Reciter Spotlight: Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais

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Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais is the head imam of Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and one of the most listened-to Qari voices on earth. His clear articulation, moderate pace, and unmistakable warmth make him a near-universal choice for daily muraja’a (review). For memorizers who want a single voice they can listen to for hours without fatigue, Al-Sudais is the safest pick.

Biography

Born in Riyadh in 1960, Al-Sudais memorized the Quran by age twelve. He earned his PhD in Islamic Sharia from Umm Al-Qura University with a dissertation on the jurisprudence of silence. Appointed to lead prayers at Masjid Al-Haram in 1984 at age 24 — one of the youngest ever — he has since led Taraweeh in the Haram for four decades. He currently serves as the President General of the Two Holy Mosques.

His Taraweeh livestreams during Ramadan reach hundreds of millions of viewers annually, making his voice arguably the most-heard recitation in the modern world.

Why memorizers choose him

Steady middle pace — faster than Al-Husary, slower than fast-speed reciters, just right for daily review.

Balanced tajweed — correct without being pedantic.

Familiarity boosts recall — because so many have heard his Taraweeh, memory cues attach naturally to his phrasing.

Consistent audio quality across thousands of hours of available recording.

Pair him with

+ Al-Shuraim — his Al-Haram co-imam. The two complement each other perfectly; rotating between them prevents reciter-dependence.

+ Al-Husary — Al-Husary for new-memorization precision, Al-Sudais for daily review pace.

+ Alafasy — similar warmth with a different regional accent.

Best surahs to start with

Any Juz 30 surah — his Juz Amma recordings are the most widely circulated on YouTube and Muslim-media platforms.

Surah Al-Baqarah — his complete Al-Baqarah recording is a Ramadan staple for memorizers working through long surahs.

Surah Al-Kahf — his Friday recitation of Al-Kahf is a reference track among memorizers worldwide.

When not to use Al-Sudais

If you are completely new to Arabic and still learning letter pronunciation, start with Al-Husary’s Mu’allim recordings instead. Al-Sudais’s pace, while moderate, can feel fast for someone still figuring out the shapes of letters.

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