Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 22, 2025

Renowned Saudi scholar Sheikh Abu Suleiman passes away, leaving behind a rich legacy

Renowned Saudi scholar Sheikh Abu Suleiman passes away, leaving behind a rich legacy

Renowned Saudi Islamic scholar and former member of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdul Wahhab Abu Suleiman passed away at the age of 88.
Funeral prayer was offered for him at the Grand Mosque in Makkah after Dhuhr prayer on Monday and his body was buried at Al-Moalla Cemetery in Makkah.Abu Suleiman was the winner of the King Faisal International Prize in the category of Islamic Studies for the topic of “Civilizational Heritage in Makkah”. He was a member of the Islamic Fiqh Academy under the Muslim World League.

King Abdullah honored him as the Cultural Personality of the Janadriyah Festival. He had served as member of several prestigious Saudi and international bodies, and these included Islamic Studies Branch of the King Faisal International Prize; Prince Naif International Prize for the Prophet’s Sunnah and Islamic Studies; Committee of Experts of the Encyclopedia of Jurisprudence in the Islamic Fiqh Academy; Scientific Committee of the Islamic Development Bank; International Shariah Authority for Zakat in Kuwait; Advisory Council for the Maliki Jurisprudence Project at the Research House for Islamic Studies and Heritage Revival in Dubai; and Committee of Advisors to the Encyclopedia of Makkah and Madinah.

Born in Makkah in 1356 AH, Abu Suleiman received his elementary education in the holy city from the Makkah orphanage and then he joined the Saudi scientific institute. After completion of studies there, he joined the College of Shariah, which was then affiliated with King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah before it converted into Umm Al-Qura University, where from he graduated in 1377.

Later, he obtained a diploma in education from the American University of Beirut, and then did postgraduate studies at the University of London, from where he obtained doctorate in 1390.

Abu Suleiman had begun his professional life in 1378 as a teacher of the subjects of jurisprudence and interpretation at Al-Zahir Intermediate School and later became teacher of religious sciences at Aziziya Secondary School. Afterwards, he was appointed teaching assistant at the College of Shariah in Makkah for the subjects of Principles of Jurisprudence and Comparative Jurisprudence.

After obtaining his doctorate, he was appointed in 1390 as assistant professor at the College of Shariah in Makkah and in 1398 he was promoted to Associate Professor, and then Professor of Fundamentals of Jurisprudence in 1403.

He held several administrative jobs at the Umm Al Qura University, including dean of the College of Shariah and Islamic Studies between the years 1391-1393, chairman of the Manuscripts Evaluation Committee, as well as member of the University Certificate Equivalency Committee at the Ministry of Higher Education. During this period, he visited several European and American universities.

Abu Suleiman was one of the eminent scholars and researchers in the history of Makkah and the holy sites. He served as research professor at the Faculty of Law at Harvard University in the United States in 1996; visiting professor at Duke University in America, visiting professor at the International Islamic University in Malaysia,College of Arab and Islamic Studies in Dubai, and Emirates University of Al-Ain. He also represented Saudi Arabia in several international conferences and seminars.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
×