Abd al-Aziz bin Abd Allah Al al-Shaykh
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Abd al-Aziz bin Abd Allah Al al-Shaykh (b. 1362 AH / 1943 CE) is a Saudi Islamic scholar, jurist, and the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who serves as the head of the Council of Senior Scholars and the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta .
Lineage and Early Life
He is Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Latif ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, belonging to the prominent Al al-Shaykh scholarly family . He was born in Mecca on 3 Dhu al-Hijjah 1362 AH (1943 CE), though another account states he was born in Riyadh in 1360 AH (1941 CE) . He suffered from poor eyesight from birth until he lost his sight entirely in 1381 AH . His father died in 1370 AH when he was around eight years old . He memorized the Quran at the age of twelve in 1373 AH under Muhammad ibn Sinan—recorded in another report as having studied at the mosque of Ahmad ibn Sinan .
Education and Teachers
In 1374 AH (or 1375 AH according to another report), he enrolled at Ma'had Imam al-Da'wah al-Ilmi in Riyadh . After graduating, he entered the College of Sharia in Riyadh in 1380 AH, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in Sharia and the Arabic language in the academic year 1383–1384 AH .
During his formative studies and mosque study circles, he studied under several leading scholars of Najd:
- Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh, under whom he studied Kitab al-Tawhid, al-Usul al-Thalathah, and al-Arba'in al-Nawawiyyah between 1374 AH and 1380 AH .
- Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, under whom he studied the laws of inheritance (al-fara'id) in 1377 AH and 1380 AH .
- Abd al-Aziz ibn Salih al-Murshid, under whom he studied inheritance, Arabic grammar, and theology in 1379 AH .
- Abd al-Aziz al-Shathri, with whom he read 'Umdat al-Ahkam and Zad al-Mustaqni' in 1375 AH and 1376 AH .
Career and Religious Offices
He began his career as an instructor at Ma'had Imam al-Da'wah al-Ilmi from 1384 AH until 1392 AH, before moving to the College of Sharia at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, where he served as an associate professor . In addition to teaching, he taught at the Higher Institute of Judiciary (al-Ma'had al-Ali li-l-Qada') and supervised and defended numerous master's and doctoral theses at Imam University and Umm al-Qura University .
Alongside his academic career, he held several major preaching and judicial appointments:
- In 1389 AH, he was appointed imam and khatib at the Mosque of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim in Dukhna, Riyadh, following the shaykh's death .
- In Ramadan 1390 AH, he became khatib at the Grand Mosque in Riyadh, and in Ramadan 1412 AH, he was named imam and khatib at Imam Turki bin Abd Allah Mosque .
- In 1402 AH, he was appointed imam and khatib at Nimrah Mosque in Arafah to deliver the annual Day of Arafah sermon .
- In Shawwal 1407 AH, he was appointed to the Council of Senior Scholars .
- He was subsequently named a member of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta on 20 Muharram 1414 AH .
Following the death of Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, a royal decree appointed him Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Head of the Council of Senior Scholars and the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta with the rank of minister . His legal treatises and public addresses include Rasail wa Fatawa Abd al-Aziz Al al-Shaykh, which covers issues ranging from classical jurisprudence to public security and modern legal debates .
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List of Works
This work is a compilation of scholarly treatises, public admonitions, legal essays, and editorial writings. It brings together several independent tracts addressing educational guidance, classical jurisprudence (fiqh), and contemporary social and security concerns.
This Islamic treatise examines the virtue, sanctity, and central role of the Quran in Islam. Originally published as the opening article of issue 63 of Majallat al-Buhuth al-Islamiyya, the text outlines the purpose of revelation and emphasizes God's grace in sending His final revelation as a guardian over all preceding scriptures.
This concise theological treatise outlines the doctrinal meaning, requirements, and implications of the second part of the Islamic declaration of faith. It serves as a brief reminder addressing widespread ignorance regarding the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of God and examining practices that undermine or contradict its proper fulfillment.
This treatise on Islamic jurisprudence and Sharia-based policy (al-siyasa al-shar'iyya) addresses the religious prohibition of terrorism, bombings, and acts of sabotage. Published as part of the series Fatawa fi Fiqh al-Jihad wa-l-Siyasa al-Shar'iyya, it compiles authoritative legal rulings and institutional statements on public violence and security breaches.
This work is a collection of the annual Day of Arafah sermons delivered at Nimrah Mosque. Organized chronologically starting from the sermon of 1402 AH, the compilation provides transcribed texts supplemented with thematic subtitles, documentation, and hadith sourcing.