The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al al-Sheikh, has passed away at the age of 84 as confirmed by the Saudi News Agency today. The funeral prayers will take place at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh later in the day.

The nation is grieving the loss of its eminent religious figure, with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordering a special prayer in his honor at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and all mosques across the Kingdom. The Crown Prince has also expressed his condolences.

Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, who held the position of Minister as Chairman of the General Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta, was also the Head of the Council of Senior Scholars. He belonged to the Al ash-Sheikh family and took over leadership at the Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Mosque in Dukhna, Riyadh in 1970. Subsequently, he was appointed as an assistant professor at the College of Sharia in Mecca.

He served as the third Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, succeeding Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al al-Sheikh and Abdulaziz Bin Baz. A decade ago, he issued a ruling that deemed chess impermissible in Islam due to its association with gambling and fostering animosity among players.

Despite facing personal challenges like losing his father during childhood and later losing his eyesight in his twenties, Sheikh Al Sheikh persevered in his Sharia studies. He went on to become a respected member of academic councils at various universities.