Up to three million Muslims have gathered in Makkah in a pilgrimage-like scene.

RIYADH, November 1, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – In an awe-inspiring scene, a mosaic of Muslims from the four corners of the universe performed Khatim Al-Qur’an (ended the recitation of the Noble Qur’an) late Monday, October 31, in the Holy Mosque in Makkah, which marked the night of the 29th day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Standing in lines that demonstrate the Muslim unity, the faithful from all age groups performed the `Isha’ (night) and Tarawih prayers and later supplicated to God in great humiliation to accept their fast as Ramadan is almost over.

The tearful worshippers also prayed for occupied Palestine and Iraq as well as quake-devastated Pakistan in prayers led by veteran scholar and imam of the Holy Mosque Sheikh Abdel Rahman Bin Abdel Aziz Al-Sudais.

Estimated at more than three million, worshippers were keen on spending the last ten days of Ramadan at the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Al-Madina.

They performed `Umrah and Qiyam Al-Layl (night vigil prayer) in a scene that climaxed Monday.

Many of them have also performed i`tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque), leaving behind worldly pleasures and seeking peace of heart and mind.

All facilities are available in and around the two holy mosques, thanks to painstaking efforts by Saudi authorities and young volunteers, says IOL Correspondent.

Policemen spread out everywhere to head off deadly stampedes and traffic jams as some 120,000 cars and buses entered Makkah over the past two days only, according to IOL Correspondent.

Osama Abdel Jabbar, director of public transport in the kingdom, said that the government has provided 220 vehicles to transfer the pilgrims from car parking to Al-Haram Al-Sharif round the clock.

Smiling volunteers are also carrying wheelchairs to transport the elderly and handicapped to and from the sacred spots.

Officials in the two mosques further provide water bottles in abundance for the pilgrims and 2,368 workers have been assigned to keep the two mosques clean and shinning all the time.

A phone service has also been introduced through some 100 installed phone sets in the holy mosque in Makkah to answer questions related to rituals and religion from the pilgrims.

Officials also distributed more than one million copies of the Noble Qur’an as well as the translation of its meanings into 12 languages and Braille-printed copies.