The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al al-Sheikh, has passed away at the age of 84. The Saudi News Agency confirmed the news this morning. The funeral prayer is scheduled to take place at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh later today.
The nation is mourning the loss of its prominent religious figure, with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordering a special prayer in his honor at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and all mosques throughout Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince has also expressed his condolences for the Grand Mufti.
Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, who held the title of minister, was not only the Chairman of the General Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta but also served as the Head of the Council of Senior Scholars. He came from the Al ash-Sheikh family and began his leadership journey at the Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Mosque in Dukhna, Riyadh, in 1970. Later, he was appointed as an assistant professor at the College of Sharia in Mecca.
As the third Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, following Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al al-Sheikh and Abdulaziz Bin Baz, Al Sheikh made headlines a decade ago when he declared chess haram in Islam due to its association with gambling and fostering animosity among players.
Despite facing challenges early in life, including losing his father during childhood and later losing his eyesight in his 20s, Sheikh Al Sheikh pursued his studies in Sharia and became an esteemed member of academic bodies at various universities.