Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Latif Al ash-Sheikh


Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Latif Al ash-Sheikh was a Wahhabi scholar from Saudi Arabia who was the grandfather of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and a descendant of the founder of the Wahhabi sect, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Najdi.

Background

Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Latif Al ash-Sheikh was born in 1848 into the noted family of Saudi religious scholars, the Al ash-Sheikh, descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Najdi. His father was

Career

Abd Allah was the leader of the Saudi ulema at the end of the 19th century. He was the teacher of Ibn Saud, later King Abdulaziz, concerning the principles of the Islamic jurisprudence and monotheism. In 1892, the Saudi state was destroyed by their rivals, the Al Rashid of Ha'il and the Saudi leadership went into exile. Rather than going into exile as well, Abd Allah bin Abd al-Latif sided with the Al-Rashid and moved to Ha'il. The Al Saud returned from exile in 1902 under the leadership of Abdulaziz Al Saud and re-established the Saudi state around Riyadh. Abd Allah bin Abd al-Latif then changed sides again and re-joined the Al Saud, a change of heart which was accepted by Abdul Aziz.
He remained as leader of the Saudi religious establishment until his death in 1921.

Relationship with Saudi Royal family

In 1902, his daughter, Tarfa bint Abdullah married Abdulaziz Al Saud. Their son, Faisal, later became King of Saudi Arabia. Tarfa died in 1912.