Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia from 1993 until his death in 1999, Abd al-Aziz Ibn Baz emerged as a prominent authority in Islamic legal scholarship. Born in Riyadh in 1912, he rose from humble beginnings as a teenage market trader to become a central figure in shaping religious guidance and state-sanctioned policy within the Kingdom.
Early Development and Loss of Vision
Born during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, Ibn Baz lost his father at age three. By age sixteen, he began suffering from a serious eye infection, leading to total blindness by the time he reached twenty. Despite this, he pursued a traditional education in Islamic literature, focusing on the Qur'an, hadith, fiqh, and tafsir under the guidance of Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh, his predecessor in the country's top religious office.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Judicial and Administrative Career
Ibn Baz served as a judge in the Al Kharj district from 1938 to 1951. His later appointments included the presidency of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta, and he was the first Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia not to come from the Al ash-Sheikh family.
Public Influence and Cosmology
Through his radio program, Nurun Ala Darb, he engaged with listeners on contemporary issues. His influence extended to foreign policy, where he supported the mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War with a fatwa authorizing wealth taxes. His career was marked by shifting public positions, most notably his long-standing rejection of the Earth's rotation, which he retracted only after speaking with Prince Sultan bin Salman following the astronaut's return from the Space Shuttle Discovery mission in 1985.
Final Years
During the final decade of his life, Ibn Baz remained a pivotal, albeit controversial, figure. He navigated complex political waters, including the decision to permit the stationing of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia in 1991. He died of heart failure on 13 May 1999, at age 86, and was interred at the Al Adl cemetery in Mecca.
Fast facts
- Born: 1912, Riyadh
- Died: 13 May 1999, Mecca
- Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia: 1993–1999
- King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam: 1982
- Primary fields of study: Fiqh and Science of Hadith
- Burial site: Al Adl cemetery
- Citizenship: Saudi Arabia
Questions readers ask
What was Ibn Baz's role during the Soviet-Afghan War?
He issued a fatwa authorizing a wealth tax to support the mujahideen and endorsed calls for jihad against the Soviet Union.
Did Ibn Baz believe the Earth was stationary?
Yes, he published articles in 1966 and 1982 arguing the Sun orbited the Earth, though he retracted this stance in 1985.
Achievements
- Notable work: Q137669116
- Notable work: Q137669135
- Notable work: Q137669152
- Notable work: Q137669160
- Fields of research: fiqh and science of hadith
