Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Passes Amid Shifts in Religious and Political Authority

For more than 25 years, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh stood as a pillar of Saudi Arabia's ultraconservative religious establishment, shaping the spiritual direction of the kingdom that claims Islam’s holiest sites. His death in his 80s not only closes a chapter on a deeply entrenched Wahhabi influence over Saudi society but also raises critical questions about the future alignment of religion and state power—questions that Americans should watch closely given the kingdom's pivotal role in global stability and energy security. How Does Religious Authority Impact America's Strategic Ally? The grand mufti’s tenure was marked by fierce defense of austere...