With the holy month of Ramadan well underway, celebrations are on in full swing in the city. And while most of us think that the festival is only about fasting, Iftar and charity, another important night of Ramadan for every Muslim is Jagne Ki Raat or Shab-e-Qadr. During this night, it is believed that the mercy of Allah is abundant, sins are forgiven and one can connect with the Almighty. It is said that the night is so significant that praying during this time cannot be equalled even by praying your entire life.
According to Ayesha Lakhotia, Principal at Lakhotia Institute of Design, this Ramadan, the night is even more special as they are having a family get-together. “Although Jagne Ki Raat is just one night, we all keep awake and pray during the night in the last 10 days of Ramadan. Prayers start at 8 pm and go on till 10 pm. We then take a small break, start again at 1 am, and continue until 3.30 am. It is a night when the Almighty listens to all your prayers and blesses you,” she says, adding that many kids in her family are fasting, so special foods such as chicken snacks, sandwiches and cutlets are made for them.
For the entire night, Muslims read the Quran and practise Namaz. While breaking the fast, special food is prepared and the entire family gets together to eat. “Some wear new clothes, but as we will be praying for the entire night, we usually wear cotton clothes or something that we are comfortable in. Though it can be stressful to work during the day and not sleep for the entire night, this comes once in a year,” says Ayesha Farheen, a nutrition student at Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, who is currently interning at Virinchi Hospitals.
Singer Mohammed Irfan has been working for the entire month in Mumbai and is coming to Hyderabad on the occasion to spend time with his family. “It is a precious time for me as Allah grants everything you wish for. We prayed for peace and forgiveness, not just for us but for the entire world,” he says.
For celebrity make-up artist Emraan, it is the most important night and he says that no matter how busy you are, you must pray during Jagne Ki Raat. “Apart from Namaz, the next morning, we also take part in charity,” he says.
Muslims also make sure that they pray along with their family, partly to avoid feeling sleepy. It was a divine night-out with cousins, close friends and family, according to Fatima Bilgrami, Associate Professor at National Institute of
Fashion Technology, Hyderabad.Interestingly, while some only follow Jagne Ki Raat for one day, many follow it for the entire 10 nights before Id.
