Sheikh Saalih whose full names are Saalih bin Fawzaan bin ‘Abdillaah Aali Fawzaan was born in 1354H and he hails from the people of Shamaasiyyah from the tribe of Dawaasir.
Saalih lost his father at a tender age.
He was brought up in his household and learned the noble Qur’aan. He also learned the basics of reading and writing at the hands of the Imaam of the local town’s masjid.
Salih Ibn Fawzan Al-Fawzan’s Education
In 1369H, he then joined the state school in his town in Ash-Shamaasiyyah, Syria. He completed his primary education in the Faisaliyah School in Buraidah in 1371H. After this, he joined the educational institute in Buraidah at the time of its inception in 1373H and graduated from it in 1377H. Saalih joined the College of Sharee’ah in Riyadh and graduated from there in 1381H.
He achieved his Masters Degree in the subject of Fiqh
He obtained his Doctorates Degree also in Fiqh. He received both of these degrees from the College of Sharee’ah.
He was appointed a primary school teacher in 1372H before he joined the educational institute in Buraidah.
He was appointed a teacher in the educational institute in Riyadh after graduating from the College of Sharee’ah.
He was then appointed a teacher in the College of Sharee’ah and then in the advanced studies of the College of Usool-ud-Deen.
Then he taught at the advanced institute of judicial education, and later became a director there in 1396H.
He then went back to teaching there one more time after his scheduled period of administration came to an end.
He was then appointed to the Council of Senior Scholars in 1407H.
After this, he was appointed a member of the Permanent Committee of Educational Research and Religious Verdicts in 1411H.
He is also still a member of the Fiqh Assembly of Makkah which falls under the World Muslim League.
He was a former member of the Supervisory Council for Callers during Hajj.
Currently, he serves as an Imaam, khateeb and teacher at the Prince Mut’ib bin ‘Abdil-‘Azeez Central Mosque in Malaz, Riyadh.
He also participates in answering questions on the Saudi radio program “Noor ‘alaad-Darb” (Light upon the Path). He also has a scheduled participation on the committee of research, studies, letters and verdicts in educational magazines as well.
He, may Allaah preserve him, also supervises many of the scholastic essays submitted by students for their Masters and Doctorates degrees. Numerous students of knowledge who attend his frequent educational classes and gatherings have studied under him – myself being one of them – and I am proud and pleased with that – Jamaal.
Salih Ibn Fawzan Al-Fawzan’s Teachers
The Shaikh sought knowledge at the hands of numerous well-known scholars and judges. Amongst the most famous of them was Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him. He would praise and hold great esteem for our Shaikh, and he would rely on him in important matters. He would send him some books for him to review and comment on.
Also among his teachers was Shaikh ‘Abdullaah bin Humaid, may Allaah have mercy on him. He would attend many of his lessons in the Central Mosque of Buraidah during the time that he was a student in the educational institute there.
He also learned from Shaikh Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee, may Allaah have mercy on him.
He also learned from Shaikh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq Al-‘Afeefee, may Allaah have mercy on him.
His teachers also include Shaikh Hamood bin Sulaymaan At-Talaal who was the Imaam of the masjid in the town that he grew up in. He, i.e. Shaikh Hamood, may Allaah preserve him, was then appointed a judge after that in the town of Dariyyah in the district of Qaseem. Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan had learned the basics of reading and writing from him.
Then he learned under Shaikh Ibraaheem bin Daifillaah Al-Yoosuf at the time he was a teacher in the Shamaasiyyah School.
Salih Ibn Fawzan Al-Fawzan’s Books
The Shaikh has written numerous books, the most famous of which are:
1. At-Tahqeeqaat al-Mardiyyah fil-Mabaahith-il-Fardiyyah fil-Mawaareeth – This was his Masters thesis (volume)
2. Ahkaam-ul-At’imah fish-Sharee’ah al-Islaamiyyah (The Rulings on Foods according to Islamic law) – This was his Doctorate’s paper (volume)
3. Al-Irshaad ilaa Saheeh-il-‘Itiqaad (A Guide to the Correct Belief) in one volume
4. Sharh al-‘Aqeedat-il-Waasitiyyah (The Explanation of The Waasitee Creed) in one volume
5. Al-Bayaan feemaa Akhta’a feehi Ba’adul-Kuttaab (A Clarification on the Errors of Some Writers) in two volumes
6. Majmoo’ah Muhadaraat fil-‘Aqeedah wad-Da’wah (A Collection of Lectures on Creed and Calling) in four volumes
7. Al-Khutab-ul-Mimbariyyah fil-Munasabaat-il-‘Asriyyah (Friday Sermons for Modern-Day Occasions) in six volumes
8. Min A’laam-il-Mujaddideen fil-Islaam (Some of the Distinguished Revivers of Islaam)
9. Mabaahith Fiqhiyyah fee Mawaadi’ Mukhtalifah (Research on Fiqh Issues on Various Issues)
10. Majmoo’ Fataawaa fil-‘Aqeedah wal-Fiqh (A Collection of Verdicts on Creed and Jurisprudence) in five volumes [1]
11. Naqd Kitaab Al-Halaal wal-Haraam fil-Islaam (A Critique of the Book: The Lawful and Unlawful in Islaam) – A refutation of Yoosuf Al-Qaradaawee
12. Al-Mulakhas fee Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed of Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab – a scholastic explanation.
13. I’anat-ul-Mustafeed Sharh Kitaab-ut-Tawheed – This is a more comprehensive explanation in two volumes.
14. At-Ta’qeeb ‘alaa ma Dhakarahul-Khateeb fee Haqqish-Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab
15. Al-Mulakhas-ul-Fiqhee (two volumes)
16. Ittihaaf Ahlil-Eemaan bi-Duroos Shahri Ramadaan (Presenting the People of Faith with Lessons for the Month of Ramadaan)
17. Ad-Diyaa-ul-Laami’ ma’al-Ahaadeeth al-Qudsiyyah al-Jawaami’
18. Bayaan maa yaf’aluhu Al-Haaj wal-Mu’tamir (A Clarification of what a Person on Hajj and ‘Umrah must do)
19. ‘Aqeedat-ut-Tawheed (The Belief in Monotheism) – The source for this book was a curriculum for the secondary level of the ministry of education.
20 The religious verdicts and articles that were distributed in the magazine “Ad-Da’wah”
21. Duroos minal-Qur’aan-il-Kareem (Lessons from the Noble Qur’aan)
22. Al-Ajwibat-ul-Mufeedah ‘an As’ilat-il-Manaahij al-Jadeedah (Beneficial Answers to Questions on Innovated Methodologies) – This is the book before us.
He has also written several other books not mentioned here which are under print.
He also plays a large role in guiding the youth and warning them from movements that have deviated from the correct methodology. Thus, the innovator and misguided are suppressed by him and many people are guided to the truth.
So may Allaah reward him with much good on our behalf and on behalf of the Muslims, and may He make his deeds sincerely for His Noble Face, and allow them to be placed on his scale of good deeds on the Day of Judgement.