Wrapping up the holy month of Ramadan, 1.6 billion Muslims around the world are amping up their worship during the last 10 days of the fasting observance.
The last 10 days of Ramadan are considered to be the holiest of the entire month and are welcomed with extra prayers, recitation of the Quran, retreating to a mosque and giving charity, Sohaib Awan wrote for the Deseret News.
Most significant of the last 10 days, however, is Laylat Al Qadr, or "The Night of Power," which is the holiest night of the year for Muslims, according to The Huffington Post.
Usually celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan but also potentially falling on one of the odd-numbered nights of the final 10 days of Ramadan this holiday signifies the night the Angel Gabriel first descended and revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.
Yasir Qadhi, an American Muslim scholar and dean of academic affairs at the Al-Maghrib Institute, told The Huffington Post that the experience of Laylat Al Qadr in Mecca the city Muslims consider the holiest place on earth is unlike any other.
"The air itself is electrifying; the crowds are far as the eye can see; the mood at once somber and exciting," he wrote in an email. "People from all over the globe, dressed in all types of native dresses, all united in their worship, believing in One God, praying in unison, facing the same direction, invoking their creator. The spiritual high that you feel in that gathering is something that cannot be described in words; only experienced."
This unique experience was shared by the Snapchat community through a live feed in Mecca, with non-Muslims who are not allowed into the city Muslims consider the holiest place in the world, according to The Independent witnessing a never-before-seen sight.
With the 27th night of Ramadan falling on Monday, hundreds of thousands of Muslims around the world had campaigned for Snapchat to feature Mecca in its live feed over the weekend, according to BBC. Many tweets conveyed hopes that the coverage would show the beauty of the holiday and its worship.
Their request was answered, and Snapchat featured videos and pictures that portrayed Muslims breaking their fast on dates and rice, and worshipping all night long by praying, performing the holy pilgrimage and reciting the Quran.
Qadhi told The Huffington Post he is optimistic about the live feed dispelling misconceptions about Islam.
"I'm ecstatic that Snapchat showcased this special and momentous occasion, because for the vast majority of the world's Muslims, THIS is what Islam is all about!" he said in his email. "If only the world saw this as the 'real' Islam (for it is the real Islam!), I think the perception that people have of us would change dramatically."
The last 10 days of Ramadan are considered to be the holiest of the entire month and are welcomed with extra prayers, recitation of the Quran, retreating to a mosque and giving charity, Sohaib Awan wrote for the Deseret News.
Most significant of the last 10 days, however, is Laylat Al Qadr, or "The Night of Power," which is the holiest night of the year for Muslims, according to The Huffington Post.
Usually celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan but also potentially falling on one of the odd-numbered nights of the final 10 days of Ramadan this holiday signifies the night the Angel Gabriel first descended and revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.
Yasir Qadhi, an American Muslim scholar and dean of academic affairs at the Al-Maghrib Institute, told The Huffington Post that the experience of Laylat Al Qadr in Mecca the city Muslims consider the holiest place on earth is unlike any other.
"The air itself is electrifying; the crowds are far as the eye can see; the mood at once somber and exciting," he wrote in an email. "People from all over the globe, dressed in all types of native dresses, all united in their worship, believing in One God, praying in unison, facing the same direction, invoking their creator. The spiritual high that you feel in that gathering is something that cannot be described in words; only experienced."
This unique experience was shared by the Snapchat community through a live feed in Mecca, with non-Muslims who are not allowed into the city Muslims consider the holiest place in the world, according to The Independent witnessing a never-before-seen sight.
With the 27th night of Ramadan falling on Monday, hundreds of thousands of Muslims around the world had campaigned for Snapchat to feature Mecca in its live feed over the weekend, according to BBC. Many tweets conveyed hopes that the coverage would show the beauty of the holiday and its worship.
Their request was answered, and Snapchat featured videos and pictures that portrayed Muslims breaking their fast on dates and rice, and worshipping all night long by praying, performing the holy pilgrimage and reciting the Quran.
Qadhi told The Huffington Post he is optimistic about the live feed dispelling misconceptions about Islam.
"I'm ecstatic that Snapchat showcased this special and momentous occasion, because for the vast majority of the world's Muslims, THIS is what Islam is all about!" he said in his email. "If only the world saw this as the 'real' Islam (for it is the real Islam!), I think the perception that people have of us would change dramatically."