Abdulaziz Al Sheikh: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia (born 1940)}}

| name image = Abdulaziz al-Sheikh

| predecessor = [[Abd al-AzizAbdulaziz Bin Baz]]

| alma_mater = [[Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University]]

| creed = [[AthariSalafi]]

'''Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh''' ({{lang-ar|عبد العزيز بن عبد الله آل الشيخ}} ''ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿAbd Āllah Āl ash-Sheikh''; born 30 November 1940), is a [[Saudi Arabia]]nArabian [[Ulema|Islamic scholar]] who is the current [[Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. adapts cold-war idea to fight terrorists|date=2008-03-18|work=[[The New York Times]]|author =Schmitt, Eric|author2 =Shanker, Thom|quote=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.}}</ref> As such he is head of the [[Council of Senior Religious Scholars]] and its sub-committee, the [[Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Issuing Fatwas]].

Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Al Sheikh is a member of the Saudi Arabian family [[Al ash-Sheikh]] family. In 1969-70 he assumed leadership at the [[Sheikh Muhammad Binbin Ibrahim Mosque]] in Dukhna, Riyadh. In 1979 he was appointed Assistantassistant Professorprofessor at the [[College of Sharia]], [[Mecca]].

In June 1999, he[[King wasFahd]] appointed Al Sheikh as [[Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia]] by [[King Fahd]], succeedingfollowing [[Abdthe al-Azizdeath ibnof AbdGrand AllahMufti ibn Baaz|Abdul Aziz[[Abdulaziz ibnBin BaazBaz]].<ref name="Eur2002">{{cite book|author=Eur|title=The Middle East and North Africa 2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CfBKvsiWeQC&pg=PA949|access-date=1 September 2012|date=22 November 2002|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-85743-132-2|pages=950|archive-date=23 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623194023/http://books.google.com/books?id=4CfBKvsiWeQC&pg=PA949|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s [[Regensburg lecture|quotation of a Byzantine emperor in a lecture]], hethe grand mufti called the popePope's statement "lies", adding that they "show that reconciliation between religions is impossible".<ref>[http://www.netzeitung.de/spezial/derpapst/440836.html "«Hässliche, unglückliche Äußerungen»: Erdogan fordert Entschuldigung des Papstes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208025214/http://www.netzeitung.de/spezial/derpapst/440836.html |date=2012-02-08 }}, ''Netzeitung'', 17 September 2006 {{in lang|de}}</ref>

