His Eminence Shaykh `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn `Abdul-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn `Abdullah Al Baz

His Birth:

Shaykh `Abdul-`Aziz ibn Baz was born in 1330 A.H. in Dhul-Hijjah, in Riyadh. He enjoyed normal eyesight until his eyes were inflicted with a disease in 1346 A.H. This weakened his eyesight, which he later lost in 1350 A.H.

His Seeking of Knowledge:

Ibn Baz memorized the whole Ever-Glorious Qur’an before reaching the age of puberty and then sought knowledge from the scholars of Riyadh. When he excelled in his knowledge of the various branches of the Shari`ah and the Arabic language, he was appointed to the judiciary in 1357 A.H. He never stopped seeking knowledge; he was constantly occupied with searching and teaching and his positions did not distract him from this, so he became knowledgeable in many sciences. He gave special attention to Hadith and its sciences to the extent that his ranking of a Hadith as sound or weak was taken into consideration – and only a few attain such a position, particularly at the present time. This was manifest in his writings and Fatwas (legal opinions issued by a qualified Muslim scholar), as he would only adopt opinions supported by evidence.

His Shaykhs:

Ibn Baz acquired knowledge from many of the great scholars, among them:

1.      Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abdul-Latif ibn `Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan ibn Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abdul-Wahhab, Judge of Riyadh

2.      Shaykh Salih ibn `Abdul-Aziz ibn `Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan ibn Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abdul-Wahhab

3.      Shaykh Sa`d ibn Hamad ibn `Atiq, Judge of Riyadh

4.      Shaykh Hamad ibn Faris, (Vice Chancellor of the Treasury in Riyadh)

5.      His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn `Abdul-Latif Al Al-Shaykh (who in his time was the Grand Mufty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Shaykh Ibn Baz attended and adhered to his learning circles for approximately 10 years. Shaykh Ibn Baz learnt all the branches of the Shari`ah from 1347 A.H. to 1357 A.H.

6.      Shaykh Sa`d Waqqas Al-Bukhary, one of the scholars of Makkah from whom Ibn Baz learned the science of Tajwid (reciting the Qur'an following the rules of recitation) in 1355 A.H.

His Influence:

Since the time Ibn Baz was appointed as a judge in Al-Kharj in 1357 A.H., he gave regular lectures. In Al-Kharj, his lectures were held every day of the week, except Thursday and Friday. He influenced many students who were seeking knowledge, among them:

1.      Shaykh `Abdullah Al-Kanhal

2.      Shaykh Rashid ibn Salih Al-Khanin

3.      Shaykh `Abdul-Rahman ibn Nasir Al-Barak

4.      Shaykh `Abdul-Latif ibn Shadid

5.      Shaykh `Abdullah ibn Hasan ibn Qa`ud

6.      Shaykh `Abdul-Rahman ibn Jalal

7.      Shaykh Salih ibn Halil, and many others.

In 1372 A.H., he moved to Riyadh to teach at the Riyadh Educational Institute and then at the College of Shari`ah from its inception in 1373 A.H. He taught the sciences of jurisprudence, Hadith, and Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/monotheism). He was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Islamic University in Al-Madinah in 1381 A.H. He established the learning circle at Al-Jami` Al-Kabir in Riyadh, which is still held to the present day, though in the last few years it has become limited to only some days of the week. During his stay in Al-Madinah from 1381 A.H. (as Vice President of the Islamic University and as President from 1390 A.H. until 1395 A.H.) he held a learning circle in the Prophet’s Mosque. It should be noted that the learning circles he set up whenever he moved to a place continue to be held to this day, for example in Al-Ta’if during the summer days. Allah has caused many people to benefit from these learning circles.

His Work:

1.      A collection of various Fatwas and articles; three parts have been published to date (until the time of publication) ⁽¹⁾

2.      Al-Fawa’id Al-Jaliyyah Fi Al-Mabahith Al-Frdiyyah

3.      Al-Tahqiq Wa Al-Idah Likathir Min Masa’il Al-Hajj wa Al-`Umrah Wa Al-Ziyarah (Tawdih Al-Manasik)

4.      Al-Tah-dhir min Al-Bida`. This book contains four useful articles: Hukm Al-Ihtifal Bi Al-Mawlid Al-Nabawy, Laylat Al-Isra’ Wa Al-Mi`raj, Laylat Al-Nisf Min Sha`ban, and Takdhib Al-Ru’ya Al-Maz`umah Min Khadim Al-Hujrah Al-Nabawiyyah Al-Musamma: Al-Shaykh Ahmad

