Ma’din Country’s biggest Ramazan gathering in Malappuram on 16 sept 2009

 

      Malappuram (Kerala), Sep 11 (IANS) Islamic charity organisation Ma’dinu Ssaqafathil Islamiyya is gearing up to host the country’s biggest Muslim prayer congregation Sep 16 at Swalath Nagar near here.

The organisation’s chairman, Sayyid Ibrahimul Khaleelul Bukhari, said that they expect about 600,000 people from various parts of the country and abroad to attend the congregation, which will fall on the eve of the 27th day of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.

“This annual meeting is also considered as one of the largest Muslim gatherings in the world after Mecca and Medina in Ramzan. This is the 24th anniversary of the Swalath Meet and as part of it, the congregation will host a mass pledge where the participants will declare their commitment and solidarity to the fellow citizens, society and nation,” he said.

Apart from the main venue, 20 grounds have been set up to accommodate the people, spread across 10 km on either sides of the NH-212. The program would be telecast live and special screening centres are set up in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi in India and major cities in the Middle East.

“The night long prayers will begin on Sep 16 afternoon with Iftar meet, in which about one lakh (100,000) believers would attend. Everything is put in place for the group feast of Ramzan in the evening,” said Pary Muhammed, the organisation’s secretary.

Ma’dinu is one of the leading educational and charity initiatives among Muslim community in Kerala. It has now grown into a mass movement with more than 25 educational institutes from primary to the post-graduate level.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ma’din Prayer Congregation ends on a high note

Ma’din prayer meet, certainly the largest of its kind in the country ended gracefully here in Swalath Nagar with thousands of believers staying up late into the most holy night of Ramadan. The large turnout that is believed to exceed 600000 in number went back home with the contentment of witnessing the blessed night of Lailathul Kadhar. This holy night of boundless blessings is held by the Muslims to fall on the eve of 27

The preparations to contain the large crowd were on in the campus well in advance of the function. Still, Ma’din campus was literally thronged by the believers who came to attend the programme braving the fears of bad weather from different parts of the country. The prayer congregation led by distinguished leaders lasted till 3 in the morning.

Earlier, the function got underway at 4pm with the speeches of scholars and spiritual personalities. And then, it was time for the grand Iftar Meet in the main venue with one lakh people breaking their fast and hurrying into a night of frenetic spiritual activities. Several dignitaries, including Inspector-General of Police (north zone) B.S. Mohammed Yasin, District Superintendent of Police M. Patmanabhan, M. Ummer, MLA, and Malappuram municipal chairman Kiliyamannil Yakoob, attended the mass Iftar.

Qasidah Burdah, a poem by Hasan-al Busairi extolling Prophet Mohammad, was recited in the afternoon. As the sun began to dip, chorus of Thasbeeh rose from the Ma’din grounds.

A mass Janaza prayer, Thasbeeh and Awwabeen prayers followed the mandatory Magrib prayer. The crowds began to swell by the time the Ishah, Tharaveeh and Vithr prayers were held.

After many rounds of Isha and Tharaveeh prayers, Prof. A. K. Abdul Hameed, member, Central Hajj Committee delivered his welcome speech to a packed audience who were in for a disarming spiritual experience. Kanthapurm A.P Aboobacker Musliyar, the general secretary of All India Scholars Association inaugurated the function that was ceremoniously presided over by Thajul Ulama Sayyid Abdurahman al Bukhari, president of Samastha Kerela Jamiyathul Ulama.

Sayyid Ibrahimul Khaleelul Bukhari, Chairman, Ma’dinu Ssaquafathil Islamiyya delivered the key-note address that stressed the need for a return to spiritual experiences. He also led the mass pledge against terrorism where the participants declared their commitment and solidarity to their fellow citizens, society and nation. They pledged that they would restrain from all activities that jeopardize the unity and social harmony of the country.

The managing committee had taken utmost care to provide all facilities to the believers. Ma’din Edu-Park had been readied for providing food and accommodation for those who reached early on for the programme from distant places. Apart from the main venue, people were accommodated in other 10 grounds, spread across 10 km on either sides of the NH-213. Of these, 5 have been specially designed and prepared for women.

The programme was telecast live and special screening centres had been set up in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi in India and major cities in the Middle East. Several people abroad actively became part of the function utilizing the online video streaming, live telecast and screening facilities, thereby making the event a global one.

The corporation and active volunteering by the police department went a long way in making the programme a grand success. The invaluable assistance of the District Collector and S.P. ensured the uninterrupted conduct of the programme. Moreover, a special committee of 5555 members with 2222 specially-trained volunteers had been formed weeks before the function to make the preparations perfect.

The prayers went late into the night as people continued to flow to the Ma’din grounds. Traffic along National Highway 213 between Malappuram and Valluvamburam was diverted. A strong police force was posted along the way to control the crowds.