The dusk on Sunday marked the beginning of one of Islam’s holiest nights, the Laylatul Qadr. But across the Middle East, the mood has been anything but joyous. On the occasion, also known as the Night of Power, the mood across the Gulf nations has been tense, as there is fear of missiles raining down from neighbouring Iran, which is at war with Israel and the US.
This year, Laylatul Qadr falls between March 15 and 16.
The compound of Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, was empty. Instead of buzzing with prayers and community gatherings, worshippers prayed at makeshift spots outside the mosque.
Ramadan is a time of prayers. The attacks on Iran and the killing of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other leaders had already made the month of prayers a grim time this year.
WHY IS LAYLATUL QADR CELEBRATED?
The night holds deep meaning in Islam. It is when Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel.
The Quran describes it as “better than a thousand months”, a time of blessings, forgiveness, and decree where one’s fate for the year is decided. Traditionally observed on one of the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan, it involves extra prayers, Quran recitation, and charity.
Acts of worship performed during Laylatul Qadr are believed to carry the reward of a lifetime of devotion, according to Gulf News.
But this year, the war has bogged down festivities.
AL-AQSA MOSQUE IN JERUSALEM SHUT DOWN BY ISRAEL
In Jerusalem, the mood was especially tense. Israeli authorities shut down the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which is Islam’s third-holiest site, citing safety concerns from Iranian missile threats.
The closure, now in its 16th day, is the longest since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, reported Palestinian media outlet Yaffa News Network.
Israeli police set up barriers around the Old City, restricting movement and even halting supplies to the mosque.
Palestinian leaders called it a “dangerous step to change the site’s status”.
The decision drew sharp backlash from across the Middle East. Eight countries – Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Turkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates – issued a joint statement condemning the closure as a “flagrant violation of international law” and the site’s historical status.
They urged Israel to end the restrictions immediately, stressing that Al-Aqsa is solely for Muslim worship and under Jordanian oversight. The ministers called it an “illegal and unjustified” act, especially during Ramadan.
OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES ALSO AFFECTED IN RAMADAN DUE TO IRAN WAR
Even in countries not directly hit by ground fighting, the war’s shadow has muted Laylatul Qadr and wider Ramadan festivities.
In places like Lebanon and Arab communities in Israel, bombings and displacement have replaced joyful iftar meals and family visits with fear and shortages, reported Washington DC-based new website Al Monitor and Rishon LeZion-based news website ynet.
Mosques have been half-empty, and businesses have reported big losses, and traditional gatherings are cancelled due to movement curbs and missile risks, reports suggest.
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, large iftars are going on in some spots, but the usual cheer is reportedly missing as people are worried about Iran’s attacks on US bases in the UAE, like Al-Dhafra, which was used in strikes on Iran
In the UAE, defences intercepted 16 ballistic missiles and 113 drones in one wave, but debris caused deaths and injuries.
With over 1,700 missile and drone strikes since the war began three weeks ago, daily life is disrupted in at least nine nations in the Middle East.
Across the region, Laylatul Qadr is meant to be a night of deep spirituality. This year, war has played spoilsport.
