Abu Aynayn Shaeesha

Abu Aynayn Shaeesha (Abul Ainain Shu’aisha) was a distinguished Egyptian Quran reciter, born on August 12, 1922, in Bella, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate. Known for his rich, passionate voice and deep mastery of Tajweed, he rose to prominence in the mid‑1940s, becoming one of the foremost Qaris of his time. After memorizing the Qur’an in his childhood, he began his career with Egyptian radio in 1939 before moving to the Near East Radio in Palestine in 1940. He became the first Egyptian reciter to lead recitation at Masjid al‑Aqsa, later being honored to recite at mosques worldwide, including the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Umayyad Mosque in Syria, and London’s Islamic Centre. Back in Egypt, he held prominent positions: member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, dean of the International Institute for Holy Quran Memorization, and a voice examiner for Egyptian radio and television. He also served on the Supreme Quran Committee at Egypt’s Awqaf Ministry and helped establish Egypt’s Reciters Union alongside Sheikh Mahmoud Ali Al‑Banna and Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdul Samad. Despite suffering a vocal ailment in the early 1960s, he recovered and continued reciting at major mosques such as Omar Makram Mosque (1969) and Sayyida Zaynab Mosque (1992). He received numerous honors, including medals from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and other Muslim nations. Abu Aynayn Shaeesha is remembered for his soulful delivery, technical skill, and profound influence on generations of listeners and reciters.