Abdel Hakim Abdel Latif: Remembering the former head of Egyptian Recitations

September 9 marks the eighth anniversary of the passing of Sheikh Abdel Hakim Abdel Latif, the former Sheikh of the Egyptian Recitations. Born in 1936 in the Demerdash district of Cairo, he was raised in a family dedicated to the Quran and completed his memorization of the holy book by the age of 13.

Sheikh Abdel Latif was a prominent figure in modern Quranic sciences. He studied at the Al-Azhar Institute of Recitations starting in 1950 and held various teaching positions within the Al-Azhar educational system across several cities, including Alexandria and Faiyum. He also served in an inspection capacity for Al-Azhar institutes until his retirement in 1997.

Throughout his career, he led prayers and taught at several major mosques, including Al-Azhar Mosque, Sayyida Nafisa, and Sayyida Sukayna. He was recognized for his scholarly contributions, including works such as the completion of 'Kitab al-Kawkab al-Durri' and his commentary on the Kisai recitation system, titled 'Hadiqat al-Ra'i'. His influence extended internationally, as he served as an imam and judge in Quranic competitions in countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United States.