In 2007, hethe Grand Mufti announced plans to demolish the [[Green Dome]] and flatten the dome.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mecca-for-the-rich-islams-holiest-site-turning-into-vegas-2360114.html|quote=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".|title=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|work=[[The Independent]]|author=Jerome Taylor|date=24 Sep 2011|access-date=19 September 2017|archive-date=16 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616174556/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mecca-for-the-rich-islams-holiest-site-turning-into-vegas-2360114.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 15 March 2012, hethe Grand Mufti declared that, "All churches in the [[Arabian Peninsula]] must be destroyed". This declaration caused criticism from some Christian officeholders. [[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]] [[Metropolitan Mark]], [[Archbishop]] of [[Yegoryevsk]], said the ruling was "alarming". Most of the world overlooked the statement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Europe bishops slam Saudi fatwa against Persian Gulf churches|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/37528/World/Region/Europe-bishops-slam-Saudi-fatwa-against-Gulf-churc.aspx|access-date=April 8, 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=March 24, 2012|archive-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216053427/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/37528/World/Region/Europe-bishops-slam-Saudi-fatwa-against-Gulf-churc.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Mehmet Görmez]], the most senior imam in [[Turkey]], another [[Sunni Muslim]] country, blasted theAl Saudi grand muftiSheikh's call to "destroy all the churches" in the [[Persian Gulf]] region, saying that the announcement totally contradicted the peaceful teachings of the [[Islam|Muslim religion]]. Görmez, the president of ''[[Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı]]'' (Presidency of Religious Affairs), said he could not accept theAl IslamicSheikh's religious opinion (fatwa) issued by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, adding that the mufti's declarationit ran contrary to the centuries-old Islamic teachings of tolerance and the sanctity of institutions belonging to other religions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Diyanet'ten Suudi Müftüye Kilise Cevabı (Answer to the Saudi cleric from the Religious Affairs Directorate)|url=http://www.dinihaberler.com/haber/diyanetten-suudi-muftuye-kilise-cevabi-23536.html|publisher=Religious News (Turkish), 7 April 2012|access-date=8 April 2012|archive-date=10 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410001244/http://www.dinihaberler.com/haber/diyanetten-suudi-muftuye-kilise-cevabi-23536.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2012, hethe Grand Mufti issued a fatwa allowing ten-year-old girls to marry insisting that girls are ready for marriage by age 10 or 12: "Our mothers and grandmothers got married when they were barely 12. Good upbringing makes a girl ready to perform all marital duties at that age."<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/sheikh-abdul-aziz-al-al-sheikh_n_1450449.html Huffington Post: "Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al al-Sheikh, Saudi Arabian Mufti, Says Girls Ready For Marriage At 10 Years Old" By Simon McCormack] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027204651/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/sheikh-abdul-aziz-al-al-sheikh_n_1450449.html |date=2013-10-27 }} April 24, 2012</ref> However, he is opposed to the practice of marrying off very young girls to older men, emphasizing its incongruence with Islamic tradition.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Schleifer|first1=Abdallah|last2=Ahmed|first2=Aftab|title=Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh|journal=The Muslim 500|date=2016|issue=2016|pages=62–63|url=http://themuslim500.com/downloads/151001-TheMuslim500-2016v009(23%7C48)-Web-Low.pdf|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-date=26 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126065025/http://themuslim500.com/downloads/151001-TheMuslim500-2016v009(23%7C48)-Web-Low.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2013, heAl Sheikh issued a fatwa demanding the destruction of statues of horses placed in a roundabout in [[Jizan]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/news/454812|title=Horse statues demolished in Jazan|date=13 June 2013|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-date=11 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511031026/http://www.arabnews.com/news/454812|url-status=live}}</ref> "The sculptures [must] be removed because they are a great sin and are prohibited under [[Sharia (Islamic law)]]".<ref>[http://www.arabianbusiness.com/saudi-s-grand-mufti-vents-against-horse-statues-504942.html#.UmR-7MLD86Y Arabian Business News: "Saudi's Grand Mufti vents against horse statues" By Courtney Trenwith] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021025110/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/saudi-s-grand-mufti-vents-against-horse-statues-504942.html#.UmR-7MLD86Y |date=2013-10-21 }} June 13, 2013</ref>

The Grand Mufti issued a fatwa on 12 September 2013, that [[Suicide attack|suicide bombings]] are "great crimes" and bombers are "criminals who rush themselves to hell by their actions". SheikhHe described suicide bombers as "robbed of their minds... who have been used (as tools) to destroy themselves and societies."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.alalam.ir/news/1543997|title=Saudi grand mufti says suicide bombers will go to hell|website=en.alalam.ir|access-date=2014-01-23|archive-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020023109/http://en.alalam.ir/news/1543997|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late August 2014, hethe Grand Mufti condemned the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] and [[al-Qaeda]] saying, "Extremist and militant ideas and terrorism which spread decay on Earth, destroying human civilisation, are not in any way part of Islam, but are enemy number one of Islam, and Muslims are their first victims".<ref name=SaudiGrandMuftiCondemn>{{cite web|title=Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti denounces Islamic State group as un-Islamic|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/08/25/saudi-arabias-grand-mufti-denounces-islamic-state-group-as-un-islamic/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827113133/http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/08/25/saudi-arabias-grand-mufti-denounces-islamic-state-group-as-un-islamic/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2014|publisher=Reuters|access-date=18 November 2014|date=25 August 2014}}</ref>

