Reporting by: HAN News Desk
RIYADH — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has appointed Dr. Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Al-Fawzan as the country’s new Grand Mufti, one of the most influential religious positions in the Islamic world. The appointment follows the recent passing of Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, who had served as the kingdom’s top religious authority for nearly three decades.
The new Grand Mufti, Dr. Al-Fawzan, is a highly respected Islamic scholar and senior member of the Council of Senior Scholars (Hay’at Kibar al-Ulama). He is widely known for his deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and for his long service in religious education and fatwa issuance within Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment.
According to the Royal Court announcement, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud made the appointment to ensure continuity and stability in the kingdom’s religious leadership at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing major social and legal reforms.
The position of Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia carries immense influence, as the holder oversees the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwas, which issues official religious rulings (fatwas) on matters of faith, law, and daily life. The Grand Mufti also plays a central role in guiding the kingdom’s religious discourse and advising the government on matters related to Sharia law.
Dr. Al-Fawzan’s appointment is expected to bring a combination of traditional scholarship and pragmatic religious guidance, aligning with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative — a broad plan introduced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to modernize Saudi Arabia’s economy and society while maintaining Islamic values.
Born in the Qassim region, Dr. Al-Fawzan has served for decades as a professor of Islamic jurisprudence, a member of the Permanent Committee for Fatwa, and a prolific author of books on creed and law. His lectures and writings are followed by millions across the Muslim world.
The late Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, who passed away recently, was known for his role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s official religious positions and for serving as the Grand Mufti since 1999. He was a descendant of the 18th-century cleric Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of the reformist movement that underpins the kingdom’s religious identity.
With Dr. Al-Fawzan’s appointment, Saudi Arabia reaffirms the central role of its religious institutions in guiding moral and spiritual life, while also signaling a steady hand at the top of its clerical establishment during a period of national transformation.
