RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court announced on Tuesday the passing of the Kingdom’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, at the age of 82.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz directed that Salat al-Ghaib—funeral prayers in absentia—be held at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and in mosques across the Kingdom after Asr prayers. The main funeral prayer will also be performed today at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh following Asr.
Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh had been serving as the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and head of the General Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta. He was the third to hold the position, succeeding Sheikh Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Shaikh and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz.
Born in Mecca in 1943, Sheikh Abdulaziz memorized the Quran during his youth. Despite losing his father early in life and his eyesight in early adulthood, he pursued Islamic scholarship with dedication. Over the years, he became a leading preacher and authored numerous works on Islamic jurisprudence, creed, and rulings, alongside widely referenced collections of fatwas.
