He is Abu ‘Abdullaah Muhammad ibn ‘Abdillaah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azeez as-Subayyal, from the family of Aal Ghayhib from the tribe of Banee Zayd from Qudhaa’ah from Qahtaan. He was born in al-Bukayriyyah in the province of Qaseem in 1345H (1926AD).
His Upbringing and Quest for Knowledge
He was brought up in al-Bukayriyyah and began memorising the Noble Qur.aan under the tutelage of his father, Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-Kuraydees, as well as his maternal uncle Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Alee al-Mahmood. After having completed the memorisation of the Qur.aan, he began to lead the congregational prayers at the age of 14 years. He began seeking knowledge in his home town of al-Bukayriyyah, then Buraydah (also in Qaseem) and thereafter Makkah al-Mukarramah.
He memorised a number of knowledge-based texts, amongst them: Zaad al-Mustaqni’, ‘Umdatul-Ahkaam, Buloogh al-Maraam fee Ahaadeeth al-Ahkaam, ar-Rahabiyyah, al-Bayqooniyyah, Mulhat al-I’raab, Alfiyyah Ibn Maalik, a large part of Manthoomah Ibn ‘Abdil-Qawee, Nuthum al-Mufradaat fil-Math.hab – in addition to many knowledge-based poems.
His Shaykhs
1) His father – Shaykh ‘Abdullaah as-Subayyal (rahima-hullaah). He was from amongst those who had memorised the Book of Allaah, and he was from the well-known scholars of al-Bukayriyyah. He travelled to Riyadh in search of knowledge, and thereafter returned to lead the congregational prayers in one of the masaajid of al-Bukayriyyah. He died in 13723H.
2) His brother – Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abdul-‘Azeez as-Subayyal (rahima-hullaah). He was born in al-Bukayriyyah in 1321H and assumed the position of judge in al-Bukayriyyah. He moved to Makkah in 1386H to teach in al-Masjid al-Haraam. Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Bassaam (rahima-hullaah) said about him in: “He was from amongst the major jurists of Najd”[1]. He died in Makkah in 1412H.
3) Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abdullaah ibn Muhammad ibn Humayd (rahima-hullaah). He was recognised as the jurist of his age. He was a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, as well as the President of the Fiqh Council at the Muslim World League. he assumed the position of judge in Riyadh and thereafter Qaseem. He then moved to Makkah in 1384H to undertake the General Presidency for Religious Supervision within al-Masjid al-Haraam. Then in 1395H he was appointed President of the High Judiciary Council and continued in this post until he died in 1402H.
4) Shaykh Muhammad ibn Muqbil Aal Muqbil. He was the judge of al-Bukayriyyah as well as from amongst the recognised scholars there. He died in al-Bukayriyyah in 1368H.
5) Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Khuzaym (rahima-hullaah). He was from amongst the recognised scholars of al-Bukayriyyah. He assumed the position of judge in ar-Rass and thereafter in al-Muthnib and then ‘Unayzah. He died in al-Bukayriyyah in 1394H.
6) Shaykh Sa’dee Yaaseen (rahima-hullaah). He was from amongst the scholars of Lebanon. He was also a member of the Muslim World League. Shaykh Muhammad read the Qur.aan to him in its entirety in Makkah and was awarded an ijaazah in the recitation of Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim.
7) Shaykh Abu Muhammad ‘Abdul-Haqq al-Haashimee (rahima-hullaah). Shaykh Muhammad received an ijaazah from him in the field of hadeeth.
8) Shaykh Abu Sa’eed Muhammad ibn ‘Abdillaah Noor Ilaahee al-Hindee (rahima-hullaah). Shaykh Muhammad received an ijaazah from him in the field of hadeeth.
His Students
1) Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan – Member of the Council of Senior Scholars and member of the Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Verdicts.
2) Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Abdillaah al-‘Ajlaan – Previously the President of the Sharee’ah Courts of Qaseem as well as a teacher in al-Masjid al-Haraam.
3) Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azeez al-Kulliyyah – President of the Courts of Cessation in Makkah and a teacher in al-Masjid al-Haraam.
4) Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdillaah al-‘Ajlaan – Previously a judge at the Court of Cessation and teacher in al-Masjid al-Haraam.
5) Shaykh Yoosuf ibn Mansoor al-Yoosuf – Previously President of the Sharee’ah Court of al-Qateef.
6) Shaykh Saalih ibn Muhammad an_Nujaydee – Judge at the Court of Cessation in Makkah.
7) Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azeez at-Tuwayjiree – Judge at the Court of Cessation.
8) Dr. Muhammad ibn Naasir al-Khuzaym – Deputy General President for the Affairs of al-Masjid al-Haraam.
9) Dr. ‘Alee ibn Murshid al-Murshid – Previously the General President for Girls Education.
10) Shaykh Dr. Su’ood ibn Mis’id ath-Thubaytee – Member of the teaching staff at the Faculty of Sharee’ah at Umm al-Quraa University and teacher in al-Masjid al-Haraam.
11) Shaykh Dr. Muhammad ibn Sulaymaan al-Munay’ee – Member of the teaching staff at the Faculty of Sharee’ah at Umm al-Quraa University.
12) Shaykh Dr. Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem as-Su’aydee – Member of the teaching staff at the Faculty of Teachers in Makkah.
13) Shaykh Dr. Naasir ibn ‘Abdillaah al-Maymaan – Member of the teaching staff at the Faculty of Sharee’ah at Umm al-Quraa University.
