Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh passed away at 82, announced the Royal Court on Tuesday.
Born in Makkah in November 1943, Sheikh Abdulaziz grew up in a family of scholars.
He lost his father at the age of eight but memorized the Quran as a boy and pursued religious studies under leading clerics, including former grand muftis Sheikh Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz.
Despite losing his eyesight in his twenties, he went on to complete his education, graduating from Imam al-Dawa Scholarly Institute in Riyadh in 1964 with a degree in Arabic and Islamic law.
Sheikh Abdulaziz began teaching at the Institute in 1964 and later became professor at the College of Sharia in Riyadh.
Alongside his academic work, he served as imam and preacher at several mosques in Riyadh, before being appointed in 1982 as preacher at the Nimra Mosque in Arafat, where he delivered the annual Hajj sermon for 35 years, a role watched by millions of Muslims worldwide.
His career in religious leadership advanced steadily. He joined the Council of Senior Scholars in 1986, became a member of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta in 1991, and was appointed deputy grand mufti in 1995.
In 1999, following the death of Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz, he became the Kingdom’s third grand mufti, a position he held until his death. He also chaired the Council of Senior Scholars, led the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, and presided over the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League.
Known for his moderate approach and emphasis on balance in religious guidance, Sheikh Abdulaziz was described by fellow scholars as a figure who combined firm knowledge with compassion, raising generations of students and leaving behind a deep scholarly legacy.
“He spent his life in the pursuit of knowledge and fatwa, planting wisdom and spreading reassurance,” Mohammed al-Omari, a researcher in Islamic sciences, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“He was a voice of moderation and tolerance, a scholar who combined firm knowledge with compassion and understanding, raising generations of students and leaving behind a profound legacy,” he added.
