Tonight, Iranians, together with other Muslims in the world, gather in Ramadan to observe the night of Qadr (the night of orders), which has special importance and enjoys a very special position in Islam.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic month calendar, a month in which Muslims believe the Quran has been revealed. Ramadan’s moon fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam.
The night of QADR is marked on the 19th, 21st and 23rd day of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The joint prayer and reading of the Holy Quran is held on the occasion, the most virtuous night before God.
Qadr Night or Laylat al-Qadr. It is rendered in various English as the Night of Order, Night of Power, and Night of Destiny.
The night of Qadr is considered an Islamic festival commemorating the night God first revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad passes through the angel Gabriel (Ghibril).
According to Islamic tradition, the Quran was first revealed to Muhammad after a period of habitual meditation of segregation. At one of his retreats, at Leilat Arcador, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and ordered “Sakhalin!” (“Reading!”).
Apart from the celebration of Kluan’s revelation, the annual observance of Leilat Al-Qador retains even more importance as the night in which angels descend on the earth with countless tasks and lead to a night of peace, blessings and divine guidance (Qadar) until dawn. Therefore, it is commemorated with sternity, devotion and prayer, and some observers spend the festival at the retreat mosque (Itikāf).
According to the Quran, the night of orders is better than a thousand months of summaries. Some worshipers will resign to prayer over the last 10 days. These are called I-Tikaf or Days of Retreats and end with Festival ID-I Fitr.
All mosques and sacred shrines cross Iran and host people who want to participate in I-Tikaf. They are served with a fast breakfast and iftar. Many people stay at the mosque for three days to perform religious rituals.
The 19th and 21st of Ramadan, the assassination of Imam Ali and the martial era, were the first Shia Imam – being mourned by Iranians across the country. On these nights, many religious groups begin commemorative ceremonies to honor Imam Ali and lament the brutal assassination.
People stay up all night to recite special prayers, sometimes hugging them to their heads, praying the Quran.
Religious rituals take place across the country, making Iran’s Ramadan more unique and memorable. Thousands of black-covered breasts shaking local participants on the 21st of Ramadan flock to Iranian cities on the 21st of Ramadan, but religious street theatres, free grocery stores and traditional Persian drinks (like lemonade) adorn the streets of every city.
MNA/