Saud Al-Shuraim

Saud ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Shuraim (Arabic: سعود بن ابراهيم بن محمد الشريم،, born 19 January 1966) is one of the Imams and khateeb of the Grand Masjid (Masjid al-Haram) in Makkah. He holds a doctorate (Ph.D) and is a Professor of Sharia and Islamic studies at the Umm al-Qura University in Makkah, and was recently appointed as a Dean and "Specialist Professor in Fiqh" at the University.

He is also known as a researcher in Fiqh and he follows the Hanbali madhhab. He is a judge and a writer who has composed many books on Aqidah, fiqh, and Arabic poetry.

Shuraim leads the Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan in Mecca since 1991. He also led the Salat al-Janazah (funeral prayer) for late Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz on 17 June 2012 after Maghrib (sunset) prayer in Masjid Al Haram. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and the royal families were present at this funeral. His voice has been widely recorded and is internationally distributed by various mediums.

Al-Shuraim studied at Areen elementary school, then at the Modern schools for secondary education and then at Al Yarmouk North high school. During the last years of his secondary school, he became a Hafiz of the Quran. He graduated from high school in 1983. Then he attended Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, graduating in 1988. The following year, in 1989, he attended the "Ma'had Al-'aali Lilqadhah" institute and received a master's degree in 1992. In 1995, he pursued the Ph.D. degree in the Umm al-Qura University of Makkah.

In 1991, he was made Imam and Khateeb of Masjid al-Haram by the order of King Fahd. In 1992, he was appointed judge in the High court of Makkah. In 1993, the High approval was made for him to teach in the Holy Masjid. He has been serving as a professor at the Umm al-Qura University in Makkah since 1995. Later, he was named the dean of the faculty of "Shari'ah and Islamic Studies". In June 2010, he was promoted from the rank of professor to the specialist professor in fiqh by the president of the university Dr. Bakri bin Mat'ooq. He is presently working in Saudi Arabia.

Sa'ud ash-Shuraim's family is from the Haraqees of the Banu Zayd tribe of Saudi Arabia.

In a rare interview with the Al Watan newspaper, when asked about his wife's role in his success, Saud ash-Shuraim memorably stated,

"Before I say something about my wife, I can’t forget my mother’s love and mercy for me in my childhood and youth as well; As she raised me in orphanage in childhood... her love is a tonic for me. May Allah shower His mercy upon her as she did with me when I was a child.

And as for my wife, she has proven herself to be the best companion for me in happiness and sorrow, she is there when I need her, cheers me up, and tries her best to lighten my sorrows. May Allah include this in her good deeds."