Abd al-Razzaq Afifi

Abd al-Razzaq Afifi (1323–1415 AH / 1905–1994 CE) was an Egyptian-born Islamic scholar, jurist, and theologian based in Saudi Arabia, who served as deputy chairman of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta and as a member of the Council of Senior Scholars al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1.

Lineage and Early Life

His full name was Abd al-Razzaq ibn Afifi ibn Atiyyah ibn Abd al-Barr ibn Sharaf al-Din al-Nubi Manhaj al-Shaykh 'Abd al-…. He was born on 27 Rajab 1323 AH (corresponding to 16 December 1905 CE; other sources give 1904 CE) in the village of Shanshur, located in the Ashmun district of the Monufia Governorate in Egypt Tatimmat al-Aalam - Muham…+1. He was raised in a religious family, memorized the Quran in his youth, and studied foundational Islamic texts in creed, hadith, jurisprudence, and Arabic Manhaj al-Shaykh 'Abd al-…+1.

Education and Career in Egypt

Afifi pursued his higher studies at al-Azhar in Cairo, where he completed the primary, secondary, and higher divisions, obtaining the al-Shahadah al-Alamiyyah degree in 1351 AH al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1. He then specialized in Maliki jurisprudence and legal theory (usul al-fiqh), receiving his specialization diploma in 1355 AH al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1.

Following his graduation, he was appointed as an instructor at the Azhari institute in Shibin al-Kum in 1356 AH, before later moving to teach at the religious institute in Alexandria, where he also served as deputy director Manhaj al-Shaykh 'Abd al-…+1. During this period, he became actively involved with Ansar al-Sunnah (Jama'at Ansar al-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah), serving as its first deputy head and later as its second general president following the death of its founder, Muhammad Hamid al-Fiqi Tatimmat al-Aalam - Muham…+1. He was also a prominent contributor to the society's periodical, Majallat al-Hady al-Nabawi Tatimmat al-Aalam - Muham….

Move to Saudi Arabia and Academic Offices

In 1368 AH (1949 CE), Afifi was recruited by a Saudi educational delegation led by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Mani' to teach in Saudi Arabia Manhaj al-Shaykh 'Abd al-…+1. He initially taught at Dar al-Tawhid in Taif from 1368 to 1370 AH, before transferring in Muharram 1370 AH to the scientific institute in Unayzah, where he attended lessons by Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa'di al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1. In Shawwal 1375 AH, he moved to Riyadh to teach at the scientific institutes overseen by the Grand Mufti Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh, subsequently joining the faculty of the Colleges of Sharia and Arabic Language al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj….

Afifi was appointed director of the Higher Institute of the Judiciary (al-Ma'had al-Ali lil-Qada) in 1385 AH (also reported as 1384 AH), contributing to the design of its curriculum and teaching its students al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1. In 1391 AH, he transferred to the General Presidency of the Administrations of Scientific Research, Ifta, Da'wah, and Guidance, where he was appointed deputy chairman of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta alongside his appointment to the Council of Senior Scholars al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…. He was later granted Saudi citizenship and remained settled in Riyadh for the rest of his life Fatawa al-Shaykh Ibn Jibr….

Students and Scholarly Profile

Numerous prominent scholars studied under Afifi across his teaching career at institutes, university colleges, and mosques. Among his notable students were Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muhsin al-Turki, Salih al-Luhaydan, Abd Allah ibn Ghudayyan, Salih al-Fawzan, Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin, Abd Allah ibn Jibreen, and Abd al-Aziz Al al-Shaykh Fatawa wa Rasail Samahat …+1.

In theology, Afifi adhered to the Salafi creed, advocating reliance on the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the early generations (al-Salaf), while refuting rationalist theological concepts (kalam) and sectarian innovations Manhaj al-Shaykh 'Abd al-…. He held a personal aversion to authorship, believing that the comprehensive writings left by classical scholars were sufficient for Muslims and that contemporary output rarely added meaningful value Fatawa wa Rasail Samahat …. Consequently, his scholarly legacy centered primarily on oral instruction, fatwas, academic supervision, and occasional treatises such as Mudhakkirat al-Tawhid (Memorandum on Monotheism) Fatawa wa Rasail Samahat …+1.

Reception

Afifi was widely praised by contemporaries for his deep knowledge of legal theory, hadith, Quranic exegesis, and religious sects, as well as his modesty and asceticism Fatawa wa Rasail Samahat …+1. Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz commended him for his humility, extensive learning, sound creed, and dedication to his duties Manhaj al-Shaykh 'Abd al-…. Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin described him as possessing a discerning intellect, far-sightedness, grounded knowledge, and concise speech free of superfluity Manhaj al-Shaykh 'Abd al-…. Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani noted his refined scholarly demeanor, patience, and adherence to the methodology of the early generations in his legal responses al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj….

Death

Afifi suffered from epilepsy from the age of seven and endured the loss of three of his children and his father during his lifetime Durus li al-Shaykh Abd al…. He died on Thursday, 25 Rabi' al-Awwal 1415 AH (September 1994 CE); another report found in an elegy gives the date as 25 Jumada al-Ula 1415 AH Tadhkirat Uli al-Nuha wal…+2.