Saleh al-Fawzan was born on 28 September 1935 (1354 AH)[8][9] in Ash-Shamasiyyah in the Al-Qassim Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,near the city of Buraydah. He belongs to the Al-Wadain branch of the Al-Shammās clan of the Ad-Dawāsir tribe,[1] His father died during his early childhood,and he was raised by his family. He learned the Quran,and received his initial instruction in reading and writing from local mosque's imām,Ḥamūd ibn Sulaymān At-Tilāl,[10] who later served as a judge (Qadi) in the town of Dariyah,Al-Qassim Province of the Saudi Arabia.
Education
Al-Fawzan enrolled in the public school in Ash-Shamasiyyah in 1950 (1369 AH). He completed his education at Al-Faysaliyyah School in Buraydah in 1952 (1371 AH),and was appointed as a primary school teacher. He then enrolled at the Ma'had Al-'Ilmī (The Institute of Knowledge) in Buraydah when it opened in 1954 (1373 AH),and graduated from it in 1958 (1377 AH). He joined the Kullīyat Ash-Sharīʿah (The College of Sharīʿah) in Riyadh and graduated in 1962 (1381 AH).[5]
Al-Fawzan later obtained a master’s degree in fiqh in the field of inheritance law,with a thesis titled:"Al-Taḥqīqāt Al-Marḍiyyah fīAl-Mabāḥith Al-Farḍiyyah"(A Satisfactory investigation into the issues of obligatory Shares in Inheritance). He subssequently obtained a doctorate in fiqh from the same college,with a dissertation titled:"Aḥkām Al-Aṭʿimah fīAl-Sharīʿah Al-Islāmiyyah"(The Rulings of Foods in the Islamic Sharīʿah).[11]
Al-Fawzan serves on the Supervisory Committee for Preachers during Hajj and is an imam,khatib and teacher at the Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Mosque in Riyadh. He is one of the scholars featured on the Nūr 'Alāad-Darb radio program,described as one of the oldest and most famous programs broadcast on the Quran radio channel,where senior scholars answer questions and issue fatwas. He also contributes regularly to scholarly journals through research,studies,letters,and fatwas,supervises academic theses at the master’s and doctoral levels,and teaches students of Islamic knowledge in ongoing lessons and study circles.[4]
Relationship with Ibn Baz
Ibn Baz,the former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia,was among the scholars under whom al-Fawzan studied and by whom he was influenced. Al-Fawzan studied 'Ilm al-Mawārīth (Knowledge of Islamic Inheritance) under Ibn baz at Kullīyat Ash-Sharī'ah (College of Sharia) in Riyadh,and regularly attended his lessons,lectures,and scholarly gatherings (halaqa). He also listened to his radio programs on Islamic knowledge and fatwas.[15]
When al-Fawzan began working at DārAl-Iftā' (The Fatwa Office),Ibn Baz served as his supervisor and director. Al-Fawzan later stated that he benefited from Ibn Baz in various aspects of Islamic scholarship,particularly in precision and caution when issuing fatwas,striving for accuracy and correctness,and maintaining patience and perseverance in scholarly work. He also learned from him the importance of grounding legal opinions in evidence from the Quran and Sunnah,and of exercising responsibility and restraint in delivering religious rulings.[16]
Controversies and criticism
Al-Fawzan has attracted criticism for a number of public statements and religious opinions. In 2017,he was reported to have referred to Shia Muslims as "brothers of Satan" and stated that they "lie about God,his prophet,and the consensus of Muslims," remarks that have been cited an example of sectarian rhetoric among some Saudi clerics.[17][18][19]
In 2003,he was quoted as saying that "slavery is a part of Islam" and that Muslims denying this are ignorant and not scholars,comments that drew criticism for contradicting contemporary interpretations of Islamic law. He has also described public demonstrations as haram,characterizing them as practices of non-Muslims that can lead to division and violence.[20][21][22][23]
Al-Fawzan has issued other rulings that have drawn attention,including a 2016 fatwa reportedly prohibiting the mobile game Pokémon Go,which he classified as a form of gambling.[21] He has also been reported to consider photography generally prohibited except when necessary.[24]
In 2023,Saleh al-Fawzan denied reports that he issued a fatwa banning open buffets,clarifying on his website that he had only commented that food of unspecified quantity should not be sold without specification. His statement addressed restaurants where customers pay a fixed price for unspecified portions.[25]
Supporters of Al-Fawzan argue that his statements reflect traditional jurisprudence and adherence to orthodox Salafi teaching while critics contend that his pronouncements promote intolerance and discourage reform.[20]
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