The Royal Court announced on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the appointment of Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Humaid as the new Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Head of the Senior Council of Scholars. The decision comes following the passing of former Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh on September 23, 2025.
Sheikh bin Humaid, born in 1949 in Al-Bukayriyah, brings extensive religious and academic credentials to the position. He has served as Imam of the Kaaba since 1984 and has previously led Hajj sermons at Masjid Namirah in Arafat.
He holds a PhD in Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh from Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, where he also completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sharia and Fiqh. The appointment marks a continuation of scholarly leadership in the Kingdom’s religious institutions. Sheikh bin Humaid is widely respected for his deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and his decades of service at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Previously, 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.
Dr. Saleh has authored numerous books, and research works on Islamic jurisprudence, family life, and contemporary issues. Some of his notable works include Raf’ al-Haraj fi al-Shari’ah al-Islamiyyah (Lifting Hardship in Islamic Law), The Happy Family, and Comprehensive Jurisprudence for Contemporary Issues.
In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he received the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam in 2016.
As Grand Mufti, Sheikh Saleh will head the Senior Council of Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research, issue fatwas and guiding religious discourse within the Kingdom. His role is crucial in shaping religious leadership at a time of both continuity and reform in Saudi Arabia.
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