Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen

A Brief Biography of His Eminence, the Eminent Scholar, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymīn - 1347 – 1421 AH

His Lineage and Birth

He is His Eminence, the Scholar, the Verifier (al-Muhaqqiq), the Jurist (al-Faqīh), the Exegete (al-Mufassir), the Pious and Ascetic: Muhammad ibn Sālih ibn Muhammad ibn Sulaymān ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmān Āl ‘Uthaymīn, from the Wahbah branch of the Banū Tamīm tribe.

He was born on the night of the 27th of the blessed month of Ramadan in the year 1347 AH in ‘Unayzah—one of the governorates of Al-Qassim—in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

His Educational Upbringing

His father—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—enrolled him to learn the Noble Qur’an under his maternal grandfather, the Qur’an teacher Sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Sulaymān ad-Dāmigh—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him. He then learned writing, elementary arithmetic, and literary texts in the school of Master ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Sālih ad-Dāmigh—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—before enrolling in the school of the Qur’an teacher Sheikh ‘Alī ibn ‘Abd Allāh ash-Shuhaytān—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—under whom he memorized the Noble Qur’an by heart before he had even reached fourteen years of age.

Upon the guidance of his father—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—he turned his focus toward seeking Islamic knowledge. His Eminence, the Eminent Scholar Sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Nāsir as-Sa‘dī([1])—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—was teaching Islamic and Arabic sciences at the Grand Mosque in ‘Unayzah. He had designated two of his senior students([2]) to teach beginner students; thus, the Sheikh joined the study circle of Sheikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Mutawwa‘—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—until he attained a solid foundation of knowledge in Tawhīd (monotheism), jurisprudence (fiqh), and Arabic grammar (nahw).

He then sat in the study circle of his mentor, the Eminent Scholar ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Nāsir as-Sa‘dī—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him. He studied Qur’anic exegesis (tafsīr), Prophetic traditions (hadīth), the Seerah (biography of the Prophet), Tawhīd, jurisprudence, legal principles (usūl), inheritance law (farā’id), and grammar under him, and memorized foundational texts (mutūn) in these disciplines.

His Eminence, the Eminent Scholar Sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Nāsir as-Sa‘dī—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—is considered his primary teacher, as he acquired knowledge—both in content and methodology—from him more than from anyone else, and was deeply influenced by his methodology, foundational approach (ta’sīl), teaching style, and adherence to evidence.

While Sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn ‘Alī ibn ‘Awdān([3])—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—served as a judge in ‘Unayzah, he studied the science of inheritance law under him. He also studied grammar and rhetoric (balāghah) under Sheikh ‘Abd al-Razzāq ‘Afīfī([4])—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—during the latter’s time as a teacher in that city.

When the Scientific Institute (Al-Ma‘had al-‘Ilmī) was opened in Riyadh, some of his brothers([5]) advised him to join it. He sought the permission of his teacher, the Eminent Scholar ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Nāsir as-Sa‘dī—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—and joined the institute for the academic years 1372–1373 AH.

During the two years he was enrolled at the Riyadh Scientific Institute, he benefited greatly from the scholars teaching there at the time, including: the Eminent Exegete Sheikh Muhammad al-Amīn ash-Shanqītī([6]), the Jurist Sheikh ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Nāsir ibn Rashīd([7]), and the Scholar of Hadith Sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Ifrīqī([8])—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon them all.

During this period, he connected with His Eminence, the Eminent Scholar Sheikh ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn ‘Abd Allāh ibn Bāz([9])—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—and read to him in the mosque from Sahīh al-Bukhārī and from the treatises of Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah. He benefited from him in the science of hadīth and in examining and comparing the opinions of jurists across different schools of thought (madhāhib). His Eminence Sheikh ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Bāz—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—is considered his second primary teacher in terms of attainment and influence.

He then returned to ‘Unayzah in 1374 AH and resumed studying under his teacher, the Eminent Scholar ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Nāsir as-Sa‘dī, while continuing his higher studies via distance learning at the Faculty of Sharia in Riyadh—which later became part of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University—until he obtained his high degree (degree/diploma).

His Teaching Career

His teacher, ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Nāsir as-Sa‘dī—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—perceived in him high intelligence and rapid comprehension, encouraging him to teach while he was still a student in his circle. Thus, he began teaching in 1370 AH at the Grand Mosque in ‘Unayzah.

Upon graduating from the Scientific Institute in Riyadh, he was appointed as a teacher at the Scientific Institute in ‘Unayzah in 1374 AH.

In the year 1376 AH, his teacher, the Eminent Scholar ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Nāsir as-Sa‘dī—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—passed away. Following his death, the Sheikh assumed the leadership (imāmah) of the Grand Mosque in ‘Unayzah, the leadership of the two Eid prayers there, and the teaching duties at the ‘Unayzah National Library affiliated with the mosque, which his teacher—may Allah have mercy upon him—had established in 1359 AH.

