Saudi Arabia Grand Mufti passes away

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al al-Sheikh has passed away, the Royal Court said on Tuesday in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Sheikh Abdulaziz passed away on Tuesday morning, the Royal Court said. “With his death, the Kingdom and the Muslim world have lost a distinguished scholar who made significant contributions in the service of science, Islam and Muslims,” the Royal Court said in the statement.

Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh served as the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and Chairman of the General Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta, holding the rank of minister. He was the third Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, following Sheikh Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Shaikh and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz.
Funeral prayers for Sheikh Abdulaziz will be held in afternoon at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Saudi King Salman has directed that absentee funeral prayers will take place in Mecca and Madinah and across the Kingdom’s mosques following afternoon (Asr) prayers.

Born on November 30, 1943, in Makkah, Sheikh Al Sheikh lost his father in 1951 before he turned eight. He grew up an orphan, memorized the Noble Quran at an early age, and later lost his sight in his twenties. He pursued studies in Sharia, became a member of academic councils at universities, and served as preacher at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh and as a prominent preacher at Nimrah Mosque.

Sheikh Al Sheikh authored numerous publications in the field of Sharia, including collections of fatwas, works on Islamic doctrine, and writings on lawful and prohibited matters (Halal and Haram). His scholarly contributions also include books compiling fatwas delivered during various programs and occasions throughout his career.