Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, has passed away, the Royal Court confirmed on Tuesday through state broadcaster Al-Ekhbariya. He was the Kingdom’s highest-ranking religious authority and served as the head of the Council of Senior Scholars.
His funeral prayer will be offered today at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Nationwide Funeral Prayers Ordered
In a royal directive, King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered absentee funeral prayers (Salat al-Ghaib) for the late Grand Mufti. These prayers will be held after Asr prayer at:
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The Grand Mosque in Makkah
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The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah
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All mosques across the Kingdom
This rare honor underscores the profound respect Sheikh Abdulaziz commanded throughout Saudi Arabia and the Muslim world.
His Legacy of Over Two Decades
Appointed as Grand Mufti in 1999, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh spent more than two decades shaping religious rulings (fatwas) and guiding interpretations of Islamic law (Shariah).
During his tenure, he became one of the most influential religious figures in Saudi Arabia, issuing rulings that shaped both legal frameworks and social practices in the Kingdom.
👉 With his passing, Saudi Arabia bids farewell to a towering religious leader whose influence reached millions of Muslims worldwide.
