The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh passed on on Tuesday in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

His passing was announced on the verified handled of the Holy Mosques, Haramain, across social media.

Sheikh Al-Sheikh Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and President of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta.

“With hearts filled with sorrow and submission to the decree of Allah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world bid farewell to Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh (1362 AH / 1943 CE – 1447 AH / 2025 CE), the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and President of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta,” the statement said.

‎Appointed as the third Grand Mufti in the history of the Kingdom in 1420 AH / 1999 CE, succeeding Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz, Sheikh Al-Sheikh served the religion and the Ummah with unwavering dedication until his passing on 1 Rabiʿ al-Thani 1447 AH / 23 September 2025 CE.

- The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman As-Saud, leading the Janazah prayer 

He memorized the Qur’an in his youth under the tutelage of Sheikh Muhammad bin Sinan and pursued his studies in Sharia under the guidance of the former Grand Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Sheikh.

‎Born on 3 Dhul-Hijjah 1362 AH / 30 November 1943 CE in Makkah al-Mukarramah, Sheikh Abdulaziz grew up an orphan, losing his father at the tender age of eight.

Despite losing his eyesight in his twenties, his determination to seek knowledge never faltered.

Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh is regarded as the sixth khateeb (preacher) in the Saudi era at Masjid Namirah in Arafat.

He continued delivering the sermon of the Day of Arafah for thirty-five consecutive years, from the year 1402 AH (1982 CE) until the year 1436 AH (2015 CE). This represents the longest period in the history of delivering the sermon at Masjid Namirah in Arafat.

His sermons were distinguished by their focus on Tawheed (monotheism) and glorifying the symbols of Allah, as well as calling to adherence to the Qur’an and Sunnah, warning against discord and divisions, and emphasizing Muslim unity, until they became a reference for Arafah sermons, relied upon and used as a source in studies and Islamic legal research.

While funeral prayer was performed on him at Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque in the city of Riyadh after the Asr prayer, Absentee Janazah was persormed on him in the two Holy Mosques and all mosques across the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.