The Grand Mufti of the Kingdom presides over the 98th session of the Council of Senior Scholars in Riyadh

The Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held its ninety-eighth session at the headquarters of the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta in Riyadh, chaired by His Eminence the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom and Head of the Council of Senior Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan, and attended by the members of the Council and the Secretary-General. This periodic meeting comes within the framework of the Council's ongoing efforts to discuss emerging issues and issue rulings of Islamic law that are of concern to society and the nation.

History and status of the Council of Senior Scholars

The Council of Senior Scholars is the highest religious authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was established to provide legal opinions on contemporary issues and matters requiring collective scholarly interpretation. Since its inception, the Council has played a pivotal role in promoting social and religious stability through its fatwas and rulings, which are based on the Quran and Sunnah and take into account the interests of the people and the nation. Its meetings are of paramount importance due to the weighty issues discussed, whether they be contemporary jurisprudential matters or topics referred by higher authorities.

The Mufti's statement and support for the leadership

In his opening remarks, His Eminence Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan praised the great and continuous support the Commission receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister – may God protect them both. His Eminence affirmed that this support has enabled the Commission to fulfill its noble mission of studying the matters referred to it with utmost care and issuing appropriate rulings.

His Eminence said: “We praise God Almighty who has bestowed upon us in this blessed and good land the unity of word and purpose around our leaders, and adherence to the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger.” He added, describing the Kingdom’s standing: “This nation is dear and exalted, strong by the grace of God and by the efforts of its people. The growth, prosperity, and stability we witness are the fruits of commitment to upholding the pure Sharia and serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors.”.

A touch of loyalty and continuity of the approach

The session witnessed moving moments when His Eminence Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan remembered his late predecessor, noting that this was the first session held after the death of His Eminence Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh, asking God for mercy and forgiveness for him, and that He reward him with the best reward for what he offered to Islam and Muslims, stressing the Authority’s continuation in its firm approach in serving religion and the nation.

A precise working mechanism and specialized committees

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Council of Senior Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Fahd bin Saad Al-Majed, explained that the agenda for the 98th session is packed with important topics referred by the Royal Court, the Ministry of Interior, and the Permanent Committee for Fatwas. Al-Majed revealed the meticulous mechanism for preparing these sessions, which begins immediately after the conclusion of the previous session. This involves forming advisory committees comprised of a select group of experts and specialists to provide precise technical and scientific perspectives. In addition, the General Secretariat prepares peer-reviewed research papers to ensure a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the topics under discussion.