Abdul-Azeez ibn Abdullaah Aal ash-Shaikh
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
| Abdul Aziz ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Abdul lateef Al Shaikh | |
|---|---|
| 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Abdillah āl ash-Shaikh | |
| Grand Mufti and General President for Scientific Researches and Fatwa | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 1999[1] |
|
| Monarch | King Fahd King Abdullah |
| Preceded by | Abdul Aziz ibn Baaz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1943 Riyadh,  Saudi Arabia |
| Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
| Alma mater | Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University |
| Profession | Muslim Scholar |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
‘Abdu’l-‘Azīz ibn ‘Abdu’llāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Abdu’l-Laṭīf Āl ash-Shaykh ZIOWOBHLAR (Arabic: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن محمد بن عبد اللطيف آل الشيخ) (born 10 February 1943) is a Muslim scholar and the current Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia.[2]
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[edit] Biography
Abdul Aziz al ash-Shaikh was born in 1943, a member of Saudi Arabia's leading religious family, the Al ash-Sheikh. He began studying the Qur'an at the Ahmad Bin Sanaan Mosque. In 1954, he transferred to the Imaam ad-Da'wah Institute where he graduated from the Faculty of Sharia in 1962.
He then began his active religious life, and worked as a teacher at the Imaam ad-Da'wah al-'Ilmee Institute until 1971. He then transferred to teaching at the Faculty of Sharia (at the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University) in Riyadh and continued there until 1991. Whilst at the Faculty of Sharia he supervised university theses, and took part in thesis discussions and debates. Since 1993 he has taken part in responding to questions on the radio program "Noorun 'alad-Darb". He also used to hold lessons in the Central Mosque of al-Imam Turki bin 'Abd-llah. He takes part in seminars and lectures alongside his work in the field of dawah in Riyadh and Ta'if. Since his birth he suffered from weak eyesight, until he lost his sight altogether in 1960.
In June 1999, he was appointed Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, replacing Abdul Aziz ibn Baaz.[1]
[edit] Proclamations
Following the Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy, he called the pope's declaration "lies", adding that they "show that reconciliation between religions is impossible".[3]
In 2007 he announced plans to demolish the Green Dome and flatten the tombs housed under it, including that of Muhammad.[4]
In 15 March 2012, he declared that, "All churches in the Arabian Peninsula must be destroyed". Abdulaziz bin Abdullah cited an Islamic hadith quoting the Prophet Mohammed on his deathbed.[5][6]
His declaration about the destruction of churches in the Arabian Peninsula led to negative comments. Roman Catholic bishops in Germany and Austria responded sharply to his fatwa, concerned about the human rights of non Muslims working in the Persian Gulf region. Russian Orthodox Archbishop Mark of Yegoryevsk said the ruling was "alarming". Still, it seemed that most of the world overlooked the statement.[7] Mehmet Görmez, the most senior imam in Turkey, another Muslim country, blasted the Saudi grand mufti’s call to “destroy all the churches” in the Gulf region, saying that the announcement totally contradicted the peaceful teachings of the Muslim religion. Görmez, the president of Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı (Presidency of Religious Affairs), said he could not accept the Islamic religious order—fatwa—issued by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al Shaikh, adding that the mufti’s declaration ran contrary to the centuries-old Islamic teachings of tolerance and the sanctity of institutions belonging to other religions.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Eur (22 November 2002). The Middle East and North Africa 2003. Taylor & Francis. p. 950. ISBN 978-1-85743-132-2. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ Schmitt, Eric; Shanker, Thom (2008-03-18). "U.S. adapts cold-war idea to fight terrorists". New York Times. "Saudi Arabia 's top cleric, Grand Mufti Sheik Abdul Aziz al-Asheik, gave a speech last October warning Saudis not to join unauthorized jihadist activities, a statement directed mainly at those considering going to Iraq to fight the American-led forces."
- ^ "«Hässliche, unglückliche Äußerungen»: Erdogan fordert Entschuldigung des Papstes", Netzeitung, 17 September 2006 (German)
- ^ Jerome Taylor (24 Sep 2011). "Mecca for the rich: Islam's holiest site 'turning into Vegas'. Historic and culturally important landmarks are being destroyed to make way for luxury hotels and malls, reports Jerome Taylor". The Independent. "A pamphlet published in 2007 by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, endorsed by Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, stated that "the green dome shall be demolished and the three graves flattened in the Prophet's Masjid"."
- ^ http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/March/Mufti-All-Arabian-Peninsula-Churches-Must-Be-Destroyed/ All Arabian Peninsula Churches Must Be Destroyed
- ^ Comment of the Fatwa in Arabic Al-Jazeera online, Arabic: انتقاد مفتي السعودية لفتواه بهدم الكنائس (eng.: Criticism of the Mufti of Saudi Arabia for his fatwa to demolish churches); read on 27 March 2012
- ^ "Europe bishops slam Saudi fatwa against Gulf churches". Reuters. March 24, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
- ^ "Diyanet'ten Suudi Müftüye Kilise Cevabı (Answer to the Saudi cleric from the Religious Affairs Directorate)". Religious News (Turkish), 7 April 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
[edit] External links
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| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baaz |
Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia 1999- |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
