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Famous reciters head to Grand Mosque

The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) will play host to a number of renowned Quran reciters to lead the Taraweeh and Tahujjud prayers throughout the nights of the holy month of Ramadan, under its programme titled ‘Masabeeh Ramadaniya’.

The Taraweeh prayer schedule includes Shaikh Fares Abbad from first to the 10^th of Ramadan, Shaikh Mishary Alafasi from 11^th to 15^th of Ramadan, Shaikh Idris from 16^th to the 19^th of Ramadan and Shaikh Abdul Alwali Alerkane from the 20^th to the end of Ramadan. The Tahujjud prayers will be led by Shaikh Idris from the 20^th to end month of Ramadan.

There will also be nightly religious lectures held at the Grand Mosque, which are offered by Islamic scholars from all over the world. These will take place after the Taraweeh prayers.

The mosque is also making final preparations for its annual Iftar programme, conducted by the mosque every year after the demise of the UAE’s founding father Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (God rest his soul in peace), in 2004, for the peace of his soul.

The Armed Forces Officers Club in Abu Dhabi will prepare and deliver around 20,000 to 25,000 Iftar meal packages daily to the mosque and a team of volunteers and staff will organise, distribute and supervise the meals in the Ramadan tents, which are situated in the lower gardens of the mosque.

In order to professionally manage such a large daily operation, the SZGMC cooperates with several government entities to ensure the Iftars run safely and smoothly. They are the Ministry of the Interior, Department of Civil Defence, the Abu Dhabi Police, Department of Transport, Red Crescent Authority, Directorate of Moral Guidance Command of the Armed Forces, Waste Management and Special Task Department Abu Dhabi.

Together with the Department of Transport, SZGMC will facilitate the transport of fasting individuals from various locations in Abu Dhabi to the Grand Mosque for the daily Iftar.

The usual tours of the mosque are still offered during Ramadan, at 10am and 11am daily, except Fridays. Led by one of SZGMC’s national tourist guides, the interactive tours provide information about the mosque, its architecture and there is plenty of opportunity for visitors to ask questions.

The Grand Mosque was recently named one of the top twenty-five landmarks in the world by Tripadvisor, confirming its place as one of the most important cultural tourism destinations in the country and region.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com