RIYADH: Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and one of the most influential Islamic scholars in the Muslim world, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 81. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) confirmed his death, noting that he had been battling illness for some time.
A towering religious figure, Sheikh Abdulaziz held the position of Grand Mufti the Kingdom’s highest religious authority as well as the head of the Council of Senior Scholars, the supreme Islamic body in Saudi Arabia.
Born in 1943, Sheikh Abdulaziz came from a long line of scholars and rose to prominence through years of academic and religious service. Over the course of his career, he became a key voice in Saudi Arabia’s religious affairs, shaping both public policy and private faith through his sermons, fatwas, and religious rulings.
He was particularly known for delivering the largest number of Hajj sermons in history, addressing millions of pilgrims from around the globe at Islam’s holiest sites in Makkah and Medina.
SPA reported that funeral prayers for Sheikh Abdulaziz will take place at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh following the Asr prayer. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has also ordered absentee funeral prayers to be held across the Kingdom, including at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and in mosques throughout the country.
Sheikh Abdulaziz’s leadership spanned decades during a transformative era in Saudi Arabia. His guidance and rulings were not only instrumental within the Kingdom but also respected across the wider Islamic world. As the head of the Council of Senior Scholars, he helped steer the Kingdom’s religious direction during times of both stability and change.
With his passing, Saudi Arabia bids farewell to a religious leader whose influence shaped generations. His legacy will continue to resonate in mosques, religious institutions, and the hearts of millions who looked to him for guidance.
