The Muslim fasting holy month of Ramadhan enters the last crucial ten days this week in which Muslims believe it’s the period that conceals the Night of Power when the holy Quran (Koran) was first revealed to prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him).
Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam in which Muslims abstain from food, drinks and bodily pleasures between dawn to dusk for a 30-day period and this year the fast started on Monday, March 11 and end on Tuesday April, 9, 2024 ending in the celebratory Eid al-Fitr prayers.
“And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months,” (Koran 97:2-3).
The Night of Power is an honour and special gift to the Muslim community and the prophet’s mission began in the month of Ramadhan on that Night.
Muslims further belief that the Power implies measurement, that all the events of the year will occur in accordance to the exact measurement of what is in the knowledge of Allah as stated in the holy Koran ”Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.” Koran,54:49).
Muslim faithful stream to the mosques at night in the last crucial ten days to devote themselves to special deeds and say special Ramadhan nightly prayer (Qiyam-ul- Lail or Tahajjud).
Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer performed by Muslims and it is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all faithful although the Prophet Muhammad was recorded as performing the Tahajjud prayer regularly himself and encouraging his companions to do the same.
The exact date of the Night is however concealed thus Muslims double up their efforts in the last days but there is evidence that the night comes on the odd nights.
In a Hadith (Sayings) of the Prophet quotes ”Seek it on the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan.” (Vol.3:1290).
The Prophet said: “Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven,”. (Bukhari and Muslim).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to single these nights out for worship and the performance of good deeds such as charity and Quran recitation.
During the last ten days of Ramadan some worshipers commit themselves to Itikaf (seclusion) in the mosque.
They detach themselves from the materialistic world and dedicate all their time to get closer to Allah.
Itikaf can only be observed in a mosque and not in a prayer room in a house as it is not considered a mosque.
Sections of Mombasa residents who wish to offer the night special prayers in mosques told KNA in an interview that they want enhanced security for those venturing out at night.
They contend that those wishing to offer the late-night prayers fear being attacked by roaming vicious gangs who usually waylay faithful heading to or leaving the mosques.
Mombasa County Commissioner Mohamed Nur has assured Muslim worshipers the fullest security during the month of fasting saying security has been beefed up across the coastal city for the entire duration of Ramadhan.
Commissioner Nur says more security officers will be deployed to carry out night patrols in residential areas and near mosques to ensure faithful attend special night prayers unhindered.
“Police officers will be carrying out intensified night patrols to ensure faithful attend prayers without hitches,” he said.
On his part Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir says they have agreed with Commissioner Nur on a joint operation to preserve security within the communities during the last ten days of Ramadhan.
“We will continue to work together with the security agencies for the safety and welfare of the residents of Mombasa in general,” he said.
By Hussein Abdullahi
