Islamic Community Directory

About Islamic Directory

The Islamic Directory focuses on the important institutions and individuals that comprise Saudi Arabia's Muslim community. The directory includes biographic information on about 1,500 scholars and shaykhs. This list includes members of government-sponsored committees like the Senior Council of the Ulema and Ifta, professors in the Kingdom's Islamic universities, well-known preachers, and critics of the regime. more...

Feature Article

Senior Ulama Shaykh-Up: Who's Out / Who's In

By Richard Smith

On Saturday, Feburary 14th 2009, King Abdallah implemented a broad restructuring of the Saudi government that included the appointments and dismissals from the highest body of Saudi Arabia's religious establishment.

Hay'a seeks improved media role
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hay'a) held on Tuesday a five-hour workshop to discuss with 20 specialists the organizationâ??s media work.

Saudi Sheikh's Obsession with Sex Fatwas
This Sheikh Al-Kalbanis pathetic fatwa is most degrading and most dishonest and unfair way to treat women and most certainly contradicts Islamic teachings that are based on honesty and justice by giving Saudi overseas students and travelling business men the green light to use women as a disposable container for their desires, argues Iqbal Tamimi .

The Burka in Saudi Arabia, France and Syria
By batsman Some Malaysians seem to be in confusion with regards to the reaction to the laws and traditions on dress codes for Muslim women which are now current in Saudi Arabia, France and Syria. They flop around in a daze unable to get beyond labels and imagery such as secularism and extremism, pseudo-liberals and religious zealots. Consequently, it is an emotional decision which is made rather ...

Grand Mufti Allows Breaking Of Ramadan Fast For Diabetics
Shaykh Abd al-Aziz bin Abdallah Al al-Shaykh has allowed those suffering from diabetes who might be prone to faint to eat during Ramadan without breaking their fast under some circumstances.

Ulema board leaves Madina Haram borders unchanged
TAIF â?? The Board of Senior Ulema has decided to keep the borders of the Madina Haram in their current state. The decision came during its last meeting held in Taif, after wide discussions and differences of opinion among members on the eastern and western sides that have been established according to the opinions of the Ulema (scholars). An informed source said the northern and s

Saudi Arabia's Awakening Shakyhs: Where are they Today?

During the 1990's a younger generation of Saudi religious shaykhs rose to prominence on a wave of anti-Western rhetoric and criticism of Saudi government policies. A government crackdown in 1994 put some of the most prominent members of the Awakening movement in prison for the rest of the decade. Since their release, most have lost their positions within the Saudi religious-educational bureaucracy, but many have been able to resume a public, if more subdued role within the religious community.