TEHRAN -- Iranians have marking Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Destiny, the occasion when the Holy Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet of Islam some 14 centuries ago, with tremendous religious fervor.
Muslims worldwide observe the occasion every year in the holy month of Ramadan by congregating in mosques and shrines for prayers.
For Iranians, no place is better to spend this sacred night than the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam, in the southeastern city of Mashhad. The shrine witnesses a large rush of devotees on this sacred night.
Islamic scriptures say Laylat al-Qadr marks the night when the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Peace upon Him). The Holy Book says on this night, angels descend on the earth to listen to the prayers of worshipers.
No exact date is provided for the night of destiny, but all Islamic references are unanimous that the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet on one of the three different dates: the 19th, the 21st, or the 23rd nights of the holy month of Ramadan.
It’s the first time in two years that the Night of Destiny is being marked without outdoor ceremonies, as the coronavirus prevented such gatherings in 2020 and 2021.
That has attracted a large number of pilgrims from different parts of the country to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS).