More than 1.5 million Muslims will observe Aitekaf on Sunday in Lahore. Special security arrangements have been made for mosques in order to facilitate people while they are observing the 10-day ritual. According to the Auqaf Department, approximately 2,000 people will observe Aitekaf at Jamia Masjid Data Darbar.
A large number of people will observe Aitekaf in the Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque, Sunehri Masjid, Jamia Rehmania, Jamia Al-Qadsia, Jamia Ashrafia, Jamia Naeemia, Jamiatul Manzoor, Quran Academy, Ibraahim Mosque and Minhaj-ul-Quran. A large number of women will also observe Aitekaf at their homes. According to APP, a large number of applications were filed by people for the observance of Aitekaf and they were allowed after clearance from security agencies.
A Shahr-e-Motakfeen has been set up in Data Darbar’s basement for their security. The Auqaf Department has divided the Shahr-e-Motkafeen into four parts namely Bab-e-Ghausia, Bab-e-Farid, Bab-e-Bahoo and Bab-e-Ahmad Raza in which 96 cabins were set up. The parts are. There will be 20 to 25 Motakfeen in every cabin set up in Bab-e-Ghusia and Bab-e-Farid while 30 to 35 Motakfeen in cabins set up in Bab-e-Bahoo and Bab-e-Ahmad Raza.
Javed Ahmed, a resident of Model Town, who wanted to observe Aitekaf told Pakistan Today that his family was already requesting him to pray for them and that Aitekaf was a ritual which allowed Muslims to get closer to God. The ritual of Aitekaf will continue till the sighting of the moon of Eid-ul-Fitr.
