Faithful begin 'Aitkaf'

In a bid to seek mercy of Allah Almighty in the last 'Ashra' (10 days) of holy month of Ramazan, hundreds and thousands of faithful Tuesday started 'Aitkaf' (seclusion). The 'Aitkaf' exercise started with the sunset of the 20th day of Ramazan and those sitting on Aitkaf will finish their seclusion after the sighting of Shawaal moon.
A large number of faithful started Aitkaf in mosques across the country where special arrangements have been made for the security of the faithful. Apart from this, women have also started 'Aitkaf' in their homes. In Lahore, biggest 'Aitkaf' congregations are being held at Data Darbar Masjid, Badshahi Masjid, Muslim Masjid, Masjid-e-Shuhada, Jamia Ashrafia, Jamia Naeemia, Mansoora and Masjid Ibrahim.
This year, Idara Minhaj-ul-Quran has not set up Aitkaf City on the directions of Professor Tahir ul Qadri who decided to donate Rs 30 million, the amount to be incurred on Aitkaf City, to the flood affectees. Mosques have been decorated while guards have also been appointed for the security of the faithful.
Religious scholars preach that the last Ashra of the holy month is full of blessings for the faithful. They also urge the faithful sitting for Aitkaf to pray for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of the country and wellbeing of Muslim Ummah facing difficult time.
They say that Aitkaf is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and carries a multitude of blessings of Allah Almighty. They also said the holy month of Ramazan provides an opportunity to the faithful to purify them spiritually.
Furthermore, health professionals say the holy month of Ramazan is a blessing for the faithful as fasting helps cure different ailments. They reveal that many a doctor advise fasting for a patient tussling with gout, heart disease, skin disorder, general intemperance to food and drink, or excessive smoking.
Apart from this, fasting is good for mental discipline because it affects spiritual uplift. The brain benefits greatly. Fasting sharpens one's mind and makes him alert and sensitive to mental effort.
This is evident from the fact that many a public speakers know well that eating before speaking reduces mental acuity and cuts down on the force of speech. Therefore, they fast before delivering an important speech and eat later. They know that the brain benefits by fasting. A psychiatrist told this scribe that the holy month of Ramazan is also a blessing for psychiatric patients, as offering five-time prayers and observing fast helps them in overcoming the disease. Those facing stress and anxiety face much relief by observing fasting, as fasting has direct influence on the physique and psychology of the fasting individual, he added.