Sheikh Maher Al-Muaiqly to deliver Arafat sermon

Saudi Gazette Report

JEDDAH — Sheikh Maher Al-Muaiqly, imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, will deliver the sermon and lead prayer at the Namirah Mosque on the Day of Arafat on Dhul Hijjah 9, 1445 for the upcoming annual pilgrimage of Hajj. A royal order has been issued in this regard, according to a statement by the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

On behalf of himself and imams, preachers, muezzins of the Two Holy Mosques and the presidency officials, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, expressed thanks and appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for their generous trust on Al-Muaiqly . “This trust is considered a support for the Presidency of Religious Affairs and an embodiment of the keenness of the wise leadership on their services to the Two Holy Mosques, its imams and preachers in promoting the message of moderation. This is also highlights the global and civilizational leadership role of Saudi Arabia, as the pulpit of the Two Holy Mosques represents a religious status for Muslims all over the world,” he noted.

The Arafat Day marks the climax of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj and this year, the Arafat Day will be most probably on June 15. The standing at Arafat, one of the four pillars of Hajj and the most important ritual of the annual pilgrimage, will start after the Arafat sermon and performance of Dhuhr and Asr prayers in combined and shortened form.

It is noteworthy that the Arafat Day sermon has a great status among Muslims all over the world, and the Saudi government is showing utmost keenness on translating it through the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Project to translate the Arafat sermon and the sermons of the Two Holy Mosques, so that it reaches the entire world. This year the Arafat sermon’s translations will be available in 20 languages.

Sheikh Al-Muaiqli is a renowned Qur’an reciter and Islamic scholar, who memorized the Holy Qur’an. He was born in Madinah in 1969. After graduation from the Teachers College of Madinah as a mathematics teacher, he moved to Makkah to work as a teacher. Then he became a student mentor at Prince Abdul Majeed School in Makkah.

Al-Muaiqli obtained his master’s degree from the Faculty of Shariah in the Department of Jurisprudence at Umm Al-Qura University. Later, he secured a doctorate in interpretation of the Holy Qur’an. He also obtained a doctorate in Islamic jurisprudence with an excellent grade and first class. He worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Judicial Studies in the Faculty of Judicial Studies and Regulations at Umm Al-Qura University. He also served as vice dean of the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research.

Sheikh Al-Muaiqli served as imam and preacher of Al-Saadi Mosque in the Al-Awali neighborhood in Makkah. He was tasked to lead the prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during the month of Ramadan in the years 1426 and 1427 AH and then he was assigned to lead Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during Ramadan in the year 1428.

Sheikh Al-Muaiqli, who is blessed with a melodious voice, was appointed as imam of the Grand Mosque in that year and since then, he has been serving as imam until the present day. He is considered as one of the most famous reciters of the Holy Qur’an in the Islamic world.