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Saudi Arabia has declared Sheikh Saleh bin Fauzan as the new Grand Mufti.

Sheikh Saleh bin Fauzan has been made the new Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia. He has been appointed to the highest religious post in Saudi Arabia. After the death of former Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh in September this year, Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al Fawzan was appointed as the new Grand Mufti by royal decree in October 2025.

This appointment is made by order of the King and often on the recommendation of the Crown Prince. Let us know with this excuse, what is the work of Grand Mufti? How are elections conducted? When and how did the tradition start?

Who is the Grand Mufti, what is his job?

The Grand Mufti is the highest religious authority in Saudi Arabia. He is the authority on Sharia law and religious decisions (fatwa), the head of religious councils and the chief advisor on religious policies at the government level. It has many responsibilities, such as-

• Issuance of fatwa: The most important duty of the Grand Mufti is to issue fatwas (legal opinions) on religious legal questions. These fatwas affect everything from personal and social issues to state policies. The power of this post can be gauged from the fact that the Saudi court system is often influenced by the views of the Mufti.
• Leadership of religious institutions: The Grand Mufti is usually the chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and head of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Issuing Fatwas. He also heads institutions such as the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta, through which fatwas are formally published and recorded.
• To give religious advice to the state: Providing religious guidance to courts, government institutions and policy-makers; Sometimes they also play a role in decisions related to Hajj and pilgrimage (Mecca/Medina).
• Influence in religious education and appointments: The person holding this post also has influence on the curriculum in judicial and religious education institutions, the religious norms for tribunals and the selection of principals.
• Public Statements and Society Behavior: It is also the job of the person holding this position to determine the official religious stance on social issues. Like sports entertainment, cultural policies, convocation series etc.

In Saudi Arabia, the Grand Mufti is appointed by royal decree of the king.

Appointment, election or royal appointment?

There is no election of Grand Mufti in Saudi. This post is filled by royal appointment. Appointment to this post is made by the King by Royal Decree. Often the Crown Prince's recommendation is decisive. In a recent example, Sheikh Saleh Al Fawzan was appointed by King Salman on the recommendation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This post does not have a fixed tenure.

Traditionally it has been considered to be life tenure, that is, a person can live until the king changes or abdicates. Many muftis remained lifelong. Historically, this title has often been given to members of the Al ash Sheikh dynasty. This lineage is associated with Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab in the 18th century and has had a special position in the Saudi religious establishment.

When and how did the tradition of Grand Mufti begin?

The official office of Grand Mufti was established in 1953 by King Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud) and the first Grand Mufti was Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash Sheikh. These steps proved important in institutionalizing religious leadership in the modern Saudi state system.

In 1969, King Faisal temporarily abolished this office by consolidating it into the Ministry of General Justice. In the year 1993, this post was reinstated and Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz was appointed. This means that the structure and importance of the post has changed from time to time as per the government requirements. This position over time created a harmony between Saudi religious tradition (Wahhabi/Salafi) and the modern state system. Its stance was sometimes strictly conservative and sometimes a policy of state-planned balance was also seen.

Who is Sheikh Saleh bin Fauzan?

Sheikh Saleh Al Fawzan is a distinguished and traditional scholar of Saudi school. He has been in the Council of Senior Scholars and Permanent Committee for a long time. He has also been active on radio and television. Official news on his appointment said that it was a royal decree and the appointment was made on the recommendation of the Crown Prince. There has been controversy and criticism over his ideology in the past.

The post of Grand Mufti in Saudi Arabia acts as a bridge between religious formality and state power. It is the center of religious duties (fatwas, teachings, religious authority) and also plays a decisive role in giving religious legitimacy to state policies. In Saudi, the appointment to this post is done through the royal process. This is the result of both traditional clan relations and political-religious balance. The appointment of Sheikh Saleh Al Fawzan in 2025 is the latest example of a long tradition that reflects the current contours of the relationship between the state and the religious establishment.