Biography of ash-Shaykh al-‘Alaamah ‘Abdil-Azeez bin Baaz

He is the exemplary Scholar, the Zaahid, mild and forbearing in nature, the Faqeeh, the Muhaddith, the Scholar of Usool and Tawheed, Abu ‘Abdillah ‘Abdil-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdillah ibn ‘Abdir-Rahmaan ibn Baaz born in the city of Riyaadh on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, 1330 A.H. (Corresponding to the 12th of November, 1912 C.E.) from a good and noble family.

He memorized the Quran before reaching the age of maturity and because of illness lost his eyesight completely at the age of 19, yet despite this he went on to study the Islamic sciences and the Arabic language under a number of major scholars in Riyaadh, from them:

• Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Lateef bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan bin Hasan bin ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (rahimahumullah).

• Shaykh Saalih ibn Abdil-Azeez Aali-Shaykh bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan bin Husayn bin ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (rahimahumullah).

• Shaykh Sa’d bin Hamad bin ‘Ateeq, the Judge of Riyaadh (rahimahullah).

• Shaykh Hamad bin Faaris, the treasurer of the Bayt-ul-Maal in Riyaadh (rahimahullah).

• Shaykh Sa’d Waqaas al-Bukhaaree from the ‘Ulamaa of Makkah (rahimahullah).

• The Eminent Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem Aali-Shaykh who, in his time, was the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia. Shaykh bin Baaz accompanied him and learned from him for about ten years from 1347 to 1357 A.H. where he later elected him to serve as judge.

Thus he gained his religious education from the family of Imaam Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullah).


Shaykh Ibn Baaz excelled in the various branches of Islamic sciences. He devoted all of his life to the Cause of Islam and its people, authoring many books, teaching and serving the masses, while also aiding the spread of correct knowledge world-wide.

He served in the judiciary as a Justice for fourteen years, until he was transferred to the education faculty. He remained engaged in teaching for nine years at Riyaadh Islamic law College, Riyaadh Religious Institute. Then he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Islamic University in Madeenah. Shortly thereafter, he was made the Chancellor with full administrative powers.

Later he was appointed President of the General Presidency of Islamic Research, Islamic Rulings, Call and Propagation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and then finally was made the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia.

He was also the President of many Islamic Committees and Councils, the most prominent of these are: the Senior Scholars Committee of Saudi Arabia, the Permanent Committee for Islamic and Educational Research, the Founding Committee of Muslim World League, World Supreme Council for Mosques, Islamic Jurisprudence Assembly of Makkah; and member of the Supreme Council of the Islamic University of Madeenah, and the Supreme Committee for Islamic Propagation.

He belonged to the Hanbali School of Jurisprudence, but his legal verdicts were based on evidences taken from the Quran and Sunnah as he himself said:

“My Madhhab (Islamic fundamentals of rite) in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) is the Madhhab of Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (rahimahullah) and that is not by way of Taqleed (blind following) but rather it is built upon adherence to the fundamentals that he followed. As for the affairs of difference of opinion then my Manhaj (methodology) concerning it is giving precedence to whatever the evidences mandate to be given preference, and this also applies to the fatwa (legal ruling), whether it agrees with the Madhhab of the Hanbalees or not, and that is because the truth has more right to be followed.”

From some of his literary works:

• Al-Fawaaid-ul-Jaleelah fee al-Mubaahith-il-Fardhiyyah (Glorious Benefits concerning Research of the Obligatory matters)

• At-Tahqeeq wal-Iydhaah li-Katheeri min Masaail-il-Hajj wal-‘Umrah waz-Ziyaarah (Verifying and Clarification concerning the many issues surrounding Hajj, ‘Umrah and Visiting the Prophet )

• At-Tahdheer min-al-Bid’ee (Warning from Innovations) which includes four articles such as, “the Ruling concerning Celebrating the Birthday of the Prophet.”

• Risaalataani Moojizataani fee az-Zakaati was-Siyaam (Two Summarized Treatises concerning Zakah and Fasting)

• Al-‘Aqeedat-us-Saheehah wa Maa Yudhaaduhaa (the Correct Creed and what opposes it)

• Wujoob-ul-‘Amali bi-Sunnat-ir-Rasooli wa Kufru man Ankarhu (the Obligation of doing the righteous deed according to the Methodology of the Prophet and the Disbelief of the one who rejects it)

• Ad-Da’wah ila Allah wa Akhlaaq-ud-Du’aati (Inviting to the Path of Allah and the correct mannerisms of the missionaries)

• Wujoobu Tahkeemi Shar’illahi wa Nabdhu Maa Khaalafahu (The Obligation to Rule by Allah’s Divine Legislation and refuting the one who opposes it)

• Hukm-us-Sufoori wal-Hijaabi wa Nikaah-ish-Shaghaar (The Ruling concerning the woman who does not cover and the Ruling concerning Covering in addition to the Ruling concerning the marriage of ash-Shaghaar; when two men arrange to marry one another's female relative)

• Naqd-ul-Qawmiyyat-il-‘Arabiyyah (Refuting Arab Nationalism)

• Al-Jawaab-ul-Mufeed fee Hukm-it-Tasweer (the Beneficial Response concerning the Ruling on Picture Taking)

• Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab, Da’watuhu wa Seeratuhu (ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab, his missionary work and biography)

• Three treatises regarding Prayer each entitled, Kayfiyya-tu-Salaat-in-Nabi (the Manner that the Prophet preformed the Prayer), Wujoobu Adaa-is-Salaati fee Jamaa’ah (the Obligation of performing the prayer with the congregation), and Ayna Yadha’u al-Musalee Yadyhi heena ar-Raf’u min ar-Ruku’oo (Where does the praying person place his hands when coming up from the bowing position?)

• Hukm-ul-Islaami feeman Ta’ana fee al-Quraan auw fee Rasoolullahi (the Islamic Ruling concerning the one who attacks the Quran and the Messenger of Allah )

• Haashiyyatun Mufeedun ‘alaa Fath-il-Baaree (Beneficial Notes upon Fath-ul-Baaree – the commentary of Saheeh-ul-Bukhaaree by Ibn-ul-Hajar al-‘Asqalaanee (rahimahullah) which he was only able to reach up to the Book of Hajj and then he passed away (rahimahullah).

• Iqaamat-ul-Baraaheen ‘alaa Hukmi man Istighaathi bighayrillahi auw Saddaqa al-Kahanah wal-‘Araafeen (Establishing the Evidences upon the Ruling of one who seeks aide from other than Allah or who believes the Fortune-Tellers and Palm-Readers)

• Al-Jihaad fee Sabeelillah (Fighting in the Path of Allah)

• Ad-Duroos-ul-Muhimmah li’Aammat-il-Ummah (Important Lessons for the General Body of Muslims)

• Fatawaa tata’allaqu bi-Ahkaam-il-Hajj wal-‘Umrah waz-Ziyaarah (Legal Islamic Rulings connected to Hajj, ‘Umrah and Visting the Prophet )

• Wujoobu Luzoom-is-Sunnah wal-Hadhr min-al-Bid’ah (the Obligation of Adhering to the Sunnah and Warning from Innovation)

He passed away at the age of eighty nine years on Thursday the 27th of Muharram in the year 1420 A.H. (Corresponding to May 13th 1999 C.E.) in Taaif. Prayers were held for him in Masjid Haram, Makkah on Friday the 28th of Muharram then he was buried in al-‘Adl Cemetery.

Compiled and Translated by Thomas Maldonado. This biography originally appeared in the English translation of the Shaykh's explanation to the Three Principles printed by al-Hujjah Publication.