In a bid to seek mercy of Almighty Allah in the last 'Ashra' of the holy month of Ramazan, thousands of faithfuls on Thursday started Eitkaf in hundreds of city mosques. The Eitkaf exercise started with the sunset in the evening of the 20th day of Ramazan and those sitting on Eitkaf will finish their seclusion after the sighting of Shawal moon.
Special arrangements were made at various mosques, including Minhaj ul Quran, Data Darbar Mosque, Badshahi Mosque, Jamia Ashrafia, Jamia Naeemia, Mansoora, Raiwind, Masjid Ibrahim, and various other mosques to facilitate the faithful to accomplish the exercise in the process of seclusion. Special security arrangements were also adopted at those places where faithfuls are sitting in Eitkaf in a large number.
In some mosques, including Data Darbar Mosque and Badshahi Mosque, Auqaf Department has made special arrangements for Iftar and Sehri for the faithful sitting in Eitkaf while in small mosques, the faithful sitting on Eitkaf have made their own arrangements for Sehri and Iftari.
The holy month of Ramazan is a month in which every faithful make all out efforts to get blessings of Allah Almighty through different steps. Some arranged Iftar for faithfuls while there are quite a large number of people who used to help the needy quietly in this month.
Women also sat in Eitkaf in their homes to spend maximum time in prayers to earn blessings and mercy of Allah Almighty. Some women also sit in Eitkaf for only last three days of the holy month of Ramazan.
Religious scholars told Business Recorder here on Thursday that the last Ashra of the holy month is full of maximum blessings for the faithful. The faithful should make all out efforts to get maximum blessings of Allah Almighty through good acts.
They also urged the faithful sitting on Eitkaf to pray for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of the country and well being of Muslim Ummah.