RIYADH: The late-evening taraweeh prayer that takes place each night during the holy month is not just a voluntary act; it’s also when worshippers seek out the stars of the local imam circuit.
The result of this is a kind of unintentional talent show where imams with the best appeal fill their mosques during these evening prayers.
Quality and clarity of voice, ability to exude piety, endurance and ideal length of each nightly prayer are qualities that many look for in their taraweeh talent.
Some of the worshippers in these mosques don’t normally attend them because they are further away than their local houses of worship.
But for these nightly prayers these visitors forego their local mosques for ones whose imams have gained some semblance of fame reciting the chapters of the Holy Qur’an during the 30 days of the holy month.
Despite warning from scholars not to invest too much in seeking out the most popular imams (it’s not the imams, it’s the verses that count, they say) local Internet forums are filled with Saudis discussing the best mosques to attend these nightly prayers based on the appeal of the prayer leader.
Lists are posted on local forums of the best imams in town; rating them by different categories such as voice, correct recitation technique, the length of the prayer session and even whether the imam weeps. Some even tour around to these various mosques every night to sample the best recitation techniques. Ahmad Al-Misfir told Arab News that he drives fast every day from south Riyadh to the north of the city to pray taraweeh with a well-known imam.
“I am keen to do this for the following reasons: the imam of the mosque in our area does not have a good voice, I do not feel piety when I pray with him and I feel bored because he prolongs his prayer,” he said.
One scholar, who did not want his name published, said he noticed that some mosques are empty during taraweeh while others are unusually crowded.
“Many of the small mosques in Riyadh have become empty while the large ones with good reciting imams are overcrowded,” he said.
But if Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh has any say in the matter, he would rather people avoid following certain imams or touring mosques to sample the best recitation talents. “People should go to pray with imams who are nearest to their hearts and the mosques nearest to where they live instead of going to a new mosque every day,” he said in past statements on the matter. Some Saudis agree.
Saad Al-Malki from Riyadh says he tends to stick to the same mosque.
“You can find Allah everywhere,” he said. “There are hundreds of mosques in Riyadh. No need to make it a fashion to go from one mosque to another looking for good imams.”
Abu Mishaal, a secondary school teacher, also said he didn’t understand this taraweeh touring that takes place during Ramadan.
“The essence of religion is not just fasting or praying with certain imams,” he said. “A complete worship pattern and good behavior toward others is what’s important.”
