23/10/2025
Sheikh Dr. Ṣāliḥ bin Fawzān Al-Fawzān (may Allah preserve him) has been appointed as the Grand M***i of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and General President for Scholarly Research and Fatwa, with the rank of minister.
Born in Ash-Shamāsiyyah, a small town in the region of Al-Qassim, in 1354 AH (1935 CE), Sheikh Al-Fawzān grew up surrounded by the love of Qur’an and learning. His early education began in local schools before he continued to Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, where he completed his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Islamic Law (Fiqh).
His Master’s thesis focused on the laws of inheritance, while his Ph.D. dissertation explored the rulings of permissible and forbidden foods in Islamic law. Alongside his academic studies, he benefitted from great scholars such as Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamid and Sheikh Ibrahim bin Ubayd in Buraydah, and later from Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz in Riyadh.
After graduation, Sheikh Al-Fawzān began a lifelong journey in teaching. He served as a teacher at the Institute of Knowledge in Riyadh, then at the College of Sharia and College of Usul al-Deen, before becoming the Director of the Higher Institute of Judiciary. His years of service produced generations of judges, scholars, and students of knowledge across the Kingdom.
Alongside his academic work, Sheikh Al-Fawzān has served for decades as Imam and Khateeb of Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Mosque in Riyadh, where he continues to teach lessons in creed, jurisprudence, inheritance, and Arabic studies. His voice became known throughout the Muslim world through the long-running Saudi radio program “Noor ala al-Darb”, where his calm explanations and firm adherence to evidence earned the respect and trust of millions of listeners.
Firmly grounded upon the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, Sheikh Al-Fawzān follows the path of the early scholars combining knowledge, humility, and balance. His writings, including “Al-Irshad ila Saheeh al-I’tiqad,” “Al-Bayan li-Akhṭa’ Ba’ḍ al-Kuttab,” and the four-volume “Al-Khuṭab al-Minbariyyah,” have become trusted references for students and imams alike.
He has also contributed to developing official curricula in Islamic studies, ensuring that future generations learn from sound, evidence-based sources.
Today, with his appointment as Grand M***i, Sheikh Al-Fawzān assumes the highest position of religious authority in the Kingdom guiding the nation’s scholarly research, overseeing the issuing of fatwas, and chairing the Council of Senior Scholars.
A life devoted to teaching, clarity, and service has now culminated in one of the greatest honors a scholar can hold a trust he carries with humility and dedication.
May Allah preserve Sheikh Dr. Ṣāliḥ Al-Fawzān, bless his efforts, and continue to make his knowledge a source of light for the Ummah.
