Sheikh Abdulaziz, the esteemed Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, has passed away at the age of 82. The Royal Court confirmed that the revered cleric died on Tuesday morning, marking a significant loss for the Kingdom and the global Muslim community.
Born in Mecca in November 1943, Sheikh Abdulaziz was a highly respected figure. He led the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta and served as the chairman of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League. He was the third person to hold the title of Grand Mufti in the Kingdom’s history, succeeding notable predecessors Sheikh Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Shaikh and Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz.
Following the announcement, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their profound condolences to his family, the Saudi nation, and Muslims worldwide. A statement from the Royal Court highlighted his contributions, saying, “With his passing, the Kingdom and the Islamic world have lost a distinguished scholar who made significant contributions to the service of science, Islam, and Muslims.”
Funeral prayers are scheduled to be held at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh after the Asr prayer on Tuesday. In a gesture of honor, King Salman has also directed that prayers be conducted at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and all mosques across the Kingdom.
Source: The New York Times
