Head Of Imam Of The Grand Mosque Sheikh Saleh Bin Humaid Will Convey This Year's Wukuf Arafah Celebration

JAKARTA - The head of the Imam of the Grand Mosque, Makkah, Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid was appointed to deliver the Arafah sermon and lead the prayer when the Hajj pilgrims carry out Wukuf on Arafah 9 Dzulhijjah Day 1446 H, as announced by the Presidential Decree on Sunday.

The guardian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has issued a directive regarding this matter, according to the Presidential Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, quoted from the Saudi Gazette on May 26.

Arafah Day or commonly known as Wufuf Arafah is the culmination of a series of Hajj, one of the pillars of the Hajj. Sheikh Saleh will deliver a sermon and lead the Dzuhur and Ashar prayers which are carried out in a congregation of qasar from the Namirah Mosque.

Head of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Abdurrahman Al-Sudais thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the appointment, as reported by Arab News.

Sheikh Sudais in February appointed Sheikh Saleh as Head of the Grand Mosque Imam, as quoted from Himpuh.

Born in Buraidah, Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia in 1950, Sheikh Saleh was the oldest and longest imam of the Grand Mosque, where he was appointed since 1983.

His education began in Buraidah, before moving to Makkah for high school. He won a bachelor's degree and master's degree in the field of Islamic Fiqih from King Abdul Aziz University in Makkah. Meanwhile, he won his doctorate from the University of Umm Al-Qura.

Sheikh Bin Humaid is a well-known Islamic cleric and author of a number of books. He has served in Saudi Arabia in various capacities, including a spokesman for the Shura Council, Chairman of the Supreme Court Council, president of the International Islamic Fiqih Academy Council, Head of the General Presidency for the affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, apart from being an advisor to the Saudi Royal Court.

In 2016, Sheikh Saleh received the King Faisal International Award for Services for Islam.

It is known that this year's Hajj season is expected to start on June 4. Meanwhile, the determination of 1 Dzulhijjah will follow the results of new lunar observations, with the Saudi Arabian Supreme Court calling on citizens to observe the new moon on Tuesday afternoon local time.