Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais

His Excellency
Sheikh
Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais
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
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 8 May 2011
Monarchs	King Abdullah; King Salman
Deputy	Saad Al Mahameed
Imam of Masjid Al Haram
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 1984
Monarchs	King Fahd; King Abdullah; King Salman
Personal
Born	10 February 1960 (age 64); Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia
Religion	Islam
Nationality	Saudi Arabian
Jurisprudence	salafi[citation needed]
Creed	salafi
Movement	Salafi
Alma mater	Umm al-Qura University; King Saud University
Website	www.gph.gov.sa
	Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais' voice Reciting the Throne Verse

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,^[1] 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;^[2] a renowned Qāriʾ (reciter of the Qur'an);^[3] he was the Dubai International Holy Qur'an Award's "Islamic Personality Of the Year" in 2005.^[4] Al-Sudais has preached Islam's opposition to "explosions and terrorism",^[5]^[6] and has called for peaceful inter-faith dialogue,^[7] but also been criticized for vilifying non-Muslims and especially Jews in his sermons.^[8]^[9] He has denounced the treatment of Palestinians by Israeli settlers and the state of Israel,^[10] and called for more aid to be sent to Palestinians.^[11] He has also been noted for identifying women's un-Islamic behavior as in part responsible for the winter 2006 drought in Saudi Arabia.^[12]^[13] In 2016, he delivered the very important Hajj sermon to a multitude of pilgrims gathered at Arafat after prayers.^[14]^[15]

^ "Ninth Session". Dubai International Holy Quran Award. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
^ "Maeali Alrayiys Aleami Yareaa Alhafl Alkhitamiu Likhariji Aljameiat Alkhayriat Litahfiz Alquran Alkarim Bialriyad" معالي الرئيس العام يرعى الحفل الختامي لخريجي الجمعية الخيرية لتحفيظ القرآن الكريم بالرياض [His Excellency the President-General sponsors the closing ceremony of the graduates of the Holy Quran Memorization Association in Riyadh] (in Arabic). October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018. Archived December 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Biography of Abdul Rahman Al Sudais". Assabile. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
^ "Al Sudais chosen Islamic Personality of the year". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
^ "Fight terrorism jointly: Al-Sudais". Arab News. Saudi Arabia. September 12, 2009. ISSN 0254-833X. OCLC 4574467. Archived from the original on January 17, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012. More than three million Muslim faithful attended jumʼa, taraweeh and Qiyamullail prayers at the Two Holy Mosques on Friday as the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah called for joint efforts to combat terrorism.
^ Bin Mahfouz, Taleb. "Al-Sudais to offer 10 solutions for terrorism". Saudi Gazette. Saudi Arabia. ISSN 1319-0326. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2012. Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Sudais Leads Prayers for Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony". Arab News. Saudi Arabia. June 12, 2004. ISSN 0254-833X. OCLC 4574467. Retrieved October 19, 2014. More than three million Muslims attended Jumu'ah, Taraweeh and Qiyam al-Layl prayers at the Two Sacred Mosques on Friday as the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah called for joint efforts to combat terrorism...Also on hand for the launch of the 10-million-pound ($18 million) London Muslim Center were guests including….Racial Equality Minister Fiona Mactaggart. Prince Charles, in Washington for the funeral of former US President Ronald Reagan, also took part by way of a pre-recorded message.
^ Sacranie, Iqbal; Abdul Bari, Muhammad; Kantharia, Mehboob; Siddiqui, Ghayasuddin (August 21, 2005). "A Question of Leadership". Panorama (Interview). Interviewed by John Ware. London, England: BBC. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais, Imam, Ka'ba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: The history of Islam is the best testament to how different communities can live together in peace and harmony. Muslims must exemplify the true image of Islam in their interaction with other communities.

John Ware: Sheikh Sudais is a leading Imam from the great mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest city. He had one voice for his Western audience - another for his followers in Saudi.

Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais: The worst…of the enemies of Islam are those…whom he…made monkeys and pigs, the aggressive Jews and oppressive Zionists and those that follow them: the callers of the trinity and the cross worshippers…those influenced by the rottenness of their ideas, and the poison of their cultures the followers of secularism…how can we talk sweetly when the Hindus and the idol worshippers kuffar…indulge in their overwhelming hatred against our brothers…in Muslim Kashmir…
^ Moore, Charles (July 9, 2005). "Where is the Gandhi of Islam?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-10-31. In Mecca two years ago, al Sudais described Jews as 'scum of the earth', 'rats of the world' and 'monkeys and pigs who should be annihilated'. Yet, criticise Al Sudais, and Mohammed Abdul Bari leaps furiously to his defence.^{[dead link]}
^ "Shaikh Al-Sudais, Imam of Al-Haram Mosque in Makkah Calls on Muslims to Work Towards Lifting Israeli Siege of Gaza, and Liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque". Cross-Cultural Understanding. Al-Jazeerah. November 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-01-02. Retrieved January 22, 2012. The Sheikh demanded an end to the Israeli siege against the Gaza Strip, calling on the Palestinians to unite and put aside their differences... Calling for the liberation of Palestine, Al-Sudais said now is the time for Palestinian factions to bury their differences. These differences have only added to the miseries of our brothers and sisters in Palestine. This inhuman blockade has made life hellish for them.
^ Ghafour, Abdul (February 2, 2008). "Sudais Warns of Gaza Catastrophe". Arab News. Saudi Arabia. ISSN 0254-833X. OCLC 4574467. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012. The imam rebuked Western countries that speak profusely about human rights, freedom and democratic values for keeping mum on the continuing Israeli atrocities in occupied palestinian territories. Delivering his Juʼma sermon to the thousands of faithful who thronged the large mosque complex, the imam called for quick delivery of relief supplies such as food and medicine to the people of Gaza. "Our brothers in Gaza are facing death and destruction, hunger and siege... After God, only you can boost their morale and save them from this trial," Al-Sudais told Muslims all over the world. "Help them, donate for them, especially in this harsh weather condition. They are living in dark without electricity, hunger and poverty. They don't have water or food and medicine. The economic siege has made their lives extremely difficult," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the imam as saying.
^ Bradley, John R. (2006). "8. The Segregation of the Sexes". Saudi Arabia Exposed : Inside a Kingdom in Crisis (Updated ed.). St. Martin's Griffin. p. 170. ISBN 978-1403970770. This was taken up a while later when one of the Imams of the grand mosque in Mecca, Abdul Rahman Al-Sudeis, singled out women as he recited a catalogue of sins responsible for a drought the kingdom was experiencing. Their sins, he said, included unveiling, mingling with men, and being indifferent to the hijab.
^ Elhadj, Elie (2007). The Islamic Shield: Arab Resistance to Democratic and Religious Reforms. Universal Publishers. p. 126. ISBN 978-1599424118. Also deplorable is the explanation given by al-Sudais, the Imam and preacher of Islam's holiest mosque in Mecca, regarding the causes behind the severe drought that hit Saudi Arabia in the winter of 2006. On November 13, 2006, a day of prayer to send rain (Istisqua'), Al-Sudais preached that the drought is caused by the proliferation of sin in Saudi society: specifically, dealing in usury, bribery, lying, dishonesty, and violating God's rules.
^ "Haj sermon calls for unity as pilgrims fill aʼrafat". Arab News. Riyadh. September 11, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
^ Nehme, Dahlia (September 11, 2016). "Haj pilgrims begin Rite which caused deadly crush". Reuters. London. Retrieved June 4, 2018.

[DIHQA-1] "Ninth Session". Dubai International Holy Quran Award. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2007-03-19.

[President-2] "Maeali Alrayiys Aleami Yareaa Alhafl Alkhitamiu Likhariji Aljameiat Alkhayriat Litahfiz Alquran Alkarim Bialriyad" معالي الرئيس العام يرعى الحفل الختامي لخريجي الجمعية الخيرية لتحفيظ القرآن الكريم بالرياض [His Excellency the President-General sponsors the closing ceremony of the graduates of the Holy Quran Memorization Association in Riyadh] (in Arabic). October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018. Archived December 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine

[bio-assabile-3] "Biography of Abdul Rahman Al Sudais". Assabile. Retrieved 18 October 2014.

[4] "Al Sudais chosen Islamic Personality of the year". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.

[ArabNewsASTerrorFight-5] "Fight terrorism jointly: Al-Sudais". Arab News. Saudi Arabia. September 12, 2009. ISSN 0254-833X. OCLC 4574467. Archived from the original on January 17, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2012. More than three million Muslim faithful attended jumʼa, taraweeh and Qiyamullail prayers at the Two Holy Mosques on Friday as the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah called for joint efforts to combat terrorism.

[SGAS-6] Bin Mahfouz, Taleb. "Al-Sudais to offer 10 solutions for terrorism". Saudi Gazette. Saudi Arabia. ISSN 1319-0326. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2012. Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine

[ArabNewsPrayer-7] "Sudais Leads Prayers for Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony". Arab News. Saudi Arabia. June 12, 2004. ISSN 0254-833X. OCLC 4574467. Retrieved October 19, 2014. More than three million Muslims attended Jumu'ah, Taraweeh and Qiyam al-Layl prayers at the Two Sacred Mosques on Friday as the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah called for joint efforts to combat terrorism...Also on hand for the launch of the 10-million-pound ($18 million) London Muslim Center were guests including….Racial Equality Minister Fiona Mactaggart. Prince Charles, in Washington for the funeral of former US President Ronald Reagan, also took part by way of a pre-recorded message.

