Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his deepest condolences on the passing of Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti.
In a heartfelt message shared on handle X, PM Modi said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kingdom and its people in this moment of grief.”
The Saudi Royal Court announced the Grand Mufti’s demise on Tuesday. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud directed that funeral prayers be held in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and all mosques across the Kingdom.
Sheikh Abdulaziz, a prominent Islamic scholar, served as the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia for over two decades. Appointed in 1999, he played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s religious landscape and issued numerous fatwas on contemporary matters. His tenure coincided with significant social transformations in the Kingdom, including the lifting of the ban on women driving and the introduction of tourism visas.
Leaders from across the Gulf Cooperation Council and the wider Islamic world have extended condolences to the Saudi royal family and people.
The Grand Mufti’s death marks the end of an era in Saudi Arabia, with tributes pouring in for his scholarship and character. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman led the funeral prayer in Riyadh, while a successor is yet to be announced.