Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymeen

Muhammad ibn Salih ibn Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymeen (1929-2001 CE / 1347-1421 AH) was one of the most influential Sunni scholars of the 20th century, born in Unayzah in the Qasim region of Saudi Arabia. He studied under his townsman Abdurrahman as-Sa'di, who was his primary teacher, and later under Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz and Muhammad al-Amin ash-Shinqiti at the Islamic University of Madinah.

Ibn al-Uthaymeen was an extraordinarily prolific scholar whose works span virtually every field of Islamic knowledge. His most important works include ash-Sharh al-Mumti ala Zad al-Mustaqni, a comprehensive commentary on Hanbali fiqh that became a standard reference; Sharh al-Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah and Sharh Lum'at al-I'tiqad on Islamic creed; al-Usul min Ilm al-Usul on principles of jurisprudence; and Sharh Riyadh as-Salihin on the popular hadith collection. His Majmu Fatawa wa-Rasa'il covers over twenty volumes of legal opinions. His tafsir lectures, recorded over many years, were also compiled and published.

Ibn al-Uthaymeen served as imam of the Grand Mosque of Unayzah, professor at the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University (Qasim branch), and member of the Council of Senior Scholars. He was known for his clarity of explanation, his deep compassion for questioners, and his ability to make complex juristic discussions accessible. Together with Ibn Baz and al-Albani, he is regarded as one of the three pillars of late 20th-century Sunni scholarship. His recorded lectures number in the thousands and continue to be widely distributed. He passed away in Jeddah.