The mosque’s Welfare Board secretary, Rama Satria, said the annual program aims to create a more solemn atmosphere by inviting selected imams directly from the Middle East.
The clerics are Sheikh Abdelrahman Monis of Egypt, Sheikh Hasan Ahmad Shaker of Jordan and Sheikh Ahmad Sya’ban of Egypt, all known for their strong credentials in Quranic recitation.
Rama said the initiative is designed to provide worshippers with a deeper spiritual experience during both the Tarawih prayers and the late-night Qiyamullail prayers.
“The presence of these sheikhs is expected to enhance the solemnity of worship through melodious, measured Quranic recitation in accordance with tajwid rules,” he said.
Abdelrahman Monis will serve as the first imam, leading four nights of Tarawih between the fourth and ninth days of Ramadan, according to the schedule set by the organizers.
He is familiar to congregants, having led Tarawih prayers at the Banda Aceh mosque several times over the past two years.
Currently based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he serves as a permanent imam at a mosque there and has opened a branch of the Tahsin Al-Laithy Academy in Banda Aceh.
Hasan Ahmad Shaker of Jordan is scheduled to lead Tarawih prayers from the 10th to the 12th night of Ramadan, marking his first visit to the mosque.
Ahmad Sya’ban, described as a qiraat specialist in Egypt, will lead Tarawih and also preside over Qiyamullail prayers during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, Rama said.
Preparations to bring the clerics began three months before Ramadan, including intensive communication, review of recitations and consultations before confirming the three imams and their schedules.
The three clerics are expected to lead thousands of worshippers over 24 nights during Ramadan at the mosque, one of Banda Aceh’s prominent Islamic centers.
Rama invited residents of Aceh Province, particularly those in Banda Aceh, to take part in the prayers and make the most of the opportunity during the holy month.
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Translator: R.Fajri, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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