07. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Sheikh [D: 2025]

Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh (1943 – 2025)

Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh (1943 – 2025) was the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and the chairman of the General Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta from 1999 to 2025. He is the third Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, following Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh and Abdulaziz Bin Baz.

❁ Beginnings and life of Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh

Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh was born on November 30, 1943, in Makkah al-Mukarramah. His father died in 1951 when he was younger than eight years old. He was a student of Mohammed Bin Sinan who helped him memorize the Noble Quran three years after his father’s death.

Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh grew up an orphan. He memorized the Noble Quran at an early age. He lost his sight in his twenties. He studied Sharia with the former Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh. He began his career by teaching and becoming a member of academic councils at universities. He is the preacher of Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh (Great Mosque) and one of the most notable preachers of Nimrah Mosque. He has many publications in the field of Sharia, including Fatwas, publications on doctrines, and provisions on the lawful and the prohibited (Halal and Haram). He also has other books classified under the Fatwas made by al-Sheikh in several programs and on various occasions.

❁ Education of Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh

Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh studied the Book of the Unity of Allah, the Three Fundamental Principles, and Al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith with Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al al-Sheikh, the then Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, over six years, from 1955 to 1961. He also studied Islamic Inheritance with the former Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, Abdulaziz Bin Baz. He learned syntax and studied Islamic Inheritance and the Unity of Allah with Abdulaziz Bin Saleh al-Murshid. He studied “Umdah al-Ahkam” and “Zad al-Mustaqni” with Abdulaziz al-Shathari. He enrolled in formal education at Imam al-Dawa Scholarly Institute in Riyadh in 1955. He joined the College of Sharia in Riyadh, at Imam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University in 1961, where he graduated in 1964-1965, upon specializing in Arabic and Sharia.

❁ Professional life of Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh

In 1965, Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh was appointed teacher at Imam al-Dawa Scholarly Institute in Riyadh. He taught there for eight years before transferring to the College of Sharia in Riyadh, at Imam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University where he worked as an assistant professor in 1979, then as an associate professor in 1980. He also taught at the Higher Institute of Judiciary in Riyadh and became a member of several academic councils in Saudi universities. 

In addition to his work, Al Al-Sheikh oversees and deliberates upon several academic theses elaborated by higher-education masters and doctoral students at the College of Sharia of Imam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University, the College of Sharia at Umm al-Qura University in Makkah al-Mukarramah, and the Higher Institute of Judiciary. 

Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh became Imam and preacher at Sheikh Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Mosque in Dakhnah, Riyadh, upon the death of Muhammad Bin Ibrahim in 1969. In the following year, he became the Imam of Friday Prayer at Sheikh Abdullah Bin Abdullatif Mosque before becoming the Imam of Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Mosque. His efforts are notable in giving lectures and conferences, as well as taking part in seminars and radio and televised religious programs.

❁ Positions held by Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh

In 1982, Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh was appointed Imam and preacher at Nimrah Mosque in Arafah. He was appointed to the Council of Senior Scholars in 1987. In 1991, he became a full-time senior member of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta. In 1995, he was appointed Deputy Grand Mufti of the Kingdom by Royal Order.

On May 14, 1999, upon the death of the former Mufti Abdulaziz Bin Baz, a Royal Order appointed him Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and chairman of the ‏General Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta‏, where he assumes the rank of minister.

❁ Publications of Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh

Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh has several publications on Fiqh provisions, doctrines, and Fatwa, among other Sharia sciences. They include “The Book of Allah, the Almighty, and its Glorious Position,” “The Meaning of our Testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,” and “A Collection of the Sermons of Arafah.” He also published several books on Fatwas that he addressed in the “Nur ‘Ala al-Darb” Ifta program, notably “The Book on Fatwas on Doctrines,” “Fatwas on Purity and Prayers,” “Provisions and Fatwas on Zakat,” “Fatwas on Fasting,” “Fatwas on Hajj,” “Fatwas of Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al al-Sheikh,” “Messages of Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al Al-Sheikh,” “Nur ‘Ala al-Darb Fatwas – The Book on Doctrines,” and “Nur ‘Ala al-Darb Fatwas – The Book on Purity and Prayers.”

❁ Death of Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh

Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh passed away on September 23, 2025.

Reference: saudipedia.com

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❁ My esteemed and honorable teacher, Dr. Shaikh Arshad Basheer Madani, hafizahullah, writes about a beautiful incident of meeting with Shaikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, rahimahullah, which I am presenting here:

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Title: A Student Standing in the Sun!!

It was the year 2001, the first time I met the Sheikh.

The second meeting took place in 2022, alhamdulillah.

(The meeting of Arshad Basheer Madani, a student, with Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal al-Sheikh رحمه الله, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia)

It was during my days at Madinah University, in the early years of youth—only twenty-three years old. My heart was filled with the passion for knowledge, and my soul burned with the thirst for learning. In those days, I traveled towards Makkah al-Mukarramah. My desire was to meet the esteemed scholar, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal al-Sheikh رحمه الله, and to receive even a few drops from the fountain of his knowledge.

The sun was blazing, as if fire was pouring down from the sky. I stood at the door, waiting for permission. The guard looked at me and stopped me.

“You cannot go further!” he said sternly.

My heart was about to break, yet the flame of hope refused to die. I said to the guard:

“Just once, kindly inform the Sheikh that a student from Madinah University has come with questions. If the Sheikh says he is busy, I will quietly return.”

The message reached the Sheikh. His compassion for a student eager for knowledge was stirred. Immediately, he said:

“Do not stop the student—let him come in!

I was called inside. As soon as I entered the gathering, the Sheikh gently asked:

“When the guard told you to leave, why did you stay?”

With respect, I replied:

“Sheikh, I have heard that you never send students back empty-handed. You listen to their questions and give them encouragement. With this hope, I did not give up, and waited for your decision.”

A smile of kindness and affection lit up the Sheikh’s eyes. Then he said:

“Sit down.”

One by one, I presented my questions, and the answers that flowed from the Sheikh’s lips became like the water of life for my heart.

Those few moments—the words filled with compassion, the light of knowledge—became the most precious treasure of my life. Even today, after so many years, that scene is alive before my eyes: a student standing in the scorching sun, and after the Sheikh’s door opened, the fortune of receiving the treasure of knowledge…

رحمۃ اللہ علیہ۔

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