Tuesday August 21, 2012

Old tradition not forgotten

By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH
farhaan@thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: Despite modernisation, many Muslims still observe the tradition of welcoming the last 10 days of Ramadan better known as Lailatul Qadar.

Lailatul Qadar is an auspicious event for Muslims during the holy month as they believe that angels will visit houses that are lighted up during this period.

There is no exact date of when the angels are supposed to visit but many believe that it is during the ninth, seventh and fifth day before Syawal.

Service with a smile: The Zon Hotel staff (from left) Nur Farah Sahida, 28, Norlatifah Abd Latis, 24, Roslina Mohd Zamry, 24, and Norfazlina Che Wan, 22, holding oil lamps to welcome Lailatul Qadar.

Muslims in Malaysia refer to these odd nights of Hari Raya as malam tujuh likur where they will attempt to keep vigil into the wee hours to perform obligatory prayers, zikir and recite the Quran.

Houses are also lit up with oil lamps made from bamboo or tin cans during this time.

Despite living in the city, engineer Mohd Haikal Ali, 35, said that this beautiful tradition must be retained.

“When I was young, my father always thought me to practise this tradition at our kampung in Pontian and now I teach my children the same,” he said adding that he usually used traditional oil lamps to light up his house.

“Such lamps especially the tin ones can be found quite easily at hypermarkets or hardware shops around here,” he said.

Meanwhile housewife Nurul Shamsiah Samsuddin, 48, said that she would always look forward to welcoming Lailatul Qadar.

“Lailatul Qadar marks that the fasting month would end soon and it is nice for us to gather as a family and start decorating our house to welcome Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” she said.

Source:

News

Tuesday August 21, 2012

Old tradition not forgotten

By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH farhaan@thestar.com.my

Source:

By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH
farhaan@thestar.com.my