Press Release:

His Eminence the Grand Muftī of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and General President of Scholarly Research and Iftāʾ, Dr. Ṣāliḥ b. Fawzān b. ʿAbdullāh al-Fawzān (حفظه الله), has issued a statement tonight (Thursday, 26th of September, 2026) to the soldiers stationed on the frontlines and to the coalition forces.

Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān (حفظه الله) stated:

All praise is due to Allāh, Lord of the worlds. Indeed the blessed ending is for the muttaqūn (pious), and there is no transgression except against the ẓālimūn (wrongdoers). I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allāh alone without any partner, He is the first and the last, Sustainer of the heavens and the earths. I bear witness that Muḥammad is His slave and Messenger, His intimate friend, and the one entrusted with His revelation. May Allāh send abundant peace and blessings upon him, his family, and his Companions until the Day of Judgement.

Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, has favoured us with this upright religion (Islām). Allāh, Glorified and Exalted, said:

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ ۚ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ

And strive for Allāh with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. He [i.e., Allāh] named you “Muslims” before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakāh and hold fast to Allāh. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.
[al-Hajj, 22:78]

Allāh has favoured us in this good and blessed land, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with unity of word and unity of the ranks around our rulers, may Allāh support them.

Among Allāh’s greatest favours upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is that He established it upon the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and honoured it with the service of the two holy mosques, al-Bayt al-ʿAtīq (the Ancient House [in Makkah]) and the Mosque of the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The service and care which the two holy mosques have undergone is unprecedented since the time of the rightly guided caliphate. Therefore, preserving this great entity, standing guard on its borders, repelling aggression against it, and punishing anyone who seeks to harm a single span of it are among the greatest of obligations and the most virtuous acts of devotion, for which lives and souls are given in pursuit of Allāh’s pleasure, especially since this great nation embraces the holy sites of the Muslims, and within these sacred places a great pillar of Islām (Ḥajj) is performed and one of its great rites (ʿUmrah).

We therefore advise our sons stationed on the frontlines to be patient, to persevere, and to hold their posts, for Allāh has singled you out for an immense virtue and an immense reward. Allāh the Exalted said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصْبِرُوا۟ وَصَابِرُوا۟ وَرَابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O’ you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allāh that you may be successful.
[Āli-ʿImran, 3:200]

And the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, as authentically reported from him:

رِبَاطُ يَوْمٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا عَلَيْهَا

Guarding the frontier for one day in the path of Allāh is better than the world and everything on it. [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 2892]

The nobility of the one guarding the frontier and the virtues as it relates to him are very great. It is authentically reported that he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

رِبَاطُ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صِيَامِ شَهْرٍ وَقِيَامِهِ، وَإِنْ مَاتَ جَرَى عَلَيْهِ عَمَلُهُ الَّذِي كَانَ يَعْمَلُهُ، وَأُجْرِيَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ، وَأَمِنَ الْفَتَّانَ

Guarding the frontier for a day and a night is better than fasting a month and praying during its nights. If he dies, the deeds he used to do continue to flow for him, his provision continues to be given to him, and he is kept safe from the trial (of the grave). [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1913]

He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) also said:

كُلُّ مَيِّتٍ يُخْتَمُ عَلَى عَمَلِهِ إِلَّا الْمُرَابِطَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّهُ يَنْمُو لَهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَيُؤَمَّنُ مِنْ فَتَّانِ الْقَبْرِ

Every deceased person’s deeds are sealed, except the one who guards the frontier, for his deeds continue to grow for him until the Day of Resurrection, and he is kept safe from the trial of the grave. [Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 2500]

And he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

عَيْنَانِ لَا تَمَسُّهُمَا النَّارُ: عَيْنٌ بَكَتْ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ، وَعَيْنٌ بَاتَتْ تَحْرُسُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

Two (types of) eyes will not be touched by the Fire: an eye that wept out of fear of Allāh, and an eye that spent the night keeping guard in the path of Allāh. [Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 1639]

These are immense virtues and rewards for the one guarding the frontier:

فَٱسْتَبْشِرُوا۟ بِبَيْعِكُمُ ٱلَّذِى بَايَعْتُم بِهِۦ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.
[al-Tawbah, 9:111]

It is incumbent upon you, O’ brothers guarding the frontlines, that you are always ready to fulfil your duty, to hear and obey your rulers and your commanders in the field, and to carry out orders with full precision, just as Allāh commanded the Companions of His Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), saying:

وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُوا۟ فَتَفْشَلُوا۟ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ

And obey Allāh and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.
[al-Anfāl, 8:46]

You follow in the footsteps of the Companions of His Prophet, defending the holy sites of the Muslims and raising the banner of Tawḥīd.

We also extend our greetings and appreciation to our brothers in the Coalition forces. You stand on a great frontier, in a noble and honourable mission. So hold fast to the rope of Allāh, unite your ranks, cooperate with one another, and unify your word, in compliance with the saying of your Lord:

وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟

And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allāh (i.e., this Qurʿān), and be not divided among yourselves.
[Āli-ʾImrān, 3:103]

Know that you are fighting an enemy that has spread corruption in the land, divided the people, rebelled against its rulers, and sought evil against the holy sites of the Muslims. But Allāh the Exalted is ever watchful over them.

​

The Houthis are an evil gang; a scheme of the enemies, founded upon corruption in creed and methodology. They rebelled against their (Yemeni) rulers in successive tribulations over many years, until it divided the land and its people.

So be one rank against this misguided sect and deviant group, which declares:

• • the Companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to be disbelievers,
  • the shedding of Muslim blood lawful,
  • and violates their mosques through demolition and destruction.

Restoring security and stability in Yemen under its legitimate leadership is among the most binding of obligations, so that our Yemeni brothers may live in safety and security, prosperity and stability, and so their state may stand alongside the rest of the Islamic world once again, in both development and cohesion.

Allāh is your Helper and Supporter, so put your trust in Him:

إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَنصُرُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

If Allāh should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
[Āli-ʿImrān, 3:160]

We ask Allāh the Exalted to grant you all His aid, to protect our country and dear Yemen from all evil, and we ask Him, Glorified be He, to cut the roots of the Houthi group, along with all those who help and side with them. Indeed, He is the Guardian of that and fully capable of it. All praise is due to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.

The Grand Muftī of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and General President of Scholarly Research and ʾIftāʿ

Dr. Ṣāliḥ b. Fawzān b. ʿAbdullāh al-Fawzān
Riyadh, 13th of Rabiʿ al-Akhir, 1448 AH
Corresponding to 24th of September, 2026 CE
Published Time: 22:48