As student numbers grew and the library could no longer accommodate them, His Eminence—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—began teaching in the main congregational mosque itself. Students gathered and arrived from across the Kingdom and beyond, at times numbering in the hundreds for a single lesson. These were serious students seeking scholarly mastery rather than casual listeners. He continued in this capacity—as an Imam, preacher (khatīb), and teacher—until his passing.

The Sheikh remained a teacher at the Scientific Institute from 1374 AH until 1398 AH, when he transitioned to teaching at the Faculty of Sharia and Usūl al-Dīn in Qassim (affiliated with Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University), where he remained a professor until his death.

He also taught at the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Harām) in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawī) in Medina during the Hajj seasons, Ramadan, and summer vacations from 1402 AH until his passing.

The Sheikh possessed an educational style that was unique in its quality and effectiveness: he engaged his students in discussion, welcomed their questions, and delivered lessons and lectures with high enthusiasm, tranquility, and confidence, taking immense joy in spreading knowledge and making it accessible to people.

His Scholarly Legacy

His monumental efforts manifested over more than fifty years of dedication to spreading knowledge, teaching, preaching, guiding, lecturing, and calling to Allah—Glorified and Exalted be He.

He paid great attention to authorship and to drafting legal rulings (fatwas) and responses, which were distinguished by sound scholarly grounding (ta’sīl). Dozens of his books, treatises, lectures, fatwas, sermons, interviews, and articles were published. Additionally, thousands of audio hours were recorded capturing his lectures, sermons, interviews, radio programs, and academic lessons covering the interpretation of the Noble Qur’an, as well as outstanding commentaries on Hadith, the Prophet’s biography, and foundational texts and poems in Islamic and Arabic sciences.

In accordance with the rules, standards, and directives set by His Eminence—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—for the publication of his works, treatises, lessons, lectures, sermons, fatwas, and interviews, the Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Othaimeen Charitable Foundation assumes—with the help and guidance of Allah Almighty—the duty and honor of publishing and preserving all of his scholarly works.

Based on his instructions, a dedicated website([10]) was established on the international network (the Internet) to maximize the intended benefit and provide access to all his scholarly works, including published writings and audio recordings.

Other Roles and Endeavors

Alongside these fruitful efforts in teaching, authorship, imāmah, preaching, issuing fatwas, and calling to Allah, His Eminence held many distinguished roles, including:

  • Member of the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 1407 AH until his passing.
  • Member of the Academic Council at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University for the academic years 1398–1400 AH.
  • Member of the Board of the Faculty of Sharia and Usūl al-Dīn at the Qassim branch of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, and Head of its Creed (‘Aqīdah) Department.
  • During his final period of teaching at the Scientific Institute, he participated as a member of the Curricula and Planning Committee for scientific institutes and authored several prescribed textbooks for them.
  • Member of the Awareness Committee during the Hajj season from 1392 AH until his passing, delivering lessons and lectures in Mecca and the holy sites, and issuing fatwas on legal rulings and matters.
  • Head of the Charitable Society for the Memorization of the Noble Qur’an in ‘Unayzah from its establishment in 1405 AH until his death.
  • Delivered numerous lectures across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to diverse audiences, as well as telephone lectures to Islamic centers and gatherings worldwide.
  • Served as one of the senior scholars of the Kingdom who answered public inquiries regarding doctrine, law, and conduct through radio programs in Saudi Arabia, most notably Nūr ‘alā al-Darb (“Light upon the Path”) on the Saudi Holy Qur’an Radio station.
  • Dedicated himself to answering questions from seekers of knowledge via phone calls, written correspondence, and in person.
  • Organized scheduled scholarly sessions on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis.
  • Participated in numerous conferences held within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Owing to his care for moral conduct and spiritual guidance, he dedicated effort to advising students and guiding them toward a serious methodology in seeking knowledge, attracting them, exercising patience in teaching them, addressing their numerous and varied questions, and looking after their needs.
  • The Sheikh—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—had extensive involvement in charitable endeavors, acts of righteousness, helping people, assisting with their needs, drafting documents and contracts between parties, and offering sincere, honest advice.

His Scholarly Stature

The Sheikh—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—is considered among those firmly grounded in knowledge (al-rāsikhūna fī al-‘ilm), whom Allah blessed with exceptional foundational capacity and skill in recognizing and following evidence, deriving rulings and benefits from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and probing the depths of the Arabic language in meaning, syntax, and rhetoric.

Due to his noble scholarly attributes, commendable ethics, and combining knowledge with action, the public held deep affection for him, and all held him in the highest regard. Allah granted him widespread acceptance; people felt assured by his legal choices (ikhtiyārāt) and eagerly attended his lessons, sought his fatwas, and engaged with his scholarly works, drawing from the spring of his knowledge and benefiting from his advice and exhortations.

