Muslims observe holy night of Raghaib in Ankara

ANKARA, TURKEY - MARCH 07: Muslims observe the holy night of Laylat al-Raghaib at the Haci Bayram Mosque in Ankara, Turkey on March 07, 2019. The Muslim holy night of Laylat al-Raghaib is observed across Turkey on Thursday, marking the beginning of three holy months on the Islamic Hijri calendar: Rajab, Sha’ban, and Ramadan. Raghaib, the first Thursday night of the Islamic month of Rajab, comes from the root "regabe" in Arabic, which means to desire, seek, or tend towards. It is marked on the Thursday night preceding the first Friday in the Islamic month of Rajab. Muslims perform special prayers on this night and read out from the holy Quran. Turkey's Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoglu and Mehmet Ozhaseki, deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and AK Party's candidate for mayor of Ankara, distributed dessert to the worshippers in the mosque's yard. (Footage by Mesut Tankulu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)