Riyadh – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, passed away today at the age of 82, marking the end of a pivotal era in the Kingdom’s religious leadership. 

The Royal Court confirmed his death and announced that funeral prayers will be held after Asr at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

Appointed in 1999, Sheikh Al-Sheikh served as the head of the Council of Senior Scholars and the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta. He was widely respected across the Islamic world for his deep scholarship, commitment to Islamic jurisprudence, and efforts to promote unity among Muslim communities.

Born in Mecca in 1943, Sheikh Al-Sheikh memorized the Qur’an at a young age and pursued advanced studies in Sharia. Despite losing his eyesight at 17, he became a leading figure in Islamic education and fatwa issuance, teaching at Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University and serving on several scholarly councils.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended their condolences to the late scholar’s family, the Saudi people, and the broader Islamic world. Funeral prayers in absentia will be held at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and mosques across the Kingdom.

Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh’s passing has drawn tributes from religious leaders across the Gulf and beyond, recognizing his decades-long service to Islam and his influential role in shaping religious discourse in Saudi Arabia.