The holy Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Decree), also known as Shab-e-Qadr, when the first verses of the holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), was observed across the country last night.
The Muslim devotees passed the night offering special prayers, reciting the holy Quran, holding zikr and other religious rituals, seeking blessings of the Almighty Allah for long life, peace and progress for themselves, their families, relatives, friends as well as the nation and the Muslim Ummah.
Marking Lailatul Qadr, today is a public holiday. But this year, it coincided with weekend holiday.
Newspapers published special articles while state-run Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private television channels aired special programmes highlighting significance of the Lailatul Qadr.
According to the holy Quran, the night is better than 1,000 nights as the angels and the spirit descend therein, by the permission of almighty Allah with all decrees.
This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights which is likely to occur on one of the odd number nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan and most likely to be the 27th of the holy month.
Devotees, on the nights, usually visit graveyards to seek eternal blessings for the departed souls of their near and dear ones.
To the Muslims, the entire month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training. Besides fasting, they devote themselves to praying, reciting the holy Quran and offering charity.
