MAKKAH – The father of Sheikh Bandar Baleela, one of the Imams of the Kaaba in Mecca, died on Tuesday morning. He was 85 years old.
Sheikh Baleela announced the news of his father’s death on his official Twitter account, asking his followers to pray for his father’s soul and for forgiveness. He also expressed his gratitude for the condolences and sympathy he received from his fans and fellow imams.
The funeral prayer for Sheikh Baleela’s father will be held in the Masjid Al-Haram, the Grand Mosque of Mecca, on Tuesday after the Dhuhr Salat, or noon prayer. The funeral will take place in Al-Ma’la Cemetery, a historic cemetery near the mosque where many prominent figures in Islamic history are buried.
Sheikh Baleela is one of the official imams of the Kaaba, according to a royal decree issued in October 2013. He is also a professor of Sharia law at Umm Al-Qura University in Mecca. He is known for his beautiful and emotional recitation of the Quran, which has attracted millions of listeners online.
