Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and home to its most sacred sites, has appointed Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan as the kingdom’s new grand mufti, marking a significant yet traditional choice during a period of sweeping social change. The royal decree, issued on October 22, 2025, by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, came on the recommendation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler and architect of its recent modernization drive, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
Sheikh Saleh, now 90, steps into the role following the death of his predecessor, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, who served as grand mufti for a quarter century before passing away in September. The grand mufti is considered the highest religious authority in Saudi Arabia and one of the most influential clerics in the Sunni Muslim world. The appointment also grants Sheikh Saleh the presidency of the Council of Senior Scholars and the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta, both of which are pivotal in shaping religious discourse in the kingdom.
Born on September 28, 1935, in the al-Qassim province, Sheikh Saleh’s early education was rooted in traditional Islamic scholarship. After the death of his father, he studied the Quran under a local imam, setting the stage for a long and influential career. He gained prominence through the popular radio program “Noor ala al-Darb,” or “Light the Way,” where he addressed religious questions from the public. His reach extended further through numerous books, regular television appearances, and a robust presence on social media, where his fatwas—Islamic legal rulings—are widely circulated.
Sheikh Saleh’s career, however, has not been without controversy. Human Rights Watch reported in 2017 that, when asked if Sunni Muslims should consider Shiite Muslims their brothers, he responded, “They are brothers of Satan.” In another instance, he was quoted as saying, “The Shiite lie about God, his prophet, and the consensus of Muslims… There is no doubt about the unbelief of these people.” Such remarks are not uncommon among Saudi religious leaders, especially amid ongoing tensions with Iran, a predominantly Shiite nation and regional rival. Sheikh Saleh has also been critical of Yemen’s Houthi movement, referring to their missile attacks on Saudi holy sites as acts of aggression against Islam.
His conservative views extend beyond sectarian issues. In 2003, Sheikh Saleh was quoted as saying, “Slavery is a part of Islam. Slavery is part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long as there is Islam.” The statement, widely criticized in Western media, reflects a strict interpretation of Islamic law that has often placed him at odds with more progressive voices. In 2011, he publicly opposed efforts by the Saudi justice ministry to set a minimum age for marriage, effectively defending the practice of marrying off prepubescent girls—a position that drew international condemnation.
Sheikh Saleh’s fatwas have sometimes intersected with popular culture. In 2016, he issued a ruling banning the mobile game Pokémon Go, labeling it a form of gambling. Ironically, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership, Saudi Arabia has since acquired significant stakes in Nintendo and Niantic, the game’s developer, as part of its diversification strategy away from oil. This juxtaposition highlights the ongoing tension between the kingdom’s conservative religious establishment and its rapid modernization efforts.
The grand mufti’s position has deep historical roots in Saudi Arabia. Traditionally, the role has been held by members of the al-Sheikh family, descendants of Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Abdul-Wahhab, the 18th-century theologian whose teachings—often labeled as Wahhabism—have profoundly shaped Saudi religious and social life. Sheikh Saleh himself is seen as part of this lineage, maintaining the longstanding connection between the ruling family and the religious establishment.
Despite his advanced age and conservative credentials, Sheikh Saleh’s appointment is in line with Saudi Arabia’s established practice of selecting the most senior and respected scholar from within the religious council. As Umar Karim, a Saudi policy expert at the University of Birmingham, told AFP, “While the social atmosphere has changed and is changing, the modalities of the religious field and its workings remain the same.” He added, “The revolutionary changes which have defined Saudi statecraft of past several years don’t impinge upon the hierarchy of religious establishment even if its composition has been altered slowly.”
The appointment comes at a time when Saudi society is undergoing dramatic transformation. Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was named heir to the throne in 2017, the kingdom has witnessed a wave of reforms aimed at diversifying its economy and loosening social restrictions. The once-feared religious police have been sidelined, women now have the right to drive and attend cinemas, and the dress code, especially for women in urban centers, has become noticeably more relaxed. Non-Muslim tourists are welcomed, and the country has opened its doors to international entertainment and investment.
Yet, as the appointment of Sheikh Saleh demonstrates, certain aspects of Saudi governance remain deeply traditional. The grand mufti’s pronouncements carry significant weight, especially given Saudi Arabia’s role as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites—Mecca and Medina—and its annual hosting of the Hajj pilgrimage, which draws millions of Muslims from around the world. The kingdom’s religious establishment, while less publicly assertive than in the past, still exerts considerable influence over legal and social norms.
Sheikh Saleh is not a newcomer to the corridors of religious power. He has been a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta since 1992, and he is also involved with the Islamic Fiqh Academy in Mecca under the Muslim World League. Additionally, he supervises graduate theses for Saudi university students, further cementing his standing among the country’s religious elite.
His appointment as the fourth grand mufti in Saudi history underscores both continuity and the challenges facing the kingdom as it balances its religious heritage with the demands of a modernizing society. For a country where nearly 70 percent of the population is under 35, the selection of a nonagenarian cleric may seem at odds with the youthful energy driving many of the kingdom’s recent changes. But as observers note, while the face of Saudi Arabia is changing rapidly, the foundations of its religious establishment remain firmly rooted in tradition.
As Saudi Arabia continues to chart a course between its conservative past and an ambitious, outward-looking future, the role of figures like Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan will remain central to navigating the complex intersection of faith, law, and modernity.
