‘Sudais Malaysia’- A Voice That Brings Tranquility To Muslim Worshippers

By Mohd Afiq Zulkifli

PETALING JAYA, March 12 (Bernama) – Imagine performing prayers in a mosque in Malaysia, yet the imam’s recitation sounds just like that of Masjidil Haram, the holiest mosque in Islam, located in the heart of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

This is the experience many worshippers describe when listening to Mohd Shukri Ali, whose voice closely resembles that of Sheikh Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the Grand Imam of Masjidil Haram, renowned for his heartfelt Quranic recitations.

“Naturally, my voice is like this (authentic). So, I don’t have to force or imitate his voice. This uniqueness is a gift from Allah SWT," said Mohd Shukri, who has been given the nickname ‘Sudais Malaysia,’ when met by Bernama recently.

 Videos of Mohd Shukri’s Quranic recitations, including while leading Tarawih prayers, shared on his TikTok account @ustaz.shukri.ali, have gained widespread attention, with many expressing surprise and admiration for the uniqueness of his voice.

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Mohd Shukri, 43, who frequently receives invitations to lead prayers in mosques across the country, admitted that he has admired Sheikh Sudais’ recitation style since his teenage years while studying at Maahad Tahfiz al-Quran Terengganu. He spent several years mastering every tone and rhythm of the esteemed imam’s recitation.

Additionally, the father of four shared that during Ramadan, he would stay awake every night just to listen to Sheikh Sudais’ Quranic recitations, broadcast live from Makkah on television.

“I have followed Sheikh Sudais closely since I was 15. Back then, I would buy cassette recordings of his complete 30 Juz recitation, studying every detail—his vocal modulations, how he raises his voice, and even how he weeps when reciting certain verses.

 “My voice naturally aligns with Sheikh Sudais', so I adopted his recitation style. Although I can mimic other imams like Sheikh Maher Al-Muaiqly and Saad Al-Ghamidi, I feel most comfortable using Sheikh Sudais’ style when leading Tarawih prayers, as it has become second nature to me," he said, adding that he has met Sheikh Sudais informally on several occasions.

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Recalling his journey, Mohd Shukri who hails from Kampung Che Lijah, Dungun, Terengganu, said that in 1999, Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad, the former Grand Imam of Masjid Negara, was the first to recognise the striking resemblance of his voice to Sheikh Sudais.

 "After winning a state-level tahfiz competition and attending a national-level training course, I met Syaikh Ismail. He pointed out the similarity in my voice and advised me to follow Sheikh Sudais' recitation style," he said.

"It was based on his advice that I earnestly learned to adopt Sheikh Sudais' recitation style," he added, noting that this method of Quranic recitation requires strong stamina and employs the Rast maqam (melodic mode).

Due to the uniqueness of his voice, Mohd Shukri, who holds a degree in Quranic Studies and Qiraat from Al-Azhar University, Egypt, often receives invitations to lead Tarawih prayers abroad, including in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, and Indonesia.

 “Actually, the nickname ‘Imam Sudais Malaysia’ has been around for a long time. I have been a freelance imam and Quran teacher for over 25 years, teaching religious classes across Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

"However, recently, as I started actively sharing my Quranic recitation videos on TikTok, the nickname has gone viral again, and more people have come to know me," said Mohd Shukri, who now has over 70,000 followers on the platform.

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Meanwhile, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Quran and Sunnah Studies, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Dr Anuar Hasin, said that based on his observations, Mohd Shukri's voice is the closest to Sheikh Sudais', with a 98 per cent resemblance.

"With his voice being nearly identical to Sheikh Sudais, the world-renowned Grand Imam of Masjidil Haram, Mohd Shukri’s Quranic recitation brings comfort to worshippers who long for the atmosphere of Makkah," he said.

-- BERNAMA