LAHORE - Thousands of Muslims across the country including Lahore yesterday sat in Aitkaf, a deed performed in last 10 days of Ramazan in search of Shab-e-Qadr.

Men sit in mosques while women perform it at their homes. A person who sits in Aitkaf devotes him/herself to worship and stays away from worldly affairs. Shab-e-Qadr could be searched during five odd nights ( 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29) of the holy month and worship of Allah Almighty in the night is better than worship of 1,000 nights, according to the Holy Quran.

The Aitkaf began on Saturday night in Muslim countries where moon was sighted a day before Pakistan.    

Special arrangements were made in Lahore’s mosques and of other cities, towns and villages of the country. The Aitkaf performers will offer their prayers in mosques and take and break their fasts over there. It will conclude with the sighting of Shawal moon for Eid-ul-Fitr. Religious scholars, prayer leaders will deliver special sermons, recite holy Quran and praise of the Prophet (PBUH) during nights.

Minhajul Quran, a charity organisation of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, has made largest arrangements of Itikaf with 20,000 people performing the deed in Bagdad Town near Township.

A city of tents was set up for the participants and strict security arrangements were made.

PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri will deliver sermons to the devotees on daily basis. A similar good number sat in Itikaf in Badshahi Mosque, Mosque Data Darbar, Majid-e-Qadsia, Mansora Mosque, Bahria Town Mosque and other big mosques of the city.