Ebrahim Moosa – Radio Islam News | 2016-06-15

Following the receipt of an official green light, the Haramain this week welcomed two new guest Imams for the month of Ramadan.

In keeping with a tradition that has been maintained over recent years, many had, since the onset of Holy Month, speculated on the identities of the new Quraa who would be appointed to lead the faithful at Islam’s holiest of places.

The curtain of suspense was lifted earlier this week when a mandatory royal pronouncement revealed the guest scholars to be endowed with the honour of Imaamah for Taraweeh 1437.

Saudi King Salman approved the appointment of Sheikh Salah ibn Salim Ba Uthman to lead Salaah in Makkah and Sheikh Mohammed ibn Khalil Al-Qari to be an Imam in Masjid Nabawi in Madinah Munawarah.

Ba Uthman is assistant professor at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, and according to some reports also heads its Department of Islamic Studies.

Al Qari is the imam of the renowned Masjid Quba in Madinah. His father is Sheikh Khaleelur Rahman, a celebrated Qur’aan teacher whose students include the likes of Sheikh Muhammad Ayyoub RA. The Al Qaris are a respected Madinan family, of Kashimiri origin.

Sheikh Muhammad’s sibling, Qari Mahmud, the Imam of Masjid Qiblatain, previously toured South Africa and even led Taraweeh here.

The debut recitals of the two Shuyookh have been greeted with warm acclaim.

“Absolutely breathtaking. Amazing. Powerful,” wrote Sheikh Hasib Noor on Facebook.

“Sh Salih BaUthman in Makkah is hands down one of the most amazing I’ve listened to.

“I felt like I went back in time and Ali Jabir rahimahullah was there. He recites exactly like him and the Quran in the haram shakes your heart,” Noor said, echoing sentiment shared by many on the striking resemblance of Sheikh Ba Uthman’s mode of recitation to that of the late former Imam of the Haram, Sheikh Ali Jaber.

“His recitation is so impactful because he recites and emphasizes on the meaning of the Quran.”

Regarding the new taraweeh Imam of Masjid Nabawi, Sheikh Muhammad Khaleel AlQari, Ejaz Taj wrote, “Many reciters are technically proficient but don’t possess a voice that is physically pleasing to the ear. Sheikh Muhammad on the other hand has this rich silky quality to it that complements his qiraa’ah perfectly.”

The newly appointed Qurra will lead Taraweeh in the respective Harams approximately once every four nights, with the Imamah roster set to change for the final 10 nights of Ramadan.

They are joined in leading Salaah in Makkah and Madinah by a host of well known Qurraa including Sheikhs Sudais, Shuraim, al Muaqely, Juhany, Ghamidy, Dossary, Baleela, Hudhaify, aal as Sheikh, Buayjaan and Budair.

In a separate development, current Imams of the Haram, Sheikh Faisal Ghazzawi and Sheikh Maher al Mu’ayqali have been appointed as Khateebs of Masjid Al Haram, whilst Sheikh Abdullah Juhany and Sheikh Bandr Baleela have been appointed as Khateebs for Salaatul Istisqa.

The Full List Of Khateebs At Masjid Al Haram at present is now:

– Sheikh Abdul Rahman Sudais
– Sheikh Saleh Bin Humaid
– Sheikh Saud Ash Shuraim
– Sheikh Usamah Khayaath
– Sheikh Saleh Aal Taleb
– Sheikh Khalid Al Ghamdi
– Sheikh Maher Al Muayqili
– Sheikh Faysal Ghazzawi

Meanwhile, the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques has arranged 36 translators for five foreign languages to be aired on FM channels inside Makkah’s Holy Mosque.

It has also distributed 79,000 headphones among worshippers who do not have their own ear phones to listen to the translations.

The prayer areas have seen a large number of people converging from all directions. Arrangements have been made so that pilgrims and visitors coming from the various directions do not cause any congestion in the mosque.

Numbers of worshippers at the Holy Sites are expected to climax during the final third of Ramadan.