Saudi Arabia's grand mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, dies
3 minute readPublished: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 5:48 am
Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, Dies
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, has passed away after serving as the kingdom's top religious figure for over a quarter of a century. He was in his 80s.
As grand mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz was a prominent Islamic cleric within the Sunni Muslim world. His pronouncements held significant weight, particularly given Saudi Arabia's role as the custodian of Islam's holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, and the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
During his tenure, Sheikh Abdulaziz aligned himself with the Al Saud ruling family, which has overseen social reforms in recent years, including allowing women to drive and opening movie theaters. He condemned extremist groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. However, his views often reflected the kingdom's Wahhabism, a strict form of Islam.
Sheikh Abdulaziz's pronouncements included criticism of mobile phone cameras, comments on Christian churches, and remarks about Shiite Muslims. He also supported the Al Saud ruling family and decried extremist groups. His stances on social issues, such as the mixing of men and women and women driving, softened over time, particularly as the kingdom underwent social liberalization under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
BNN's Perspective:
The death of Sheikh Abdulaziz marks the end of an era. While his views often reflected a more conservative interpretation of Islam, his role in the kingdom's religious landscape was undeniable. His passing comes at a time of significant social change in Saudi Arabia, and his legacy will be viewed through the lens of these evolving dynamics.
Keywords: Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti, Saudi Arabia, Death, Islam, Sunni Muslims, Wahhabism, Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Hajj, Social Liberalization, Religious Leader