Scandinavian News Agency
Finland
Saudi Arabia has appointed Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan, one of the country’s most respected Islamic scholars, as the new Grand Mufti the highest religious authority in the kingdom.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued the royal decree on Wednesday evening, approving the appointment on the recommendation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
At 90 years old, Sheikh al-Fawzan is a senior member of the Council of Senior Scholars and a long-time figure in Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment. His appointment marks a new chapter in the kingdom’s efforts to guide religious interpretation while balancing modernization and traditional Islamic values.
Given Saudi Arabia’s global Islamic significance as home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the Grand Mufti’s rulings are expected to have wide-reaching influence across the Muslim world.
Analysts say the decision underscores Riyadh’s commitment to preserving its religious leadership while maintaining stability and continuity in Islamic jurisprudence.
Read more about Saudi Arabia’s recent religious and political developments in our latest Middle East coverage.
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