Roots and studies
Sheikh Abdullah Awad Al-Juhany comes from Madinah and grew up in the city of the Prophet ﷺ. He memorised the Qur'an early and studied at the College of the Holy Qur'an at the Islamic University of Madinah. He later continued his academic studies. His training thus joins the practical art of recitation with scholarly study of the Qur'an and its readings.
His path as an imam
While still a young man he led prayers on Ramadan nights in the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah – a great honour given to few. In the mid-2000s he was then appointed imam of the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) in Makkah. Since then he has led prayers there, especially the tarawih and night prayers of Ramadan, which are broadcast around the world.
His style
Al-Juhany's voice is bright and clear, with a strength that fills the vast mosque effortlessly, and yet full of gentleness. He recites at a balanced pace, with clean tajweed and a melody that carries the listener without distracting. Especially in the night prayers, a quiet intimacy comes through in his recitation. Many people recognise his voice immediately when they hear recordings from the Ramadan nights in Makkah.
His recitations are widely available, both as recordings from prayers and as recordings of larger portions of the Qur'an.
What you can learn from him
Al-Juhany is a beautiful model of recitation that is powerful and humble at the same time. For learners it is worth paying attention to his pauses: he stops where the meaning has a natural boundary and resumes at a fitting point. This helps you understand the rules of waqf and ibtida' – stopping and starting – in a very practical way.
He is also a pleasant companion for revising memorised passages, because his melody is even and easy to follow.
May Allah preserve him and accept his service at the two Holy Mosques.