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During the peak of Ramadan's spiritual observance, over 3 million worshippers gathered at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on the 22nd and 23rd days of the holy month. This assembly marked one of the largest congregations so far this season. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al Rabiah reported a continuous influx of worshippers throughout the day, with significant numbers attending each prayer session: nearly 592,100 for Fajr, 518,000 for Dhuhr, 547,700 for Asr, 710,500 for Maghrib, and 732,700 for Isha and Taraweeh prayers.
In total, 662,500 Umrah pilgrims entered the mosque through its main gates, with the King Abdulaziz Gate welcoming the highest number at 235,800. Other gates, including King Fahd Gate, Bab Al Umrah, Bab Al Hudaybiyah, and Bab Al Salam, also experienced substantial traffic.
To manage this influx, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah employed advanced crowd control and digital tracking systems, ensuring safety and facilitating movement within the vast mosque premises. The increased turnout is driven by the belief among worshippers that Laylat Al Qadr, the Night of Power, might occur on one of the odd-numbered nights in the last ten days of Ramadan—a time believed to hold immense spiritual significance. Many pilgrims specifically choose to pray at the Grand Mosque during these nights in hopes of experiencing this sacred event, enhancing their spiritual connection and maximizing the rewards of their prayers.
