List of Imams of the Two Holy Mosques

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This article provides the list of the imams of the Two Holy Mosques (Arabic : أئمة الحرمين‎, romanized: Aʾimmat al-Ḥaramayn). They are the prayer leaders appointed to serve at the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. They are tasked with leading daily prayers (Salah), Friday sermons, Tarawih, and other major religious observances. The imams are appointed by royal decree of the King of Saudi Arabia and serve as prayer leaders as well as Khatibs at the Two Holy Mosques. While their role is primarily religious and liturgical, some have also been noted for their Quran recitation, scholarly background, or wider public engagement through sermons broadcast from Mecca and Medina.

Contents

Current Imams of Masjid al-Haram

This list includes the current Imams of Masjid al-Haram who have been officially appointed as full-time, permanent Imams:

NameAppointedNotes
Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais (Cropped, 2011).jpg Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais

عبد الرحمن السديس‎

1984 [1] [2] Chief Imam; also President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of Haramain. [2] [3]
Salih bin Abdullah al-Humaid.jpg Salih bin Abdullah al-Humaid

صالح بن عبد الله بن حميد‎

1982 [4] [5] Former Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council [4] [5] and prominent Islamic scholar.
Yasser Al-Dosari (cropped).jpg Yasir al-Dawsari

ياسر الدوسري‎

2019–2023 [6] [7]

2024 [8] (reappointed)

Was reappointed in March 2024; [8] believed to be the youngest imam appointed at the Masjid al-Haram. [9]
Maher Al Mueaqly.png Maher al-Mu'aiqly

ماهر المعيقلي‎

2007 [10] [11] Also served as a guest Imam at the Prophet's Mosque, during the Ramadans of 2005 and 2006. [12]
Abdullah Al Juhany (Cropped).png Abdullah Awad Al Juhany

عبد الله عواد الجهني‎

2007 [13] Holds a PhD. in Islamic Studies; known for his profound understanding of the Quran. [13]
Bandar Baleela.jpg Bandar Baleela

بندر بليلة‎

2013 [14] He also works as an assistant professor at Taif University and is a member of the Council of Senior Scholars. [15]
Usama Khayyat

أسامة خياط ‎

1998 [16] In 1993, a royal decree appointed him as a member of the Saudi Shura Council. [16]
Faisal Ghazzawi

فيصل غزاوي ‎

2007 [17] [18] He lectured at Umm al-Qura University from 1989 and became an associate professor after earning his doctorate, serving in that role until 2010. [17]
Badr al-Turki

بدر التركي‎

2024 [19] Appointed as a permanent Imam after serving as a guest Imam during Ramadan 2024. [19]
Waleed al-Shamsan

وليد الشمسان‎

2024 [19] Appointed as a permanent Imam after serving as a guest Imam during Ramadan 2024. [19]

Current Imams of Prophet's Mosque

This list includes the current Imams of Prophet's Mosque who have been officially appointed as full-time, permanent Imams:

NameAppointedNotes
Huthaify.jpg 'Ali al-Hudhayfi

علي الحذيفي‎

1979Chief imam of Masjid an-Nabawi. [20]
Salah Ibn Mohammed Al Budair.jpg Salah Al Budair

صلاح البدير‎

1998 / 1999Senior imam and Khatib; also serves as a judge. [21]
Abdulbari ath-Thubaity delivering sermon at Prophet's Mosque Medina.jpg Abdulbari ath-Thubaity

عبد الباري الثبيتي‎

1993Previously led Ramadan tarawih at Masjid al-Haram as a guest imam. [22] [23]
Abdul Mohsin Al-Qasim.jpg Abdulmohsen Al-Qasim

عبد المحسن القاسم‎

1997 [24] He has authored several books, serves as an appeal judge in Medina, and teaches undergraduate students at the Islamic University of Medina. [25] [26]
Hussain Al ash-Sheikh

حسين آل الشيخ ‎

1997He also serves as a judge at the High Court in Medina and has previously served as a judge in several other courts [27]
Ahmad Talib Hameed

أحمد بن طالب حميد‎

2013–2025

[28] [29]

In May 2025, reports noted that his name was no longer included among the imams however General Presidency of the Haramain did not provide an official Statement. [28]
Khalid al-Muhanna

خالد المحنّة‎

2019Listed among the resident imams at Masjid an-Nabawi.
Ahmad Ali al-Hudhaify

أحمد علي الحذيفي ‎

2019Served as Guest imam for Ramadan of 2017 to 2019 and was officially appointed in 2019. [30] He is the son of 'Ali al-Hudhayfi
Muhammad Barhaji

محمد برحجي‎

2024Appointed permanent imam of Masjid an-Nabawi by royal decree in Oct 2024 [31] [19]

(previously guest/ Ramadan imam)

Abdullah Al-Qarafi

عبدالله القرافي‎

2024Appointed permanent imam (royal approval) Oct 2024 [31] [19]

Former Imams of Masjid al-Haram

This list includes former Imams of Masjid al-Haram who were either officially appointed as full-time Imams or served as guest Imams during Ramadan only:

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.
  Imams who served only as guest imams during Ramadan

NameServedNotes
Saud Shuraim doing the Khutbah.png Saud Al-Shuraim 1991–2022Imam and khatib of the Masjid al-Haram for about three decades. [32] [33]
Swr@ shkhSy@ SlH al Tlb.jpg Saleh al-Talib 2002–2018Served until 2018, when he was dismissed and detained for ten years following criticism of social changes. [34] [35]
SlH b`thmn.jpg Salah Ba'uthman 2016–2017
(Guest imam)		Guest imam for Tarawih prayers during Ramadan in 2016 and 2017. [36] [37] [38]
Hassan Bukhari2015
(Guest imam)		Guest imam for Tarawih prayers during Ramadan in 2015. [39] [40]
Mohammad al-Subayyil 1965–2008Also directed the Presidency for the General Presidency of Haramain. [41]
Kalbani.jpg Adil al-Kalbani 2008
(Guest imam)		Appointed to lead Tarawih prayers at the Haram. [42] [43]
Salah Ibn Mohammed Al Budair.jpg Salah Al Budair 2005–2006
(Guest imam)		Led Tarawih in Ramadan 2005 and 2006; now Deputy Chief Imam of The Prophet's Mosque. [21]
Huthaify.jpg 'Ali al-Hudhaify 1981, 1985–1986, 1988–1991
(Guest imam)		Guest Imam for Ramadhan during the 1980s–1991; now Chief Imam of The Prophet's Mosque. [20]
Umar al-Subayyil1993–2002Imam and khatib of the Haram until his death in 2002. [44]
Ali Abdullah Jaber.jpg Ali Abdullah Jaber 1981–1983

(Guest Imam)

1986–1989 (Permanent Imam)

Noted for his Qur’an recitation style; appointed to Masjid al-Haram by King Khalid. [45] [46]
Abdullah Al-Khulaifi1946–1993Saudi imam who led prayers at the Masjid al-Haram for four decades in the 20th century.
Abdullah Abdul Ghani Khayat1953–1984Led prayers during the mid-20th century; member of Council of Senior Scholars.
Abdullah ibn Humaid 1957–1981Jurist and imam of the Haram; later served as head of the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council. Died October 1982. [47]
Ahmad Khatib al-Minangkabawi 1880–1915 Indonesian scholar who held the position of imam and teacher at Masjid al-Haram under Ottoman rule. [48] [49]

Former Imams of Prophet's Mosque

This list includes former Imams of Prophet's Mosque who were either officially appointed as full-time Imams or served as guest Imams during Ramadan only:

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.
  Imams who served only as guest imams during Ramadan
NameServedNotes
Muhammad Ayyub 1990–1997;

2015

later served at Masjid Quba and returned as a guest Tarawih imam in 2015. [50]
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Qari 2017, 2018

Guest Imam

Imam of Masjid al-Qiblatayn; son of Khalil Al-Qari. [51]
Muhammad Khalil al-Qari2016, 2018

Guest Imam

Imam of Quba Mosque; son of Khalil Al-Qari. [52]
Abdullah Al Juhany (Cropped).png Abdullah Awad Al Juhany 1999–?Now appointed as an imam of Masjid al-Haram. [53]
Ibrahim Al-Akhdar1986–1995Served as an imam of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi for roughly nine years beginning in 1986; active in Qur'an teaching and recitation activities.
Saad al-Ghamdi 2009

Guest imam

Guest imam for Taraweeh prayers at Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Ramadan 2009.[ citation needed ]
Abdul Majeed al-Jabarti1970s–1980sHe also served as a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Supreme Judicial Council, [54] and was the maternal grandfather of Ahmad Talib Hameed.
Abdul Aziz Al Saleh1951–1993also served as head of the courts of the Madinah region and was a member of Supreme Judicial Council and Council of Senior Scholars. [55] [56]