5.      Risalatan Mujazatan Fi Al-Zakah Wa Al-Siyam

6.      Al-`Aqidah Al-Sahihah Wama Yudaddaha

7.      Wujub Al-`Amal Bi Sunnah Al-Rasul (Salla Allahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) Wa Kufr Man Ankaraha

8.      Al-Da`wah Ila Allah Wa Akhlaq Al-Du`ah.

9.      Wujub Tahkim Shar` Allah Wa Nabdh Ma Khalafahu

10. Hukm Al-Sufur Wa Al-Hijab Wa Nikah Al-Shighar

11. Naqd Al-Qawmiyyah Al-`Arabiyyah

12. Al-Jawab Al-Mufid Fi Hukm Al-Taswir

13. Al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abdul-Wahhab, Da`watuhu Wa Siratuhu.

14. Thalath Rasa’il Fi Al-Salah:

a)     Kayfiyyat Salat Al-Naby (Salla Allahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam)

b)    Wujub Ada’ Al-Salah Fi Jama`ah.

c)     Ayna Yada` Al-Musali Yadayhi Hina Al-Raf` Min Al-Ruku`

15. Hukm Al-Islam Fiman Ta`ana Fi Al-Qur’an Aw Fi Rasul Allah (Salla Allahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam)

16. Hashiyah Mufidah `Ala Fat-h Al-Bari (He reached to the Book of Hajj)

17. Risalat Al-Adillah Al-Naqliyyah Wa Al-Hissiyah `Ala Jarayn Al-Shams Wa Sukun Al-Ard Wa Imkan Al-Su`ud Ila Al-Kawakib

18. Iqamat Al-Barahin `Ala Hukm Man Istaghatha Bi Ghayr Allah Aw Saddaqa Al-Kahana Wa Al-`Arrafin

19. Al-Jihad Fi Sabil Allah

20. Al-Durus Al-Muhimmah Li `Ammat Al-Ummah

21. Fatawa Tata`allaq` Bi Ahkam Al-Hajj Wa Al-`Umrah Wa Al-Ziyarah

22. Wujub Lizum Al-Sunnah Wa Al-Hadhar Min Al-Bi`ah

23. Tuhfat Al-Akhyar Bibayan Jumlah Nafi`ah Mima Warad Fi Al-Kitab Wa Al-Sunnah Al-Sahihah Min Al-Ad`iyyah Wa Al-Adhkar

This is what was printed. The Shaykh has comments on some books, such as:

1.     Bulugh Al-Maram

2.     Taqrib Al-Tah-dhib by Al-Hafizh ibn Hajar (not print)

3.      Al-Tuhfah Al-Karimah Fi Bayan Kathir Min Al-Ahadith Al-Mawdu`ah Wa Al-Saqimah

4.      Tuhfat Ahl Al-`Ilm Wa Al-Iman Bi Mukhtarat Min Al-Ahadith Al-Sahihah Wa Al-Hisan, and many other books.

Other Posts Occupied:

1.      A royal decree was issued appointing him as Chairman of the Departments of Scholarly Research, Ifta', Da`wah, and Guidance, then as Grand Mufty of the Kingdom and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Departments of Scholarly Research and Ifta’.

2.      Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'.

3.      Chairman and member of the Constituting Council of the Muslim World League.

4.      Chairman of the World Supreme Council for Mosques.

5.      Chairman of the Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Muslim World League in Makkah.

6.      Member of the High Council of the Islamic University in Al-Madinah.

7.      Member of the High Authority of the Islamic Call.

His activities were not limited to what has been mentioned; he delivered lectures, attended scholarly seminars, and commented on them. This is in addition to enjoining good and forbidding evil, which became one of his characteristics.

May Allah help us benefit from his knowledge.

His Death:

Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah be merciful to him) died on Thursday, 27 Muharram, 1420 A.H. when he was 89 years old. He spent his life exerting his utmost efforts to seek good deeds, attain knowledge, call to Allah, fight in Allah’s Cause, fulfill the needs of Muslims, and help them. May Allah be merciful to him, forgive him, give him access to His Spacious Paradise, lighten his grave, let him dwell with the pious, and gather us with him in the abode of His Honor and Mercy.

So many people offered the Funeral Prayer over him after the Friday Prayer, which gives evidence to the fact of how much he was loved.