Thread by @HaramainInfo

Interview with Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid

Do you remember the first time you lead prayers in the Haram?

Was the Taraweeh prayer also assigned to you?

The Pulpit of Masjid Al Haram, what does it mean to you & what message will you like to pass onto your colleagues?

First of all as I mentioned in our previous meeting, I think one of the greatest blessings Allah has bestowed upon me apart from Islam is the memorisation of the Qur'an, leading prayers, delivering sermons and teaching at the Grand Mosque.

I never pursued nor anticipated it but it was a blessing from Allah. Though I won’t conceal I was attached with & loved the Haram, learning the Quran there as part of the nature of Makkah, studying both at the secondary & college level.

Praises be to Allah, after the passing away of my father (Sheikh Abdullah bin Humaid) on Wednesday 20th of Dhul Qa’dah 1402 AH, I went to the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque, two to three days later and requested to teach in the Grand Mosque.

It was just a passion, having received my doctorate degree about a year earlier from Umm Al Qura University. The permission came from the presidency may Allah reward them, assigning me a study group during Hajj which I immediately started, so I had an attendance in the mosque.

Afterwards, I remember colleagues and Sheikh Saleh Tuwaijry (may Allah have mercy on him) inquired that “Why don’t you lead prayers in the Grand Mosque?”, which indicated the name was possibly being discussed.

However I wasn’t anticipating it nor did I pursue it or made others pursue it for me at all. I led prayers voluntarily, which I cannot clearly recall how it started.

It might have been in 1403 in the month of Rabee ul Awwal or Rabee ul Thani, the Imam for Isha prayer was Sheikh Muhammad Subayyil (May Allah have mercy on him) when Sheikh Ahmad Ibrahim passed away in the Tawaf area (Mataaf) , while prostrating in the two Rak'aah of Tawaaf.

Sheikh Muhammad Subayyil (may Allah have mercy on him) kindly went with him to the hospital and assigned me to lead the prayer. I also led the Isha prayer once or twice as well and a night of Taraweeh prayers voluntarily and unofficially.

Was the Taraweeh prayer also assigned to you?

Yes it was, Sheikh Uthaymeen (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) used to lead the prayers. At the night of Eid he went to lead for the Eid prayers and it was a full month (30 days) so I was assigned to lead the prayers.

When it was the year 1404, Sheikh Abdul Rahamn Sudais and I were assigned officially the same day, to lead prayers and deliver sermons.

I wanted to talk about this Puplit of Masjid Al Haram - what does it mean to you & what message will you like to pass on to Imams regarding being cautious and utilising this platform to reinforce good conduct?

Firstly just as I said, I don’t think there is an honour equivalent to memorising the Qur'an, leading prayers and teaching at the two Holy Mosques. I want to send a positive message not just for me, but to all the Imams of the two Holy Mosques.

One of my friends said to me “You are among those Allah has made a leader of the God-conscious ones”. I kindly said fear Allah and don’t flatter. He continued saying “You people lead prayers for decades in the two Holy Mosques and behind you are millions of followers.

Are there no God-conscious ones amongst them?”.

This was a word, as much as it was a good will message, by which I felt an extremely great responsibility from it. When people of whom you don’t know the extent of their righteousness follow the lead of your prayers.

There is no doubt that it is a great message. I urge myself and the Imams to be more cautious though I think the two Holy Mosques require that anyway and more in comparison to other mosques due to their nobility and status.