Abdullah bin Zahim Ali Al Sudais Maher Al Muaiqly Khalid Ghamdi

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Profile: Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais". aawsat.net. Asharq Al-Awsat. 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 Voice, Muslim (2023-03-18). "Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al Sudais has been Imam of Masjid Al Haram for 40 Years | The Muslim Voice, Nigeria" . Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  3. ↑ "معالي الرئيس العام يرعى الحفل الختامي لخريجي الجمعية الخيرية لتحفيظ القرآن الكريم بالرياض". www.gph.gov.sa (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  4. 1 2 "His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid". International Islamic Fiqh Academy. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  5. 1 2 Voice, Muslim (2022-08-02). "Know Your Sheikh: Sheikh Saleh Al Humaid | The Muslim Voice, Nigeria" . Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  6. ↑ "تعيين ياسر الدوسري إماما للمسجد الحرام والحذيفي للنبوي". الفجر. 12 October 2019. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  7. ↑ Nuhait, Abdullah (12 October 2019). "الدوسري" يرفع الشكر للقيادة بعد تعيينه في إمامة الحرم المكي"". Sabq (in Arabic). Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  8. 1 2 Yusuf, Samira (7 March 2024). "Sheikh Yasser Al-Dosari Re-appointed as The Imam of Masjid Al Haram. The Sheikh will lead the next 4 years in haram till his third contract". The Islamic Information.
  9. ↑ "Meet Sheikh Yasir Ad Dawsary – Youngest Imam and Khateeb of Masjid Al Haram, Makkah". ummid. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  10. ↑ "Mecca Imam Maher al-Muaiqly falls ill during Friday prayer". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
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  13. 1 2 "Sheikh Abdullah Awad Al-Juhani, imam at the Grand Mosque in Makkah". Arab News. 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
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  16. 1 2 "Who's Who: Sheikh Osama bin Abdullah Khayyat, imam at Makkah Grand Mosque". Arab News. 2022-04-17. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  17. 1 2 "Sheikh Dr. Faisal Jameel Ghazzawi, Makkah Grand Mosque imam". Arab News. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
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  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sheikh Badr Al-Turki among four imams appointed at Two Holy Mosques". Saudigazette. 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  20. 1 2 Maisah (2025-02-21). "Sheikh Ali Al Hudhaify Appointed as Chief Imam of Masjid An Nabawi". The Islamic Information. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  21. 1 2 "الرئيس العام ومنسوبو الرئاسة يهنئون فضيلة إمام وخطيب المسجد النبوي صلاح البدير لحصوله على درجة الدكتوراه". gph.gov.sa (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
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  25. ↑ "Shaykh Abd al-Muhsin al-Qasim". People of Madina. 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
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  27. ↑ "FaceOf: Dr. Hussein bin Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, imam at Prophet's Mosque and high court judge". Arab News. 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  28. 1 2 "Sheikh Ahmed Bin Talib Hameed No Longer Listed Among Imams of Masjid An Nabawi" . Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  29. ↑ Voice, Muslim (2025-05-10). "Sheikh Ahmed bin Talib Hameed excused as Imam and Khateeb of Masjid An Nabawi, Madinah | The Muslim Voice, Nigeria" . Retrieved 2025-09-18.
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  31. 1 2 "New Imams Appointed to Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque". spa.gov.sa. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
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  33. ↑ Voice, Muslim (2023-03-18). "Sheikh Shuraim bids farewell to Masjid Al Haram, After 32 Years of Service | The Muslim Voice, Nigeria" . Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  34. ↑ "Saleh Al Talib | USCIRF". www.uscirf.gov. 2025-09-18. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  35. ↑ "Saudi Arabia: Former imam of Mecca's Grand Mosque jailed for 10 years". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  36. ↑ Dogan, Mohamed (2021-09-04). "علي جابر وبا عثمان في رمضان". alyaum. Retrieved 2025-09-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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  42. ↑ Worth, Robert F. (April 10, 2009). "A Black Imam Breaks Ground in Mecca". The New York Times. Riyadh.
  43. ↑ Sheriff, Othman (February 5, 2012). "The First Black Saudi Imam Heads for Sierra Leone: a Rejoinder". Critique Echo. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  44. ↑ Admin, Fatwa-Online (2002-03-16). "Shaykh 'Umar ibn Muhammad as-Subayyal passes away". Fatwa-Online | eFatwa. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
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  47. ↑ "عبد الله بن حميد - المكتبة الشاملة". shamela.ws. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  48. ↑ Sholihin, Muhammad (2021). "A Set aspect of paper money: A Reading on Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabawi's Thought". Indonesian Journal of Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies (IJIIS). 5 (1): 1–20. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  49. ↑ Mudhafier, Drs. Fadhlan (2013). Syeikh Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabawi: Pemikiran Dan Perjuangannya, Masa 1276 – 1334 Hijriah (1852 – 1915 Masehi). Jakarta: Pusat Kajian Buya Hamka.
  50. ↑ "Imam of Prophet's Mosque Passes Away". About Islam. 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  51. ↑ "السعودية.. الموت يغيب الإمام السابق للمسجد النبوي". العربية (in Arabic). 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  52. ↑ "Diplomats, friends pay tribute to late Pakistan-origin imam of Prophet's Mosque in Madinah". Arab News. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  53. ↑ "Sheikh Abdullah 'Awwad Al-Juhany - Imam of Makkah". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  54. ↑ Al-Allaf Al-Ghamdi, Abdullah ibn Ahmad (2014). The Imams of Al-Masjid al-Nabawi in the Saudi Era: (1345–1436 AH / 1926–2014 CE) (in Arabic) (2nd ed.). Taif: Dar Al-Tarafayn Publishing. pp. 378–383.
  55. ↑ ibn Ja‘far ibn ‘Ali, Nur al-Islam (1997). Our Pioneers: Biographies of a Selection of Scholars and Sheikhs (in Arabic). Vol. 1. p. 38.
  56. ↑ "إمام المسجد النبوي الشريف الشيخ عبدالعزيز بن صالح رحمه الله". www.taibanet.net. Archived from the original on 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
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