Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan Appointed New Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia
The appointment, announced Wednesday, October 22, positions the renowned scholar as Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and General President of the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Fatwa, with ministerial rank.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has appointed renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan bin Abdullah Al-Fawzan as the new Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia.
The appointment, announced Wednesday, October 22, positions the renowned scholar as Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and General President of the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Fatwa, with ministerial rank.
The appointment follows the passing of Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, who served as Grand Mufti until his death on September 23 at the age of 82. His appointment marks a significant moment in the Kingdom’s religious leadership, as he becomes Saudi Arabia’s fourth Grand Mufti.
Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, born in 1935 and is one of Saudi Arabia’s most respected Islamic scholars.
He memorised the Quran at an early age under the guidance of Sheikh Hammoud bin Suleiman Al-Tilal and pursued his education in Buraydah and Riyadh, earning a degree in Sharia in 1961.
He later obtained master’s and doctoral degrees in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), specialising in inheritance and dietary rulings, and went on to become director of the Higher Institute of Judiciary.
The scholar studied under prominent teachers including Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamid and later Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz.
Throughout his distinguished career, Sheikh Al-Fawzan has held several key positions, including membership in the Council of Senior Scholars, the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta, and the Islamic Fiqh Council under the Muslim World League.
Renowned for his scholarly works and religious teachings, he has authored over 35 books and is also the voice behind the long-running radio programme “Nur Ala Al-Darb,” (‘Light upon the Path’) which continues to educate and inspire audiences across the Muslim world.
His published works, including “Al-Irshad ila Saheeh al-I’tiqad” and the four-volume “Al-Khutab al-Minbariyyah,” serve as standard references for Islamic students and scholars.
The appointment places Sheikh Al-Fawzan at the helm of Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment, overseeing fatwa issuance and scholarly research.
His methodology follows the Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah tradition, emphasizing evidence-based rulings and balanced scholarship.