On 25 September 2015, one day after the [[2015 Mina stampede|Mina crowd crush disaster]] which (according to the Associated Press) killed at least 1,399 foreign Muslims performing Hajj, SheikhAl Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh publicly told then-Crown Prince [[Muhammad bin Nayef]], whothen-[[Crown was also the country's MinisterPrince of Interior at the time and responsible forSaudi safety in MeccaArabia]], that he was "not responsible for what happened", and "as for the things that humans cannot control, you are not blamed for them. Fate and destiny are inevitable." WithPrince hisMuhammad wordswas also [[Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia)|the country's interior minister]], responsible for safety in Mecca, and the Grand Mufti's words immunized Muhammadthe binCrown NayefPrince from possible public criticism within Saudi Arabia, which set the official death toll for the Mina tragedy at fewer than 800 deaths.<ref name=AlJazeera26Sept>{{cite news|work=Al Jazeera|date=September 26, 2015|access-date=October 8, 2015|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/saudi-grand-mufti-hajj-stampede-human-control-150926080554917.html|title=Saudi Mufti: Hajj stampede beyond human control|archive-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928182940/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/saudi-grand-mufti-hajj-stampede-human-control-150926080554917.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2016, while answering a question on a television show in which he issues fatwas in response to viewers’viewers' queries on everyday religious matters, Al Sheikh ruled that [[chess]] was forbidden in Islam because it constituted [[gambling]], was a waste of time and money and a cause of hatred and enmity between the players.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/21/middleeast/grand-mufti-opposes-chess/index.html | title=Checkmate: Saudi grand mufti makes move against chess | work=CNN | date=21 January 2016 | access-date=22 January 2016 | author=Melvin, Don | archive-date=22 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122002551/http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/21/middleeast/grand-mufti-opposes-chess/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Guard1>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/21/chess-forbidden-in-islam-rules-saudi-arabia-grand-mufti|title= Chess forbidden in Islam, rules Saudi mufti, but issue not black and white|author= Kareem Shaheen|work= [[The Guardian]]|publisher= [[Scott Trust Media]]|date= January 21, 2016|access-date= February 10, 2016|archive-date= February 13, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160213200335/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/21/chess-forbidden-in-islam-rules-saudi-arabia-grand-mufti|url-status= live}}</ref>

In September 2016, the Grand Mufti ruled that Iraniansthe areIranian Leadership is not MuslimsMuslim and areis the "sonsson of the [[magi]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-grand-mufti-iran-sunni-muslims-hajj-a7229416.html|author=Matt Payton|title='Iranians are not Muslims', says Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti|publisher=[[The Independent|Independent]]|language=en|date=September 7, 2016|access-date=October 23, 2017|archive-date=October 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023115812/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-grand-mufti-iran-sunni-muslims-hajj-a7229416.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/saudi-cleric-calling-iranians-non-muslims-and-deriding-zoroastrians-is-religion-based-persecution-2995110.html|title=Saudi cleric calling Iranians 'non-Muslims' and deriding Zoroastrians is religion-based persecution - Firstpost|website=www.firstpost.com|date=8 September 2016|access-date=2017-11-20|archive-date=2017-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119154035/http://www.firstpost.com/world/saudi-cleric-calling-iranians-non-muslims-and-deriding-zoroastrians-is-religion-based-persecution-2995110.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Grand Mufti was on a list of religious scholars included on a death list by ISIS.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/reports/isis-launches-campaign-calling-kill-prominent-islamic-clerics-such-yousuf-al-qaradawi-saudi |title=ISIS Launches Campaign Calling To Kill Prominent Islamic Clerics Such As Yousuf Al-Qaradawi, Saudi Mufti 'Abd Al-'Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh, Former Egyptian Chief Mufti 'Ali Gum'a |date=February 14, 2017 |number=Special Dispatch No.6781 |website=MEMRI |access-date=February 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628015920/https://www.memri.org/reports/isis-launches-campaign-calling-kill-prominent-islamic-clerics-such-yousuf-al-qaradawi-saudi |url-status=live }}</ref>

| before = [[AbdAbdulaziz al-Aziz ibnBin Baz]]

| after = presentIncumbent

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheikh, Sheikh Abdulaziz}}

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