He was awarded the prestigious King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam in the year 1414 AH. The selection committee cited the following reasons for granting him the award:

  1. His embodiment of the noble virtues of scholars, most notably piety, broad-mindedness, speaking the truth, working for the welfare of Muslims, and offering sincere counsel to both their leaders and the general public.
  2. The vast benefit many derived from his knowledge through teaching, issuing fatwas, and authoring works.
  3. His delivery of beneficial public lectures across various regions of the Kingdom.
  4. His fruitful participation in numerous Islamic conferences.
  5. His adoption of an exemplary approach in calling to Allah with wisdom and good counsel, presenting a living model of the methodology of the Righteous Predecessors (al-Salaf al-Sālih) in both thought and conduct.

His Offspring

He was survived by five sons and three daughters. His sons are: ‘Abd Allāh, ‘Abd al-Rahmān, Ibrāhīm, ‘Abd al-‘Azīz, and ‘Abd al-Rahīm.

His Passing

He passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the city of Jeddah, shortly before sunset on Wednesday, the 15th of the month of Shawwāl, in the year 1421 AH. The funeral prayer was offered for him the following day after the Asr prayer at the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid al-Harām), after which thousands of worshippers and vast crowds accompanied his funeral procession in deeply moving scenes. He was buried in Al-Adl Cemetery in Mecca.

Following the Friday prayer the next day, the absentee funeral prayer (salāt al-ghā’ib) was performed for him in all cities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

May Allah have mercy upon our Sheikh with the mercy reserved for the righteous, admit him into His spacious gardens, bestow upon him His forgiveness and pleasure, and reward him with the best reward for all he offered to Islam and the Muslims.

The Scientific Department

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Othaimeen Charitable Foundation

Footnotes

  1. Many have written his biography; he possessed vast knowledge, virtuous morals, broad horizons, and great dedication to teaching and authorship. He authored works in Tawhīd, Tafsīr, Fiqh, Hadīth, Usūl, etiquette, and other fields. He passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1376 AH. See his biography in: ‘Ulamā’ Najd Khilāl Thamāniyat Qurūn by Al-Bassām (3/218–273); Rawdat al-Nāzirīn by Al-Qādī (1/219).
  2. They are the two Sheikhs:
  3. Sheikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz al-Mutawwa‘: He closely accompanied his teacher ‘Abd al-Rahmān as-Sa‘dī for a long period until he became his senior student. He assumed the judiciary in ‘Unayzah and passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1387 AH. See his biography in: ‘Ulamā’ Najd Khilāl Thamāniyat Qurūn by Al-Bassām (6/78); Rawdat al-Nāzirīn by Al-Qādī (2/291).
  4. Sheikh ‘Alī ibn Hamad al-Sālihī: When his teacher ‘Abd al-Rahmān as-Sa‘dī saw his perseverance in learning, he instructed him to sit and teach the younger students. He passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1415 AH. See his biography in: ‘Ulamā’ Najd Khilāl Thamāniyat Qurūn by Al-Bassām (5/180).
  5. He passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1374 AH. See his biography in: ‘Ulamā’ Najd Khilāl Thamāniyat Qurūn by Al-Bassām (3/130); Rawdat al-Nāzirīn by Al-Qādī (1/215).
  6. He was born in Egypt and received his education at Al-Azhar Mosque. He came to the Kingdom in 1368 AH and taught in various regions across Saudi Arabia. He was later chosen as a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1415 AH. See his biography in: ‘Ulamā’ Najd Khilāl Thamāniyat Qurūn by Al-Bassām (3/275).
  7. He was Sheikh ‘Alī ibn Hamad al-Sālihī—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him.
  8. He grew up and was educated in Shinqīt (Mauritania), then came to the Kingdom for Hajj in 1367 AH. He taught at the Scientific Institute in Riyadh, then at the Prophet’s Mosque and the Islamic University. He was chosen as a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1393 AH. See his biography in: ‘Ulamā’ Najd Khilāl Thamāniyat Qurūn by Al-Bassām (6/371).
  9. He grew up in Ar-Rass, one of the governorates of Al-Qassim, then moved to Riyadh and studied at the Scientific Institute. He directed his efforts toward preaching, counseling, and teaching at the Sacred Mosque and the Scientific Institute in Mecca. He passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1408 AH. See his biography in: ‘Ulamā’ Najd Khilāl Thamāniyat Qurūn by Al-Bassām (3/531).
  10. He grew up in Mali, Africa, then came for Hajj and settled in Mecca and Medina, seeking knowledge from the scholars of the Prophet’s Mosque. He taught at Dār al-Hadīth in Medina and was appointed as a teacher there. He passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1377 AH.
  11. Many have authored his biography, dedicating whole volumes to it. He served as a judge in Al-Kharj, then moved to Riyadh to teach at the Scientific Institute, then the Faculty of Sharia, until he was appointed Vice President of the Islamic University in Medina, then its President. He later became the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Head of the Council of Senior Scholars. He passed away—may Allah Almighty have mercy upon him—in the year 1420 AH. See his biography in: Rawdat al-Nāzirīn by Al-Qādī (3/144).
  12. www.binothaimeen.net

Source: نبذة مختصرة عن العلاَّمة محمد بن صالح العثيمين 1347 – 1421 هـ