Al ash-Sheikh

The Arabic name Al ash-Sheikh (آل الشيخ) (which is transliterated in a number of ways) translates into English as family of the Sheikh or House of the Sheikh. The term ash-Sheikh refers to the Islamic religious reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the family's ancestor. He was known as the Sheikh, a term of respect for a noted elder, teacher or religious leader. ==Origins and history==

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab : the product of the alliance between the Al Saud and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab The Al ash-Sheikh are the descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the 18th century founder of the Wahhabi sect which is today dominant in Saudi Arabia. and the combination of the religious zeal inspired by Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's teachings and the Al Saud's military and political leadership initiated a period of conquest and expansion. After his death in 1791, Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's legacy was carried on by his many descendants, who continued to hold positions of religious authority. Pact with the Al Saud Muhammad ibn Saud and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab had concluded a formal agreement in 1744: according to one source, Muhammad ibn Saud had declared when they first met, Ibn Saud accordingly gave his oath. The descendants of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, on the other hand, have historically led the ulema, the body of Islamic religious leaders and scholars, and dominated the Saudi state's clerical institutions. The agreement between Ibn Abd al-Wahhab and Muhammad ibn Saud of 1744 became a "mutual support pact" and power-sharing arrangement between the Al Saud and the Al ash-Sheikh, which has remained in place for nearly 300 years. thereby using its religious-moral authority to legitimize the royal family's rule. In fact, each legitimizes the other. This alliance formed in the 18th century provided the ideological impetus to Saudi expansion and remains the basis of Saudi Arabian dynastic rule today. The 19th and early 20th centuries Following Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's death, his son, Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Sheikh, became leader of the Saudi religious establishment. He therefore cemented the relationship with the Al ash-Sheikh by preferential treatment and matrimonial links, ==Role in modern Saudi Arabia==

in the Polish Senate, 26 May 2014 The Al ash-Sheikh's position as leader of the ulema is significant because of the central role of religion in Saudi society. It has been said that Islam is more than a religion, it is a way of life in Saudi Arabia, and, as a result, the influence of the ulema is all-pervasive. Specifically, Saudi Arabia is almost unique in giving the ulema a direct involvement in government, the only other example being Iran. but so are all new laws (royal decrees). have a significant role in the judicial and education systems and a monopoly of authority in the sphere of religious and social morals. Believed to number several hundred individuals currently, However, the Al ash-Sheikh's domination of the ulema has diminished somewhat in recent decades. and Turki Al-Sheikh Minister of Entertainment . Nevertheless, the Al ash-Sheikh are still Saudi Arabia's leading religious family and second in prestige only to the royal family. The family continues to hold many of the most important religious posts in Saudi Arabia:) is a member of the family, Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al ash-Sheikh, who served until his death in 2025. The family's position is derived not only from their role in the ulema but also from being closely linked to the Al Saud by a high degree of intermarriage. This began in the eighteenth century and has continued in modern times: King Faisal's mother was Tarfa bint Abdullah, daughter of Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Latif Al ash-Sheikh. The family alliance with the Al ash-Sheikh is still crucial to the Al Saud in maintaining their legitimacy. At the same time, the Al ash-Sheikh remain strong supporters of the continued rule of the Al Saud. ==Notable members==

in London, 5 March 2013 • Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703–1792), founder of the house • Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh (1893–1969), Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia from 1953 to 1969 • Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh, Saudi Minister of Justice (1975–1990) • Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh, Saudi Minister of Justice (1993–2009) • Tarfa bint Abdullah Al Sheikh, mother of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. ==See also==