Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Sheikh has passed away at the age of 82, the Royal Court announced on Tuesday. As the Kingdom’s top religious cleric since 1999, his death marks the end of an era in Saudi Arabia’s religious leadership.

The Grand Mufti played a significant role in interpreting Islamic laws and issuing fatwas, which are religious edicts, in Muslim-dominated countries. Al-Sheikh held conservative views, even as the kingdom began introducing gradual changes, such as allowing foreign investments and loosening some laws. Despite this, he made notable contributions to the service of science, Islam, and Muslims, according to a statement released by the Royal Court.

During his tenure, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman initiated efforts to steer the country towards “moderate Islam” and reduce the influence of the hard-line religious establishment. In the past, al-Sheikh expressed opposition to certain changes, including employing women in shops, which he described as a crime and disrespectful in 2011. However, he also supported some reforms, such as allowing women to run for municipal elections and be appointed as members of parliament.

Al-Sheikh’s views on various issues were often conservative, including his 2016 declaration that chess was “forbidden” in Islam, as it wasted time and stirred enmity among people. Additionally, he described cinemas and concerts as harmful and corrupting in 2017. Despite these views, the kingdom has continued to open up, hosting an international chess tournament in 2017 and opening its first commercial movie theatre after a 35-year ban.

The funeral prayers for the Grand Mufti will be held in the capital Riyadh and other mosques across the kingdom. His passing is seen as a significant loss for the Kingdom and the Muslim world, which has lost a distinguished scholar who made significant contributions to the service of science, Islam, and Muslims. The Royal Court’s statement highlighted his importance, and his legacy will likely be remembered as a key figure in Saudi Arabia’s religious leadership.