The Crown Prince performs the funeral prayer for the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, performed the funeral prayer for Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, President of the General Presidency for Scientific Research and Ifta, and Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League – may God have mercy on him – after the Asr prayer today (Tuesday) at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Official reception and participation of prominent figures
Upon his arrival at the mosque, the Crown Prince was received by the Governor of Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz. A number of princes and senior officials joined him in prayer, including Prince Khalid bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan, Prince Dr. Saud bin Salman bin Mohammed, Prince Bandar bin Abdullah bin Nasser bin Farhan, and Prince Khalid bin Saud bin Khalid, in addition to Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed, Prince Bandar bin Saad bin Khalid, Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Abdulaziz, Advisor at the Royal Court, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Abdullah bin Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Prince Sultan bin Khalid bin Faisal bin Turki, the Deputy Governors of Tabuk and Asir regions, and a group of scholars, ministers, and advisors. This broad participation reflects the official appreciation for the deceased's stature and his scholarly and religious standing.
Prayer and accompanying religious duties
The funeral prayer is one of the legal procedures adopted in the Kingdom to honor prominent religious figures, and it continues to be performed in absentia in the main mosques, including the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, in addition to all mosques in the Kingdom, according to the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
Official condolences and sympathy
Following the prayer, the Crown Prince and the sons of the deceased received condolences from Their Highnesses and Eminences, who prayed to God Almighty to have mercy on the deceased, grant him His pleasure, and admit him to Paradise. This occasion is part of the official traditions observed by the Kingdom upon the passing of a loved one, and it demonstrates the institutional appreciation and national role of the Grand Mufti in serving religion and society.
The importance of the event in the national and religious context
This official prayer serves as an opportunity to reaffirm the Kingdom's vital role in guiding religious affairs and managing jurisprudential work at both the local and international levels. Such an event contributes to highlighting the Saudi institutional framework for supporting scholars and religious bodies, and to strengthening societal stability through official recognition of the status of religious scholars and experts.
The presence of senior officials and princes also reflects the state’s direct involvement in affirming its commitment to institutional religious values, while taking into account the balance between the religious heritage and the requirements of the modern era, which strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a religious and regulatory authority within the Islamic world.
