Qadr?
Laylat Al Qadr, or the Night of Power, commemorates the night when God first revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the angel Jibreel (Gabriel). It is believed to have occurred during one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, though the exact night is not specified in the Quran.
What do Muslims do on Laylat Al Qadr?
Muslims observe this night with increased devotion and acts of worship, including:
Qiyam (night prayer): Many stay up through the night performing special prayers.
Quran: Muslims recite, reflect on, and sometimes memorise verses from the Quran.
