Ramadan keeps Haram imams busy

The Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has assigned the duty of leading the special Ramadan prayers (taraweeh and tahajjud) to seven imams of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
According to the schedule, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Johani and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, who is also head of the presidency, are now leading Taraweeh prayers on odd days during the first 20 days of the holy month.
Sheikh Saud Al-Shoraim and Sheikh Maher Al-Moaiqli are leading prayers on even days, Al-Eqtisadiah daily reported.
In the last 10 days of the fasting month, Al-Johani and Al-Moaiqli will lead taraweeh prayers while Al-Shoraim and Al-Sudais will lead tahajjud (night prayer).
Sheikh Saleh Al-Taleb delivered the first Friday sermon and led Jummah prayer on the first day of Ramadan.
The next four Friday prayers will be led by Sheikh Osama Khayyat, Al-Shoraim, Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid, and Al-Sudais.
Khatmul Qur’an prayer will be led by Al-Sudais while Humaid will lead the Eid Al-Fitr prayer.
It is a busy schedule for Haram imams during Ramadan.
They have a scheduled annual meeting with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and are the invitees to the dinner hosted by the king in honor of senior scholars and officials at Al-Safa Palace in the vicinity of the Holy Kaaba.
Special rooms are there for the imams at the palace.
There are also special rooms known as retreats for them in the holy mosque near its main gates.
The imams are available most of their time in the holy month at these retreats.
They continuously engage in testing their memorization and recitation of the holy book.
They abstain from most worldly affairs and always remain in a spiritual mood.
Pilgrims and visitors to Islam’s holiest shrine have great admiration for the imams.
Many of them are eager to get a glimpse of them or try to greet them.
Therefore, imams enter the prayer area, lead prayer and leave the place with a security escort. There are about 10 security officers in charge of their security.
When the imam leads prayer at the mataf (circumambulating area) close to the Kaaba, a well-learned scholar and senior imam always stands behind him in order to rectify any mistakes that he may make while reciting the Holy Qur’an.
Most important among these scholars is Supreme Judiciary Council Chairman Humaid, who is also senior imam and khateeb of the Grand Mosque.
He is renowned for his deep knowledge and thorough memorization of the holy book.
Among the senior scholars include Al-Sudais, who memorized the whole Qur’an when he was 12.
Al-Sudais has been serving as imam and khateeb of the Grand Mosque for nearly 30 years.
Al-Sudais, renowned for his melodious Qur’an recitation that has inspired Muslims across the world, was recently appointed head of the presidency.