List of Imams of the Two Holy Mosques
Imams of Masjid al-Haram and Prophet's Mosque
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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.
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:
| Name | Appointed | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
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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
صالح بن عبد الله بن حميد |
1982[4][5] | Former Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council[4][5] and prominent Islamic scholar. |
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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-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] |
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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
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 | 1998[16] | In 1993, a royal decree appointed him as a member of the Saudi Shura Council.[16] | |
| Faisal Ghazzawi | 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] | |
| Al-Waleed al-Shamsan
الوليد الشمسان | |||
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:
| Name | Appointed | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
'Ali al-Hudhayfi
علي الحذيفي |
1979 | Chief imam of Masjid an-Nabawi.[20] |
 |
Salah Al Budair
صلاح البدير |
1998 / 1999 | Senior imam and Khatib; also serves as a judge.[21] |
 |
Abdulbari ath-Thubaity
عبد الباري الثبيتي |
1993 | Previously led Ramadan tarawih at Masjid al-Haram as a guest imam.[22][23] |
 |
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 | 1997 | He also serves as a judge at the High Court in Medina and has previously served as a judge in several other courts[27] | |
| Khalid al-Muhanna
خالد المهنا |
2019 | Listed among the resident imams at Masjid an-Nabawi and is an associate professor at Taibah University. | |
| Ahmad Ali al-Hudhaify | Served as Guest imam for Ramadan of 2017 to 2019 and was officially appointed in 2019.[28] He is the son of 'Ali al-Hudhayfi | ||
| Muhammad Barhaji
محمد برهجي |
2024 | Appointed permanent imam of Masjid an-Nabawi by royal decree in Oct 2024[29][19]
(previously guest/ Ramadan imam) | |
| Abdullah Al-Qarafi
عبدالله القرافي |
Appointed permanent imam (royal approval) Oct 2024[29][19] | ||
| Abdullah Al-Bu'ayjaan
عبدالله البعيجان |
2013 | Appointed permanent imam (royal approval) July 2013 | |
| Saleh Al-Maghamsi | 2026 | Appointed in Ramadan 2026.[30][31][32] | |
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:
| Name | Served | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Saud Al-Shuraim | 1991–2022 | Imam and khatib of the Masjid al-Haram for about three decades.[33][34] |
| Khalid Al-Ghamdi | 2008-2018 | Former Imam for about 10 years Resigned in end of September 2018.[citation needed] | |
 |
Saleh al-Talib | 2002–2018 | Served until 2018, when he was dismissed and detained for ten years following criticism of social changes.[35][36] |
 |
Salah Ba'uthman | 2016–2017 (Guest imam) |
Guest imam for Tarawih prayers during Ramadan in 2016 and 2017.[37][38][39] |
| Hassan Bukhari | 2015 (Guest imam) |
Guest imam for Tarawih prayers during Ramadan in 2015.[40][41] | |
| Mohammad al-Subayyil | 1965–2008 | Also directed the Presidency for the General Presidency of Haramain.[42] | |
 |
Adil al-Kalbani | 2008 (Guest imam) |
Appointed to lead Tarawih prayers at the Haram.[43][44] |
|
Salah Al Budair | 2005–2006 (Guest imam) |
Led Tarawih in Ramadan 2005 and 2006; now Deputy Chief Imam of The Prophet's Mosque.[21] |
|
'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-Subayyil | 1993–2002 | Imam and khatib of the Haram until his death in 2002.[45] | |
 |
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.[46][47] |
| Abdullah Al-Khulaifi | 1946–1993 | Saudi imam who led prayers at the Masjid al-Haram for four decades in the 20th century. | |
| Abdullah Abdul Ghani Khayat | 1953–1984 | Led prayers during the mid-20th century; member of Council of Senior Scholars. | |
| Abdullah ibn Humaid | 1957–1981 | Jurist and imam of the Haram; later served as head of the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council. Died October 1982.[48] | |
| Ahmad Khatib al-Minangkabawi | 1880–1915 | Indonesian scholar who held the position of imam and teacher at Masjid al-Haram under Ottoman rule.[49][50] | |
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:
| Name | Served | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Ayyub | 1990–1997;
2015 |
later served at Masjid Quba and returned as a guest Tarawih imam in 2015.[51] | |
| Mahmoud Khalil Al-Qari | 2017, 2018
Guest Imam |
Imam of Masjid al-Qiblatayn; son of Khalil Al-Qari.[52] | |
| Muhammad Khalil al-Qari | 2016, 2018
Guest Imam |
Imam of Quba Mosque; son of Khalil Al-Qari.[53] | |
|
Abdullah Awad Al Juhany | 1999–2007 | Now appointed as an imam of Masjid al-Haram.[54] |
| Sheikh Dr. Khalid Al-Ghamdi | 2012-2013 (Guest imam) |
Guest imam for Tarawih prayers during Ramadan in 2012 and 2013 | |
| Ibrahim Al-Akhdar | 1986–1995 | Served 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-Jabarti | 1970s–1980s | He also served as a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Supreme Judicial Council,[55] and was the maternal grandfather of Ahmad Talib Hameed. | |
| Abdul Aziz Al Saleh | 1951–1993 | also served as head of the courts of the Madinah region and was a member of Supreme Judicial Council and Council of Senior Scholars.[56][57] | |
| Ahmad Talib Hameed | 2013–2025[58][59] | 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.[58] | |
- Abdullah bin Zahim
- Ali Al Sudais
- Maher Al Muaiqly
- Khalid Ghamdi