[6] Brief Biographies of Some Prominent Contemporary Scholars- Al-Allamah Salih Al-Luhaydan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

His Name and Lineage: He was His Eminence, the erudite scholar, Abū Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ ibn Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ ibn ʿAbdillāh ibn Saʿd al-Laḥaydān – may Allāh have mercy upon him. Shaikh Ṣāliḥ traces his lineage to the al-Laḥaydān family from the Subay tribe. His ancestry goes back to Shaikh Ismāʿīl ibn Rumayḥ al-Uraynī (d. 970 AH), one of the most prominent scholars of Najd in the tenth Hijrī century. His family, may Allāh have mercy upon them, is attributed to a number of scholars, judges and men of sound understanding.

His Birth: The Shaikh, may Allāh grant him the highest level of al-Firdaws, was born in the city of al-Bukayriyyah, in the al-Qaṣīm region, in the year 1350 AH (1931).

His Upbringing: The Shaikh, may Allāh have mercy upon him, began seeking knowledge at an early age. At the age of eight, he studied the fundamentals of reading under Shaikh Abdullāh Ibn Muḥammad al-Khulayfī. He then learned reading and memorised the Noble Qurʾān under Shaikh Abd al-Raḥmān al-Sālim.

In 1367 AH, he moved to Riyadh with his father, may Allāh have mercy upon him, where he completed his primary, intermediate and secondary education. Thereafter, he enrolled in the College of Sharīʿah, from which he graduated in 1379 AH. He then enrolled in the Higher Institute of the Judiciary, graduating from it in 1389 AH.

His Personal Qualities: The Shaikh, may Allāh have mercy upon him, was well-known for his eloquence in speech, sound judgement in his responses and fluency when answering questions. He, may Allāh have mercy upon him, was distinguished by his farsightedness, lofty aspiration, strength of character and truthfulness in speech. He was sincere in advising the rulers in accordance with the methodology of the pious predecessors, may Allāh be pleased with them. He was known for his abundant knowledge, many virtues and keen intelligence. He devoted himself to benefiting others, for he was a scholar whose eloquence was evident from his statements, as though he were scooping from the sea. He, may Allāh have mercy upon him, was firm upon his principles, resolute in determination, exemplary in conduct, of lofty ambition, complete in manliness, broad in learning and profound in knowledge and understanding.

His Work: The Shaikh, may Allāh have mercy upon him, excelled in numerous fields, including teaching, issuing legal verdicts, delivering admonitions, preaching, examining academic theses and dissertations, and providing guidance. However, the most prominent of all his roles was his supervision of the judiciary, having assumed the presidency of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, a position for which he became well known. He served in this capacity for nearly half a century.

His Authorships: The Shaikh, may Allāh have mercy upon him, authored numerous works, some of which have been published while others remain in print preparation. Among them are: Majālis al-Dhikr wa al-Daʿwah ilā Allāh fī Riḥāb al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, Sharḥ ʿUmdat al-Aḥkām, Sharḥ Ādāb al-Mashi ilā al-Ṣalāh, Sharḥ ʿUmdat al-Fiqh, Sharḥ Kitāb al-Tawḥīd, Sharḥ Mukhtaṣar Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim and other works besides these.

His Teachers: He acquired knowledge from a number of virtuous scholars, among them: His Eminence Shaikh Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm Āl al-Shaikh, may Allāh have mercy upon him, His Eminence Shaikh ʿAbd al-Laṭīf ibn Ibrāhīm Āl al-Shaykh, may Allāh have mercy upon him, His Eminence Shaikh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Bāz, may Allāh have mercy upon him, Shaikh ʿAbd al-Razzāq ʿAfīfī, may Allāh have mercy upon him, and Shaikh Muḥammad al-Amīn al-Shanqīṭ, may Allāh have mercy upon him.

His Passing – may Allāh have mercy upon him: He passed away, may Allāh have mercy upon him and grant him the highest level of al-Firdaws, at dawn on Wednesday, the 2nd of Jumādā al-Ākhirah 1443 AH, corresponding to January 5th 2022, at approximately ninety years of age. We ask Allāh, the Most High, to forgive him, envelop him in His mercy, bless us through his knowledge and deeds, and reward him on our behalf with the best of rewards. May Allāh send His prayers, peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muḥammad, his family and all of his Companions. And all  praise is due to Allāh, the Lord of all the worlds.

Source: pages 9-12