The Presidency for Religious Affairs during the launch of the Hajj Operations 1446 displayed a total of 10 Imams (not 11) at Masjid An Nabawi confirming the departure of Sheikh Ahmed. Masjid An Nabawi, (‘Mosque of the Prophet’) is the second mosque built by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in Medina, after the Quba Mosque, as well as the second largest mosque and holiest site in Islam, after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, in the Saudi region of the Hejaz.
The update became evident during the official launch of the 1446 Hajj Operations, where the Presidency for Religious Affairs listed only 10 Imams assigned to Masjid An-Nabawi, rather than the usual 11. This implicitly confirmed Sheikh Ahmed’s absence. The Presidency traditionally does not issue formal statements regarding the departure or replacement of Imams, maintaining discretion in such transitions.
Shaykh Ahmad Talib bin Abd al-Hameed (Hameed) bin Muzaffar Khan was born in Riyadh in 1401 AH. From a young age, he was immersed in the scholarly and spiritual environment of his maternal grandfather, Shaykh Abd al-Majid bin Hasan Jabarti. Shaykh Jabarti, who was also an Imam at Masjid al-Nabawi, had migrated to Saudi Arabia from his native region of Eritrea/Ethiopia at the age of 16. Shaykh Ahmad Talib dedicated himself to the study of the Quran under the tutelage of several distinguished scholars, achieving memorization and receiving ijazah (certification). His educational journey was further enriched by attending lessons conducted by some of Saudi Arabia’s leading scholars.
He pursued formal academic studies, earning both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies. He is currently in the process of completing his doctoral thesis. In 1434 AH (2013 CE), Shaykh Ahmad Talib was entrusted with leading the Tarawih and Tahajjud prayers during Ramadan at Masjid al-Nabawi. That same year, he was appointed as a regular Imam at the mosque, marking a significant milestone in his life. Sheikh Ahmed bin Talib Hameed has long been a revered figure among the faithful, and his absence will be deeply felt by many who have grown spiritually through his sermons and leadership.
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