Thousands pray in Al-Aqsa for Laylat al-Qadr
Published yesterday (updated) 15/08/2012 19:22
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=512628

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Thousands of worshipers from the West Bank, Jerusalem
and Israel headed to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday to celebrate
Laylat al-Qadr, one of Ramadan's holiest nights.

Director of the Jerusalem office of the Islamic Waqf told Ma'an that the
number of worshipers exceeded 400,000.

The Waqf did its best to provide worshipers with everything they needed,
Sheikh Azzam al-Khateib said, adding that the sheer volume of people in the
Al-Aqsa compound had not been seen for years.

The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage said that around 150,000 people
had Iftar in the Al-Aqsa compound. Thirty-thousand meals were provided by
the foundation and other charities.

The Al-Bayariq foundation, based in Israel, dispatched over 200 buses to
carry worshipers to Al-Aqsa from Palestinian communities.

Laylat al-Qadr is one of the holiest nights in Ramadan, and marks the
anniversary of the night when Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed
to the prophet Muhammad.

The Al-Aqsa compound, containing the mosque and the Dome of the Rock, is the
third holiest site in Islam and abuts the site where Jews believe the
ancient Second Temple stood.

In Ramallah on Tuesday, the Palestinian Authority cabinet sent its greetings
to worshipers.

A statement said it hoped the celebration would coincide with "the hopes of
our people for freedom, self-determination and the establishment of the
independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital".