Mosques in Hyderabad witness surge in devotees observing Itikaaf in last days of Ramzan

Mosques across Hyderabad are witnessing a large turnout of devotees observing itikaaf during the last ten days of Ramzan. Muslims spend long hours in prayer and spiritual reflection, while mosques make special arrangements for those participating.

Hyderabad: With Ramzan having entered its last day (10 days), the mosques in the city are witnessing high attendance of Muslim men, young and old, spending long hours in prayers during ‘itikaaf’.

Itikaf is an Islamic practice of secluding oneself in a mosque for a specific period, usually during the last ten days of Ramzan, to focus on spiritual rejuvenation.

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Maulana Hafiz Mohd Rizwan Qureshi, Khateeb Mecca Masjid, said that during ‘itikaaf’, one is expected to focus only on prayers and cut themselves from the outside world. “The time should be spent on reciting the Quran, namaz, or reading religious books. A majority of the mosques make special arrangements for the people who sit in itikaaf,” he said.

A person who sits in itikaaf is called ‘mutakifeen’. Several mosques, including Azizia Masjid – Mehdipatnam, Masjid Vazir Ali – Fateh Darwaza, Masjid–e–Aliya – Gunfoundary, Masjid–e–Abu Bakr – Tolichowki, Jamia Masjid Musheerabad, Jamia Masjid Mouzampura – Mallepally and other mosques are witnessing a large turnout of people sitting for itikaaf.

“The aim of sitting itikaaf is to engage in prayer and supplication. The mutakifeen are expected not to move out of the mosque complex. Use of mobile phones is restricted unless there is an emergency,” said Ilyas Shamshi, Khateeb Masjid e Osmania.

Among those sitting the itikaaf are working professionals, businessmen and students. “I am sitting in itikaaf, for the first time, along with my group of friends in the mosque. I was planning for the last couple of years, and finally managed to manage my schedules and engage in spirituality,” said Mohd Azam, a software professional.

The women also sit itikaaf, in their houses after identifying a small space with little disturbance and stay away from household work and family engagements.