RIYADH — Eminent Saudi Islamic Scholar and Member of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Youssef bin Muhammad bin Saeed will deliver the Arafat sermon for this year's Hajj pilgrimage. Sheikh Maher bin Hamad Al-Muaiqly, imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque, will be the reserve imam. The highest Saudi authorities have issued orders in this regard. Sheikh Bin Saeed has served as a teacher at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, and several other mosques. He also worked as a preacher in a number of mosques and Eid prayer grounds for more than 20 years. He participated in the programs of various ministries and universities. Sheikh Bin Saeed held a number of positions, including member of the Council of Senior Scholars. He was appointed earlier deputy minister of Islamic Affairs for a period of four years. He served as professor, associate professor, assistant professor, lecturer, and teaching assistant, in addition to various academic positions at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University. Sheikh Bin Saeed has also served in various other capacities such as the chair of the Cyber Security Committee at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, head of the Holy Qur'an Competitions Committee at the ministry, vice chairman of the Hajj Committee at the ministry, and the head of the Qur'an Translation Committee at the King Fahd Qur'an Printing Complex. Sheikh Bin Saeed memorized the Holy Qur'an at an early age. His teachers included renowned scholars such as former Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, and Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh. Sheikh Bin Saeed obtained a bachelor's degree from the College of Fundamentals of Religion in Riyadh and a master's degree and a Ph.D. He is also author of more than 30 books.
