Saudia (The COW News Digital)Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, passed away on Tuesday morning, according to an official announcement by the Royal Court. The news has sent shockwaves across the Kingdom and the Muslim world, as Sheikh Abdulaziz was regarded as one of the most influential Islamic scholars of his generation.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) confirmed that the funeral prayer for the Grand Mufti will be held after Asr prayer at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. In addition, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have ordered absentee funeral prayers (Salat al-Gha’ib) to be performed across all mosques in the Kingdom, including Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah.
In an official statement, the Royal Court said, “With the passing of Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, the Kingdom and the entire Muslim Ummah have lost a distinguished scholar who devoted his life to serving Islam, guiding the nation, and promoting the principles of the Qur’an and Sunnah.”
Sheikh Abdulaziz served for many years as the head of the Council of Senior Scholars, the highest religious body in Saudi Arabia, and was responsible for delivering the annual Hajj sermon, which reached millions of Muslims worldwide. His scholarship and rulings shaped Islamic discourse in the Kingdom and beyond, and he was widely respected for his commitment to upholding Shariah.
Condolences have poured in from leaders and scholars across the Muslim world. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Sheikh Abdulaziz, calling it “a moment of grief for Saudi Arabia and the entire Muslim Ummah.” In a statement, he added, “Sheikh Abdulaziz dedicated his entire life to spreading the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah and guiding the Muslim community. The people and government of Pakistan share the grief of the Saudi leadership and people.”
The Grand Mufti’s death marks the end of an era for the Kingdom’s religious establishment. His decades of service leave behind a profound legacy of scholarship, leadership, and spiritual guidance that will continue to inspire generations.
