Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih ibn Muhammad ibn Sulaiman ibn Abdul Rahman al-Uthaymeen at-Tamimi

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen was born on 27 Ramadan 1347 AH (March 9, 1929 CE) in the city of Unayzah in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia, a region historically known for producing distinguished Islamic scholars. He began his education at a traditional kuttab (Quranic school), memorizing the Quran at an early age before studying under several prominent scholars of the region, most notably Sheikh Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir as-Sa'di, the renowned Quranic commentator, whose pedagogical approach deeply influenced al-Uthaymeen's own teaching methodology. He also studied under Sheikh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz, who recognized his exceptional intellectual abilities and encouraged him to pursue advanced scholarship.

Al-Uthaymeen's teaching career spanned over five decades. He taught at the Scientific Institute in Unayzah, then at the Faculty of Shariah and Usul al-Din at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, where he became a professor of fiqh and usul al-fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence and its principles). However, it was his regular lectures at the Grand Mosque of Unayzah and his Hajj-season lectures at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah that earned him an international following. His teaching style was characterized by an extraordinary ability to break down complex legal reasoning into language accessible to both scholars and laypeople, using vivid examples and logical progressions that made his explanations memorable and practical.

His contributions to Hajj scholarship are particularly noteworthy. Every year during the Hajj season, he would deliver comprehensive lectures on the rituals of Hajj, answering hundreds of questions from pilgrims about their specific circumstances. These sessions were recorded and transcribed, eventually forming a vast archive of practical Hajj guidance that addresses virtually every scenario a pilgrim might encounter. His approach to Hajj rulings was distinguished by a balance between scholarly rigor and compassionate pragmatism — he was known for seeking ease for pilgrims wherever the evidence permitted, particularly for the elderly, the sick, and women. He served as a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta. Sheikh al-Uthaymeen passed away on January 10, 2001 (15 Shawwal 1421 AH) in Jeddah, and his funeral prayer was performed at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, attended by an immense gathering of mourners from across the Muslim world.