In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful…
From a family of grounded knowledge, Shaykh Saalih ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh is the grandson of the great scholar, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem Aal ash-Shaykh (d.1389). Shaykh Muhammad was the grandson of Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Hasan (d.1285), the author of Fat-hul-Majeed, an outstanding explanation of Kitaab at-Towheed of his grandfather, Shaykh al-Islaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (d.1206). May Allaah have Mercy on all of them.
He was born and raised in Riyadh in 1378 (1958 on the Christian calendar). He studied Quran Sciences at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, where his exceptional level of knowledge stood out, and thus he became a teacher there and taught for about 15 years.
In 1416 (1995), he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs in Saudi Arabia. Shortly after that, in 1420, he was made the Minister of Islamic Affairs. He has held this position until today, by Allaah’s Grace.
The shaykh has studied under some great scholars of recent times, the likes of:
- Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz
- Shaykh Hammaad al-Ansaaree
- Shaykh ‘Abdullaah al-‘Aqeel
- Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan
Shaykh Saalih is known for his many lessons and explanations of books, the recordings of which are widely available and of great benefit to students of knowledge. His clear and proper Arabic coupled with his vast knowledge and clear Salafee approach make these recordings an invaluable resource for the Muslims in general.
One example of these amazing recordings would be: Benefits from the Life and Works of Imaam Ahmad, a simple, yet extremely rich lecture he gave, called Min Ma’een al-Imaam Ahmad, quoting the various students of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and their statements about his life, and highlighting the importance of those statements as real lessons we can implement. This lecture has been translated completely and is available in English, and to Allaah is the praise.
May Allaah bless him and his works, and preserve him and allow the Muslims to benefit from him. This is how I see him, and Allaah knows him best, and He Alone is his true Reckoner. I praise none above Allaah, the Most High.
Written by: Moosaa Richardson
The name of ibn abdul wahaab .. You wrote it wrongly.. Or is it correct.. “Abdil”
Our system of transliteration is more loyal to the correct pronunciation and context than other systems. In Arabic, you would not say “Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab” like that – its a mistaken pronunciation. You would say, “Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab”, since what comes after “ibn” will be majroor (having a kasrah on it). By himself, the servant of al-Wahhaab would be called “‘Abdul-Wahhaab”, but in this construction, the son of Abdul-Wahhaab in Arabic is “Ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab”. Notice the name of the author of the article above as well. Thanks for your question, Mohamed.
May Allah preserve the shaykh and give baraakaah in his life and help us to benefit from him,
Is the shaykh related to the grand mufti Shaykh Abdul Azeez Aal as shaykh(haafithaullaah)?
And is it that both of them have lost their eyesight or only shaykh Abdul Azeez, May Allaah help us to benefit from both of them and the other mashaykhs of the like.
As salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barkaatuh,
Doesn’t the shaykh have his own explanation of kitaab at tawheed?
التمهيد لشرح كتاب التوحيد