Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh
Encyclopedia
Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh is the current Chairman of the Majlis ash-Shura
(Consultative Assembly) of Saudi Arabia
, and was, until 2009, the country's Minister of Justice.
. He was born in 1948 and was educated by his father, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh
former Grand Mufti
of Saudi Arabia. He also studied the interpretation of the Quran and jurisprudence principles with the late Sheikh Abdulrazaq Afifi. He attended the Shariah College in Riyadh (later re-named Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University
) and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Sharia
in 1975. He then studied Sharia at Al-Azhar University
in Cairo, Egypt and returned to Saudi Arabia to obtain a Doctorate degree in 1987.
. Another important aspect of the reform was the creation of a Supreme Court. The laws covering the judicial reforms were passed in October 2007, but implementation has been slow.
Al ash-Sheikh announced in July 2008 that he had submitted a plan of action for the judiciary reforms to the king, but little was heard further until it was announced in 2009 that he would cease to be Minister of Justice in a major cabinet re-shuffle. It was reported that King Abdullah
's objective in the re-shuffle was to replace conservative incumbents with younger, more progressive candidates. It was also reported that Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh was one of the conservatives replaced. He was appointed Chairman of the Majlis ash-Shura in 2009.
Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia
The Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia also known as Majlis as-Shura or Shura Council is the formal advisory body of Saudi Arabia, which is an absolute monarchy. It cannot pass or enforce laws, a power reserved for the King. The Consultative Assembly has limited powers in government, including...
(Consultative Assembly) of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, and was, until 2009, the country's Minister of Justice.
Background and education
Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh is a member of a noted family of Saudi religious scholars, the Al ash-SheikhAl ash-Sheikh
The Al ash-SheikhIt is incorrect to use the term the Al ash-Sheikh family as the word Al already means family. See Etymology. It would, in theory, be correct to use the term House of the Sheikh, but, unlike House of Saud, in practice this is rarely done...
. He was born in 1948 and was educated by his father, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh
Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh
Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh was the Grand Mufti, or highest religious authority, in Saudi Arabia from 1953 to his death in 1969.-Background:...
former Grand Mufti
Grand Mufti
The title of Grand Mufti refers to the highest official of religious law in a Sunni or Ibadi Muslim country. The Grand Mufti issues legal opinions and edicts, fatwā, on interpretations of Islamic law for private clients or to assist judges in deciding cases...
of Saudi Arabia. He also studied the interpretation of the Quran and jurisprudence principles with the late Sheikh Abdulrazaq Afifi. He attended the Shariah College in Riyadh (later re-named Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University
Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University
Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was founded in 1953. In 1974 it was granted university status by royal decree. The university houses 10 faculties. It currently has more than 24,000 students and 1,300 faculty...
) and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
in 1975. He then studied Sharia at Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is...
in Cairo, Egypt and returned to Saudi Arabia to obtain a Doctorate degree in 1987.
Career
After obtaining his doctorate, Al ash-Sheikh became a lecturer and Professor in the Sharia College of Imam Muhammed Bin Saud Islamic University until he was appointed as Minister of Justice in 1993. On the instructions of the King, he drew up the Judiary Law of 2007. These reforms envisaged the creation of specialised courts to operate in parallel with the traditional sharia courts, particularly in areas of commercial litigation. In effect, the reform may allow certain cases to be judged without reference to ShariaSharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
. Another important aspect of the reform was the creation of a Supreme Court. The laws covering the judicial reforms were passed in October 2007, but implementation has been slow.
Al ash-Sheikh announced in July 2008 that he had submitted a plan of action for the judiciary reforms to the king, but little was heard further until it was announced in 2009 that he would cease to be Minister of Justice in a major cabinet re-shuffle. It was reported that King Abdullah
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
's objective in the re-shuffle was to replace conservative incumbents with younger, more progressive candidates. It was also reported that Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh was one of the conservatives replaced. He was appointed Chairman of the Majlis ash-Shura in 2009.