[panorama-8] Sacranie, Iqbal; Abdul Bari, Muhammad; Kantharia, Mehboob; Siddiqui, Ghayasuddin (August 21, 2005). "A Question of Leadership". Panorama (Interview). Interviewed by John Ware. London, England: BBC. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais, Imam, Ka'ba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: The history of Islam is the best testament to how different communities can live together in peace and harmony. Muslims must exemplify the true image of Islam in their interaction with other communities.

John Ware: Sheikh Sudais is a leading Imam from the great mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest city. He had one voice for his Western audience - another for his followers in Saudi.

Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais: The worst…of the enemies of Islam are those…whom he…made monkeys and pigs, the aggressive Jews and oppressive Zionists and those that follow them: the callers of the trinity and the cross worshippers…those influenced by the rottenness of their ideas, and the poison of their cultures the followers of secularism…how can we talk sweetly when the Hindus and the idol worshippers kuffar…indulge in their overwhelming hatred against our brothers…in Muslim Kashmir…

[Telegraph_Moore-9] Moore, Charles (July 9, 2005). "Where is the Gandhi of Islam?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-10-31. In Mecca two years ago, al Sudais described Jews as 'scum of the earth', 'rats of the world' and 'monkeys and pigs who should be annihilated'. Yet, criticise Al Sudais, and Mohammed Abdul Bari leaps furiously to his defence.^{[dead link]}

[AJCCUN-10] "Shaikh Al-Sudais, Imam of Al-Haram Mosque in Makkah Calls on Muslims to Work Towards Lifting Israeli Siege of Gaza, and Liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque". Cross-Cultural Understanding. Al-Jazeerah. November 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-01-02. Retrieved January 22, 2012. The Sheikh demanded an end to the Israeli siege against the Gaza Strip, calling on the Palestinians to unite and put aside their differences... Calling for the liberation of Palestine, Al-Sudais said now is the time for Palestinian factions to bury their differences. These differences have only added to the miseries of our brothers and sisters in Palestine. This inhuman blockade has made life hellish for them.

[ArabNewsGaza-11] Ghafour, Abdul (February 2, 2008). "Sudais Warns of Gaza Catastrophe". Arab News. Saudi Arabia. ISSN 0254-833X. OCLC 4574467. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012. The imam rebuked Western countries that speak profusely about human rights, freedom and democratic values for keeping mum on the continuing Israeli atrocities in occupied palestinian territories. Delivering his Juʼma sermon to the thousands of faithful who thronged the large mosque complex, the imam called for quick delivery of relief supplies such as food and medicine to the people of Gaza. "Our brothers in Gaza are facing death and destruction, hunger and siege... After God, only you can boost their morale and save them from this trial," Al-Sudais told Muslims all over the world. "Help them, donate for them, especially in this harsh weather condition. They are living in dark without electricity, hunger and poverty. They don't have water or food and medicine. The economic siege has made their lives extremely difficult," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the imam as saying.

[Bradley-12] Bradley, John R. (2006). "8. The Segregation of the Sexes". Saudi Arabia Exposed : Inside a Kingdom in Crisis (Updated ed.). St. Martin's Griffin. p. 170. ISBN 978-1403970770. This was taken up a while later when one of the Imams of the grand mosque in Mecca, Abdul Rahman Al-Sudeis, singled out women as he recited a catalogue of sins responsible for a drought the kingdom was experiencing. Their sins, he said, included unveiling, mingling with men, and being indifferent to the hijab.

[Elhadj-13] Elhadj, Elie (2007). The Islamic Shield: Arab Resistance to Democratic and Religious Reforms. Universal Publishers. p. 126. ISBN 978-1599424118. Also deplorable is the explanation given by al-Sudais, the Imam and preacher of Islam's holiest mosque in Mecca, regarding the causes behind the severe drought that hit Saudi Arabia in the winter of 2006. On November 13, 2006, a day of prayer to send rain (Istisqua'), Al-Sudais preached that the drought is caused by the proliferation of sin in Saudi society: specifically, dealing in usury, bribery, lying, dishonesty, and violating God's rules.

[Haj-Sudais-14] "Haj sermon calls for unity as pilgrims fill aʼrafat". Arab News. Riyadh. September 11, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.

[HajSudaisReuters-15] Nehme, Dahlia (September 11, 2016). "Haj pilgrims begin Rite which caused deadly crush". Reuters. London. Retrieved June 4, 2018.

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