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Published: August 29th 2011
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Saturday 27th - day twenty-six We had breakfast with Zak's parents today - the German boys have left Azrou. It was nice as we had not eaten with them for a few days. And the atmosphere was nice for a change also even with the 3 boys there. No arguments or heated discussions.
Well today or I should say tonite is Laylat al-Qadr - Night of Power - special day in the Ramadan calendar. See paragraph below for explanation of what this is. We are having dinner with Zak's parents also. Chicken couscous is on the menu, looking forward to this also as we have not had couscous during Ramadan.
So we made our way down to the new city for our dinner appointment at 2am. The couscous was absolutely delicious!!! I was so happy that I enjoyed it so much as this meant that my will to eat and enjoy food had not completely disappeared - but was just lying dormant until something of interest came along. I ate more than I usually do and felt absolutely stuffed when I was advised that this was only the starter and the main meal of roasted chicken came out
next. I hate Zak for not informing me of what is happening in advance as I was unable to eat anything else and I know this offends his mother. He has a bad habit of just presuming I know what is going on in occasions like this. I managed to force down just 2 mouthfuls of the chicken and it was also divine. I was happy inside but pissed off with Zak, as had I known I would have eased up a little on the copious amounts of couscous that I consumed and left room for the chicken.
Feeling so full I opted to walk home instead of catching a lift with Yousef who is sleeping at our place. This walk helped with my digestion and helped to cool my foul mood a little.
Walking past the mosques we observed they were not only bursting at the seams but overflowing to literally hundreds of extra worshipers on mats on the outside. Today is day that almost everyone goes to the mosques to pray – I’ve never seen them so crowded. And the prayers were longer today, with some devout followers spending the whole day in the mosque praying
and reading the Qaran.
The Muslim holiday of Laylat-al-Qadr, known in English as the Night of Power, falls during the month of Ramadan and marks one of the most significant historical events in all of Islam. Laylat-al-Qadr marks the night that the prophet Muhammad received his first Divine Revelation, which contained the first verses of the Quran.
Worshiping during this special night takes on intensified importance, as it is said that reward for prayer on this night is better than that of a thousand months worth of worship. Muslims believe that one's sins will be forgiven if he offers faithful prayers all night long.
The person who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and with hope of reward from Allah, all his past sins have been forgiven. (Bukhaari)
One traditionally recites all of his evening prayers, in addition to reading through the entire Quran, on Laylat al-Qadr.
The date of this holy night is not fixed in the Quran, and therefore there are differing opinions on when it should be celebrated. In most communities, Laylat al-Qadr falls during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, and mostly likely on an odd-numbered day.
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