Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan Appointed New Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia
Key Takeaways:
- Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan appointed Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia
- Will chair Council of Senior Scholars and lead Fatwa authority
- Brings decades of scholarly and teaching experience
King Salman bin Abdulaziz has issued a royal decree appointing Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan as the new Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia.
The appointment, announced Wednesday, positions the renowned scholar as Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and General President of the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Fatwa, with ministerial rank.
Royal Decree No. A/111 dated 30 Rabi’ al-Thani 1447 AH names Sheikh Al-Fawzan to the kingdom’s highest religious authority position.
The decree followed recommendations from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and references existing governance laws and previous royal decrees governing senior appointments.
Sheikh Al-Fawzan brings extensive academic and religious credentials to the position. Born in 1354 AH (1935 CE) in Ash-Shamāsiyyah, Al-Qassim region, he completed his education at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in Islamic jurisprudence.
His doctoral research focused on Islamic dietary laws, while his master’s thesis addressed inheritance regulations.
The scholar studied under prominent teachers including Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamid and later Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz.
His professional career includes teaching at Riyadh’s Institute of Knowledge, serving as director of the Higher Institute of Judiciary, and decades as imam and khateeb at Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Mosque in Riyadh.
Sheikh Al-Fawzan gained international recognition through his long-running participation in the “Noor ala al-Darb” radio program, where his religious explanations reached millions worldwide.
His published works, including “Al-Irshad ila Saheeh al-I’tiqad” and the four-volume “Al-Khutab al-Minbariyyah,” serve as standard references for Islamic students and scholars.
The appointment places Sheikh Al-Fawzan at the helm of Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment, overseeing fatwa issuance and scholarly research.
His methodology follows the Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah tradition, emphasizing evidence-based rulings and balanced scholarship.
The decision comes following the passing of former Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh on September 23, 2025.
