The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has appointed Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Humaid as the new Grand Mufti of the Kingdom and Head of the Senior Council of Scholars to succeed Sheikh Abdulaziz, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 82.

As the Grand Mufti, Bin Huamid would assume duty as the principal religious/legal authority in Saudi Arabia. His responsibilities  include presiding over the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research, as well as guiding religious discourse, and providing authoritative opinions (fatwas) on key issues.

Below are things to know about the new Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia

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BIRTH

Sheikh Saleh Bin Humaid was born in 1950 in the city of Buraidah in Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His father Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid was a prominent Islamic scholar.

FAMILY

Very little is known about Sheikh Saleh Bin Humaid’s family as he maintains a private personal life. However, he is blessed with 10 children.

EDUCATION

Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid memorized the Holy Quran at an early age. He attended his primary in Buraidah, before moving to Makkah where he completed his secondary education.

He obtained a B.A. in Sharia from Umm Al-Qura University, and an M.A. in Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh from the same institution. He later earned a Ph.D. in Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah.

APPOINTMENTS

Bin Humaid was appointed representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy on July 9, 2007. In the same year, he was elected president of the council. Since then, Bin Humaid has held several important administrative and political positions.

Bin Humaid was also appointed as the Vice President of the Two Holy Mosques and as the General President for the affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. He goes into history as the first PhD holder to be appointed as a Senior Imam at the Grand Mosque in 1403 hijra,

Bin Humaid was appointed Chairman of Shura Council in 2009, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council and Advisor to the Saudi Royal Court.

But upon his request, in 2011 he was relieved of his duties as the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, and appointed as an advisor at the Royal Court with the rank of minister.

LECTURING

Bin Humaid started his teaching career as a lecturer at the Faculty of Sharia at Umm Al-Qura University, serving as Head of the Department of Islamic Economics, Director of the Center for Graduate Studies, Dean of the Sharia College for Graduate Studies, and Dean of the Sharia College at the same university.

PUBLICATIONS

Bin Humaid has authored several books, researches papers and delivered lectures on critical issues including lifting embarrassment according to Islamic sharia: Its Rules and Applications, The Complete Jurisprudence of Calamities, Sermons of the Great Mosque: Guidance and Remembrance, Refutation of Ambiguities around the Issues of Living Reality, The Concept of Wisdom in Dawah, The Happy Home and Disagreement between Spouses, Collective Ijtihad and its Importance in Contemporary Calamities, The Principles of Dialogue and its Etiquette in Islam.

PRIZE

In 2016 Bin Humaid was awarded The King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam. He was awarded the prize in appreciation of his leading role in the International Islamic Fiqh Academy.

Bin Humaid was said to have put a strenuous effort, profound wisdom, deep vision and positive influence in dealing with contemporary fiqh (jurisprudence) issues.