Saud ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Shuraim (Arabic: سعود بن ابراهيم بن محمد الشريم); born 19 January 1966[1]) is a Quranic reciter who was one of the prayer leaders and Friday preachers at the Grand Mosque Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. He also holds a Ph.D degree in Sharia (Islamic studies) at the Umm al-Qura University in Mecca. Shuraim was recently appointed as dean and "Specialist Professor in Fiqh" at the University.[1]

Saud bin Ibrahim bin Muhammad al-Shuraim
سعود بن ابراهيم بن محمد الشريم
Saud Shuraim delivering the Jumu'ah Khutbah
Former Imam & Khateeb of Masjid Al Haram
Title
Personal
Born (1966-01-19) January 19, 1966 (age 58)
ReligionIslam
NationalitySaudi Arabian
RegionRiyadh
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanbali
CreedAthari
Main interest(s)Fiqh
Alma materImam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University
Umm al-Qura

Shuraim used to lead the Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan in Mecca since 1991.[citation needed] He also led the funeral prayer for Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz on 17 June 2012 after Maghrib (sunset) prayer in Masjid al-Haram,[2] at which King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and the royal families were present.

Career

edit

In 1991, he was made a prayer leader and Friday preacher at the Grand Mosque by the order of King Fahd.[3][unreliable source?] A year after that, he was appointed judge in the High court of Makkah.[4][3] Further to this, he was approved and made to teach in the Holy Masjid al-Haram.[4][3] He has been serving as a professor at the Umm al-Qura University in Makkah since 1995,[4][3] and has been named the dean of the faculty of "Shari'ah and Islamic Studies".[3] In June 2010, he was promoted from the rank of professor to the specialist professor[4] in fiqh by the president of the university Bakri bin Mat'ooq. He is currently retired.[3]

On 6 April 2018, Saudi authorities closed Sheikh Shuraim’s twitter page because he had posted comments about political and social issues in the Kingdom and criticised what he believed are violations of Islamic teachings[5]

In December 2022, Shuraim stepped down as Imam of Masjid al-Haram. He bid farewell to his position through a self written poem.

Personal life

edit

Shuraim's family is from the Haraqees of the Banu Zayd tribe of Saudi Arabia.[3]

In an interview with the Al Watan newspaper, when asked about his wife's role in his success, Shuraim stated:

Before I say something about my wife, I can't forget my mother's love and mercy for me in my childhood and youth as well; As she raised me in orphanage in childhood... her love is a tonic for me. May Allah shower His mercy upon her as she did with me when I was a child.
And as for my wife, she has proven herself to be the best companion for me in happiness and sorrow, she is there when I need her, cheers me up, and tries her best to lighten my sorrows. May Allah include this in her good deeds.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Who's Who: Dr. Saud bin Ibrahim Al-Shuraim, former imam at the Grand Mosque in Makkah". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "World leaders express grief as Crown Prince Naif laid to rest | Front Page | Saudi Gazette". Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Steve (28 May 2015). "Un-Known Facts about Imam Saud ash Shuraym". lifeinsaudiarabia. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Saudi Arabia closes Twitter account of Makkah Imam". Middle East Monitor. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Saudi closes twitter account of Imam Kaba Sheikh Shuraim". April 8, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  6. ^ Translation of Short Interview with al-Watan newspaper
edit

  Media related to Saud Al-Shuraim at Wikimedia Commons