Ali Ahmed Mullah

About

He is the veteran muezzin -- title of the church official who calls daily prayer --  at the greatest Mosque in Islam that is located in their holy capital of Mecca: Masjid al-Haram. He has been the official muezzin since 1984. This makes him the longest running muezzin in the history of the Masjid al-Haram. 

Before Fame

He began singing the Adhan, the Islamic prayer, at the age of 14 years old following in the tradition of his father and uncles before him that have been working in the role of muezzin for decades. Originally, many muezzins were needed as this was before there were loudspeakers to project the prayer. Thus, a muezzin would be established at each of the seven minarets across the city that ensured all parts of Mecca could be called to prayer at the appropriate times each day of the year. He studied at the Hanbali, one of the four major Sunni, traditional jurisprudence schools and in 1970 graduated from Institute of Technical Education in Riyadh before becoming a teacher.

Trivia

Aside from muezzin of the Masjid al-Haram, he also holds the titles of Sheikh and Qari. 

Family Life

He has married 4 different women and has 3 children with each wife. 

Associated With

Masjid al-Haram is the site of each Islamic believer's required pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime which has included famous faces like Muhammad Ali, Akon, and Ibtihaj Muhammad.