Worshippers Gather Near Shuttered Al-Aqsa Mosque for Ramadan Holy Night
Muslims in Jerusalem pray outside the closed Al-Aqsa Mosque to celebrate the holiest night of Ramadan, honoring the month-long spiritual reflection.
As the holy month of Ramadan reached its most sacred point, thousands of Muslim worshippers gathered near the closed gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City to mark the holiest night of the lunar calendar. Despite the mosque being temporarily shuttered due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the faithful came together to pray and reflect on the spiritual significance of Laylat al-Qadr, or the 'Night of Power'.
Laylat al-Qadr is considered the most important night of Ramadan, when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe this night marks when the spiritual realm is closest to the earthly one, making it an especially auspicious time for prayer, meditation and seeking forgiveness.
Typically, the Al-Aqsa Mosque - Islam's third-holiest site - would be teeming with worshippers on this occasion, with thousands attending special late-night prayers and communal iftars to break the Ramadan fast. However, Israeli authorities have kept the mosque closed to the public since the start of Ramadan, citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19.
Despite the restrictions, the faithful gathered on the streets surrounding the mosque's entrances, laying out prayer rugs and performing the Isha and Taraweeh evening prayers together. The sound of the call to prayer echoed through the historic Old City, with worshippers maintaining distance and wearing protective face masks.
Khaled Zabarqa, a Palestinian activist, described the scene as both spiritually uplifting and deeply frustrating.
Source: Al Jazeera
