Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia is the highest-ranking and most influential religious and legal authority in Saudi Arabia. The position is appointed by the King of Saudi Arabia. The Grand Mufti serves as the head of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta.

Role

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia serves as the highest-ranking religious authority in the country and serves as the leading figure in issuing religious legal opinions on a wide range of legal, social, and ethical matters. His interpretations and rulings carry significant weight within the Saudi Judicial system, which is largely based on Islamic law.
The Grand Mufti also serves as chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, the Kingdom's highest religious body. He also heads the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta, which oversees the preparation and issuance of official fatwas and conducts scholarly research on Islamic jurisprudence and theology.

History

The office of the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia was established in 1953 by King Abdulaziz, with Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh appointed as the first Grand Mufti. Historically, the position was held by members of the Al ash-Sheikh family, descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, with the exception of Ibn Baz. In 1969, King Faisal abolished the office of Grand Mufti and replaced it with Ministry of Justice and Council of Senior Scholars. The position was reinstated in 1993 with the appointment of Ibn Baz as the second Grand Mufti.
After the death of Ibn Baz in 1999, King Fahd appointed Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, a member of the Al ash-Sheikh family, who served as Grand Mufti from 1999 until his death on 23 September 2025.
On 22 October 2025, King Salman appointed Salih al‑Fawzan as the fourth Grand Mufti.