14) His sons:
i) Shaykh Dr. ‘Umar – Imaam and khateeb at al-Masjid al-Haraam, Principal at the Faculty of Sharee’ah and Islaamic Studies at Umm al-Quraa University, died 1423H.
ii) Shaykh ‘Alee;
iii) Dr. ‘Abdul-Malik;
iv) Dr. ‘Abdul-Lateef;
v) ‘Abdul-Majeed.
15) His grandsons, amongst them: Anas ibn ‘Umar.
…and other than them from his many students within Saudi Arabia and beyond.
His Positions of Responsibility
1) Since 1385H he led the congregational prayers and gave the khutbah in al-Masjid al-Haraam. In addition, he was also a teacher there. He was appointed in this role by a recommendation from his excellency Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Muhammad ibn Humayd (rahima-hullaah) who was at the time President of Religious Supervision within al-Masjid al-Haraam.
2) He began teaching when he was 22 years of age, when he was recommended to teach by some of the scholars of his home town of al-Bukayriyyah when it’s first school was opened in 1367H. There he taught Sharee’ah and Arabic Studies in addition to teaching in his local masjid where he led the congregational prayers. He continued to teach at this school until 1373H when the Institute of Knowledge opened in Buraydah. There he transferred to and continued teaching Sharee’ah and Arabic Studies in addition to leading the congregational prayers and giving the khutbah at Masjid Ibn Faysal in Buraydah. In 1385H he transferred to Makkah where he was appointed to teach ‘aqeedah, hadeeth, fiqh and other subjects in al-Masjid al-Haraam.
3) General President for Affairs related to al-Masjid al-Haraam and al-Masjid an-Nabawee. In 1385H he was appointed President of the teachers and inspectors at the Presidency of Religious Supervision within al-Masjid al-Haraam, in addition to leading the congregational prayers, giving the khutbah and teaching therein. In 1393H he was appointed General Deputy to the President of Religious Supervision within al-Masjid al-Haraam and continued in this post after the Presidency adopted new changes in 1397H whereby he became Deputy to the General President for Affairs related to al-Haramayn ash-Shareefayn. In 1411H he was appointed General President for the Affairs of al-Masjid al-Haraam and al-Masjid an-Nabawee with the rank of (Government) Minister where he continued until Dhul-Qi’dah of 1421H when his resignation was accepted.
4) President of the Committee for the Landmarks of al-Haram al-Makkee. He was appointed President of the Committee for the Landmarks of al-Haram al-Makkee which was setup in accordance to the decree issued by the Council of Senior Scholars as well as a Royal Decree in 1412H. This Committee continues to operate under his leadership to this day. And this Committee undertook the task of establishing the boundaries around Makkah with official arched structures which number 1,104 in total. Additionally, it produced a detailed and comprehensive map of the boundaries of Makkah depicting the location of each and every official arched structure as well as the districts inside and outside the Haram area. The Committee also supervised the establishment of 14 official signs at the 7 entry points to Makkah which every visitor sees upon entry.
5) Member of the Council of Senior Scholars. He was appointed a member of the Council of Senior Scholars whilst it was under the leadership of his excellency Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (rahima-hullaah) since 1413H, wherein he continued to take part for 14 years.
6) Member of the Islaamic Fiqh Council at the Muslim World League. He was appointed a member of the Islaamic Fiqh Council since its inception and continues to partake therein. He has taken part in every session of the Council since the very first session in 1398H.
7) President of the Charitable Organisation for Assistance towards Marriage and Family Protection in Makkah. He has assumed the Presidency of this Charitable Organisation since 1422H and was selected to undertake its Presidency even after the new changes in 1425H and continues to do so to this day.
8) President of the Committee for Holy Places.
9) Member of the Organisation for the Memorisation of the Noble Qur.aan in Makkah.
10) Member of the Council for Islaamic Education during Hajj.
11) Member of the Council of Da’wah and Guidance.
12) Member of the Senior Council for Daar al-Hadeeth al-Khayriyyah in Makkah.
13) Member of the General Assembly of the Muslim World League.
His Efforts in the Field of Da’wah
He takes part in numerous Da’wah activities, amongst them being his taking part in a number of radio programmes disseminating Islaamic knowledge, amongst them “Min Hadyi al-Mustafaa ﷺ”, and “Min Manhaj at-Tarbiyyah al-Islaamiyyah”, and “Min Mishkaat an-Nubuwwah”, and “Hadeeth al-Ithnayn” – and these programmes were transmitted nearly 30 years ago.
In addition, he also takes part in “Noor ‘alad-Darb” having accepted the invitation to do so by Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz who wrote to him about this matter in the beginning of the month of Muharram in 1420H; Ever since then he has been taking part on this programme.
The Shaykh also takes part in many da’wah-related trips within the Kingdom and overseas; His first overseas trip was to the Republic of Guinea (Africa) in 1395H, and his last one being to Japan in 1424H. His da’wah-realted trips number more than 100 – covering more than 50 countries across the world.
During these da’wah-realted trips, he met senior officials in these countries in addition to the heads of the Islaamic da’wah centres therein.
The effect of these overseas da’wah-related trips was immense, resulting in many people accepting Islaam and being guided to the Sunnah and da’wah of al-Mustafaa ﷺ.
Footnote
[1] ‘Ulamaa Najd khilaal thamaaniyah quroon – Volume 3, Page 478
