Abu Dhabi: Thousands of worshippers gathered in the early hours of Monday morning at different mosques in the UAE to attend the Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Power) prayers as Ramadan draws to an end on Wednesday or Thursday depending on the moon sighting.
A committee has been formed by Dr Hadef Jua’an Al Daheri, Minister of Justice, to confirm the moon sighting and to declare Eid.
The largest gathering convened at the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque where more than 52,000 worshippers gathered in the early hours of Monday to perform predawn prayers (Tahajud).
In Sharjah, the largest gathering of worshippers was at the Saud Al Qasimi Mosque in the Al Shahba area, where around 40,000 people gathered to perform tahajud.
Rows of worshippers performed their prayers on the nearby roads behind the mosque in what was described as a record gathering for prayers in the country.
The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has provided a range of services and has maximised the number of volunteers and organisers from the Emirates Red Crescent and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs to ensure a comfortable and memorable experience for worshippers.
Suhour, refreshments and water were supplied for free for worshippers by companies and charity organisations.
“Trucks of water and drinks from the Sharjah Police distributed their loads on worshippers near Saud Al Qasimi Mosque. The prayers which started at midnight lasted for two hours.
Free suhour meals have been distributed to worshippers who stayed at the mosque until the dawn prayer (Fajr).
Several organisations including the Department of Civil Defence, Abu Dhabi Police, the Centre of Waste Management, ERC, the Armed Forces Officers Club and the Public Safety and Emergency services have worked closely with SZGMC to ensure the prayers programme runs smoothly.
