Spiritual seclusion: Aitekaf begins for hundreds across city

KARACHI: Hundreds of people across Karachi will start sitting in aitekaf, a period of voluntary spiritual seclusion, prayer and meditation, in mosques and imambargahs among other places of worship.

While Aitekaf can be practised at any time of the year, there is a tradition of undertaking it in the last ten days of Ramazan. At Karachi’s most well-known mosque, Memon Masjid in Kharadar, about 500 people prepared on Sunday to begin.

Curtains were put up and sleeping mats were laid. One of the biggest gatherings will be at Faizan-e-Madina near Civic Centre. People of all ages take part.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd,  2011.