KUWAIT: Hundreds of thousands of worshippers spent the night of the 27th of Ramadan in prayer and supplication at mosques around Kuwait early Saturday. Huge crowds were in attendance at the Grand Mosque, the hub of worship in Kuwait in Ramadan. Qiyam prayers started at midnight, with roads adjacent to the mosque cordoned off. Emergency services were at hand and scores of volunteers directed the crowds. As the night wore on, worshippers — estimated at nearly 100,000 — spilled onto the sidewalks, streets and nearby embankments.

Eight rakaats of tahajjud prayers were performed, followed by three rakaats of witr prayers. The first four were led by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nafees, and the remaining by Sheikh Meshary Al-Afasi. No sermon was scheduled after four rakats as on other nights.

Many believe ‘Laylatul Qadr’ (Night of Power or Decree) falls on night of the 27th of Ramadan, but this is not a confirmed fact as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instructed Muslims to hunt for this night on the odd-numbered nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan. Qiyam ul-layl or special nightly prayers are therefore held during these nights at the Grand Mosque and mosques across Kuwait.

But the night of the 27th is believed by most to be the one, and millions of Muslims around the globe spend this night in prayer and meditation. The Holy Quran says Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months, and Allah’s blessings and angels descend on earth on this night. Laylatul Qadr is also the night that Allah first sent down the first verses of the Holy Quran via Archangel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).