Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais
Abdul Rahman ibn Abdul Aziz al-Sudais (Arabic: عَبْدُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلسُّدَيْسِ, romanized: ʻAbd ar-Raḥman ibn ʻAbd al-ʻAziz as-Sudais), better known as al-Sudais, is the Chief Imam of the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia; the President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques; a renowned Qāriʾ (reciter of the Qur'an); he was the Dubai International Holy Qur'an Award's "Islamic Personality Of the Year" in 2005.
His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais | |
|---|---|
عبد الرحمن السديس | |
Sudais during a trip to Russia in 2011 | |
| General President for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2011 | |
| Monarchs | King Abdullah King Salman |
| Deputy | Saad Al Mahameed |
| Imam of Masjid Al Haram | |
| Assumed office 1984 | |
| Monarchs | King Fahd King Abdullah King Salman |
| Personal | |
| Born | 10 February 1960 Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia |
| Religion | Islam |
| Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
| Jurisprudence | Hanbali |
| Creed | Athari |
| Alma mater | Umm al-Qura University King Saud University |
| Website | www |
Al-Sudais has preached Islam's opposition to "explosions and terrorism", and has called for peaceful inter-faith dialogue, but also been sharply criticized for vilifying non-Muslims and especially Jews in his sermons. He has denounced the treatment of Palestinians by Israeli settlers and the state of Israel, and called for more aid to be sent to Palestinians. He has also been noted for identifying women's un-Islamic behavior as in part responsible for the winter 2006 drought in Saudi Arabia. In 2016, he delivered the very important Hajj sermon to a multitude of pilgrims gathered at Arafat after prayers.