Salih bin Muhammad al-Luhaydan

Salih bin Muhammad al-Luhaydan (1350–1443 AH / 1931–2022 CE) was a Saudi jurist, judge, and scholar who served as the head of the Supreme Judicial Council and was a founding member of the Council of Senior Scholars al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1.

Early Life and Education

Al-Luhaydan was born in the town of al-Bukayriyyah in the al-Qasim region in 1350 AH (1931 CE) al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…. He pursued religious education in Riyadh, graduating from the College of Sharia in 1379 AH al-Durar al-Saniyya fi al…. He later earned a master’s degree from the Higher Judicial Institute in 1389 AH al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1.

Among his prominent teachers were the Grand Mufti Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh, under whom he also worked, Muhammad al-Amin al-Shinqiti at the College of Sharia, and Hammud ibn Abd Allah al-Uqla al-Shu'aybi al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+2.

Judicial Career and Public Offices

After completing his studies, al-Luhaydan worked in the issuing of legal rulings (ifta) as secretary to Mufti Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1. In 1383 AH, he was appointed assistant head of the Greater Court in Riyadh, rising to become its president in 1384 AH al-Durar al-Saniyya fi al…. In 1390 AH, he was promoted to judge of cassation (qadi tamyiz) and appointed a member of the Supreme Judicial Commission al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1.

In 1403 AH, he was designated head of the Permanent Committee of the Supreme Judicial Council and acted as its deputy president, before being appointed in 1413 AH as president of the Supreme Judicial Council in both its General and Permanent bodies with the rank of minister al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1. He was also an inaugural member of the Council of Senior Scholars upon its establishment in 1391 AH and held membership in the Muslim World League al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1.

Scholarly Activities and Positions

Al-Luhaydan participated in establishing the journal Rayat al-Islam, serving as its director and editor-in-chief al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…+1. He delivered lessons in the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, participated in broadcast fatwas on the radio program Nur 'ala al-Darb, and delivered numerous public lectures al-Durar al-Saniyya fi al….

He authored legal statements and treatises addressing contemporary and ritual matters, including his treatise Wujub al-Adl wa Tahrim al-Zulm ala al-Nas Kafa (The Obligation of Justice and Prohibition of Injustice Against All People), which articulated the rulings of Islamic jurisprudence regarding the September 11 attacks and principles of armed conflict Wujub al-Adl wa Tahrim al…. He also wrote on sighting the crescent for determining Islamic months in his paper al-Ahkam al-muta'alliqah bil-hilal, advocating reliance on visual sighting over astronomical calculations, which sparked public legal debates with other senior scholars such as Abdullah bin Mani Mujam Usar Buraydah+1. Al-Luhaydan additionally voiced strict legal opinions on personal status issues, arguing against marriage entered with the prior intention of divorce al-Zawaj bi Niyyat al-Tal….

Death

Al-Luhaydan died in 1443 AH (2022 CE) Safahat Mudi'a min Hayat ….