Sheikh Saleh Bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan is one of the most influential religious scholars in Saudi Arabia. Born in 1935, he has held key positions in the Kingdom’s Islamic establishment for decades, contributing significantly to Islamic jurisprudence, education, and religious guidance. This article explores his life, education, career, scholarly contributions, and his role as Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti.Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan was born in 1935 in the village of ash-Shimasiyyah, in the Qassim region of central Saudi Arabia. Orphaned in childhood after the death of his father, Fawzan Bin Abdullah Al-Fawzan, he was raised by his extended family. His early religious education began under Sheikh Hammoud Bin Suleiman Al-Tilal, the imam of the local mosque, who taught him the Quran and the basics of reading and writing.His formal schooling started in 1950 at a local public school in ash-Shimasiyyah. He completed his primary education in 1952 at Al-Faisaliyah School in Buraydah. After briefly working as a primary school teacher, he enrolled in the Scholarly Institute in Buraydah in 1954 as one of its first students. After four years, he graduated and moved to Riyadh to join the College of Sharia.At the College of Sharia in Riyadh, Sheikh Al-Fawzan earned his bachelor’s degree in 1961. He continued his higher studies there, obtaining both a master’s and doctoral degree in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). His master’s thesis was titled “Satisfactory Investigations Applying Hypothetical Approaches in the Science of Inheritance,” while his doctoral dissertation focused on “Rulings Concerning Food in Islamic Sharia.”
Career and religious roles
Following his graduation, Sheikh Al-Fawzan began teaching at the Scholarly Institute in Riyadh. He later taught advanced religious studies at the College of Fundamentals of Religion. He served as director of the Higher Institute of Judiciary, continuing to teach after his administrative term ended.He has been a member of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta since 1992, holding the rank of excellence. Additionally, he is a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia’s highest religious body. Sheikh Al-Fawzan also sits on the Islamic Fiqh Council affiliated with the Muslim World League in Makkah.Beyond his official roles, he acts as imam, preacher, and teacher at the Prince Mutaib Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Mosque in Riyadh’s al-Malaz neighborhood. He contributes regularly to the “Nur ‘Ala al-Darb” radio program, responding to public questions and offering guidance on religious matters. He supervises numerous academic theses for higher-education students across Saudi universities.
Mentorship and influences
Sheikh Al-Fawzan studied under numerous prominent scholars. Most notably, he was deeply influenced by Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Bin Baz, the late Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Bin Baz taught him Islamic inheritance law at the College of Sharia and supervised his work during his time at Dar al-Ifta.Other notable teachers include Sheikh Mohammed al-Ameen ash-Shinqeeti, Sheikh Abdul Razzaq Afifi, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamid, Sheikh Saleh al-Ali al-Nasir, and several scholars from al-Azhar University, who instructed him in Arabic language, Quranic exegesis, and Hadith studies.Under Sheikh Bin Baz’s mentorship, Al-Fawzan developed a methodical approach to issuing fatwas, emphasizing evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, firmness in rulings, and patience in public religious discourse.
Radio and public engagement
Apart from “Nur ‘Ala al-Darb,” Sheikh Al-Fawzan also presented the series “A Reading of the Fatwas of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya” on the Noble Quran radio station. This weekly program spanned several years, covering ten volumes of Ibn Taymiyya’s fatwas, helping listeners understand the views of one of Islam’s most significant scholars.Through these broadcasts and his public roles, Sheikh Al-Fawzan has offered religious guidance to millions, addressing contemporary issues within the framework of Islamic law.
Current role as Grand Mufti
Following the death of Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh in September 2023, Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan was appointed as Saudi Arabia’s fourth Grand Mufti. This prestigious position makes him the highest religious authority in the Kingdom, responsible for issuing fatwas and overseeing Islamic jurisprudence aligned with the government and society.The Grand Mufti role was first established in 1953 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud and traditionally held by members of the Al Sheikh family. Sheikh Al-Fawzan’s appointment continues this legacy, reinforcing his standing as a central figure in Saudi religious affairs.
