Arab News

Over 3 million witness closing recitation of the Holy Qur’an at Makkah, Madinah mosques

- SHARIF M. TAHA

RIYADH: More than 3 million worshipper­s witnessed the final recitation of the Holy Qur’an on the last night of Ramadan at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

In Makkah, Sheikh Abdulrahma­n Al-Sudais, imam of the Grand Mosque, led more than 2 million worshipper­s during Isha prayer and asked Allah for forgivenes­s and release from hell, and to keep Muslim countries safe from all evils.

Police requested that Umrah performers use public transporta­tion from car parks on the outskirts of the city to get to and from the Grand Mosque to reduce traffic on the streets.

Civil Defense, operating on a special plan to deal with any emergency, took up positions at 70 points throughout the Grand Mosque with all the required equipment they might need. The 50-bed emergency hospital at the Grand Mosque was prepared to receive urgent cases among Umrah performers.

In Madinah, more than 1 million worshipper­s performed Isha prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque.

The presidency of the mosque affairs prepared more than 16,000 prayer mats while field guides undertook the organizati­on of prayer lines and guided women to their designated areas. The presidency prepared more than 15,000 zamzam water containers; opened more than 100 gates; operated electric stairs to allow worshipers to go to the roof; installed 250 umbrellas to protect prayers from the heat of the sun; and installed 436 waterspray fans.

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