In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

His Lineage

He is Abu ‘Abdillaah, Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen al-Wuhaybee at-Tameemee.

His Birth

He was born in the city of ‘Unayzah on the 27th of the blessed month of Ramadaan in the year 1347H.

His Upbringing

He recited the Noble Qur’aan upon his maternal grandfather ‘Abdur Rahmaan ibn Sulaymaan Aali Daamigh (رحمه الله) and later went on to memorize it before focusing his efforts upon seeking knowledge and learning how to read and write as well as mathematics and some of the various disciplines related to literature. The Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan as-Sa’dee (رحمه الله) sponsored two of his students in order for them to teach the younger students. One of these students was the Shaykh ‘Alee as-Saalihee, and the other student was Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azeez al-Mutawwa’, may Allaah have mercy upon them both. The young Shaykh Muhammad read upon him an abridgement of al-’Aqeedatul-Waasitiyyah written by Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan as-Sa’dee, and Minhaajus-Saalikeen a treatise in fiqh (Islaamic Jurisprudence) also written by Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan as well as al-Ajroomiyyah and al-Alfiyyah.

He also read upon the Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan ibn ‘Alee ibn ‘Oodaan faraa’id (the laws of inheritance) and fiqh (Islaamic Jurisprudence). With Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan ibn Naasir as-Sa’dee, who is considered to be his first Shaykh, he remained with him for some time, and read upon him in the sciences of tawheed (Islaamic Monotheism), tafseer (Qur’aanic Explanation), hadeeth (the collections of narrations of or relating to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)), fiqh (Islaamic Jurisprudence), usool al-fiqh (the foundations of fiqh), faraa’id (the laws of inheritance), mustalah al-hadeeth (hadeeth terminology), nahw (Arabic Grammar) and sarf (morphology).

Indeed the noble Shaykh Muhammad enjoyed a special status and occupied an exclusive station with his Shaykh, may Allaah have mercy upon him; for when Shaykh Muhammad’s father moved to Riyadh he initially desired that his son would move along with him. However, Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan as-Sa’dee (رحمه الله) wrote to him stating in no uncertain terms: “Surely, this is not possible, rather we desire that Muhammad should remain here such that he might benefit.” Shaykh Muhammad(رحمه الله) recalls: “Certainly he had a tremendous influence upon me in both his manner of teaching and conveying knowledge as well as simplifying it for the students with examples and through concise explanation. Similarly, he influenced me greatly in my character because the Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan(رحمه الله) possessed such excellent manners and he was a person of great knowledge and worship. He used to play along with the young and laugh with the old, and he had the best character that I have ever seen.”

He also read upon the prominent Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez ibn Baaz such that he could be considered his second Shaykh. He began with him by reading Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and some of the works of Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and also some of the books of fiqh. Shaykh Muhammad said: “Shaykh ‘Abdul-’Azeez ibn Baaz (رحمه الله) influenced me with regard to his placing great importance upon the study of hadeeth, and I was also influenced by his character as well and how he would make himself available to the people.”

In the year 1371H he began teaching in the main congregational mosque, but once the learning institutes (ma’aahid al-ilmiyyah) were opened in Riyadh he joined them in the year 1372H. The Shaykh (رحمه الله) recounts/narrates: “I entered the learning institute (ma’had al-ilmiyyah) in the second year and only joined them after having first seeking the advice of Shaykh ‘Alee as-Saalihee and having been given permission by Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan, may Allaah have mercy upon him. The learning institute at that time was divided into two sections: a general section and a special advanced section. I was enrolled in the advanced section. At that time, anyone who wanted to “skip ahead” in their studies could do so. This meant that a student could study the material for the following year during the break period, and then take the examination for it at the beginning of the following year. If he passed the examination he would then move on to the next year in his studies (i.e. the third year if he skipped the second year). So by doing this I shortened the length of my studies.”

After two years he graduated and was appointed to a teaching position in the learning institute of ‘Unayzah while he also continued his own studies via correspondence in the College of Sharee’ah, and he also continued his studies under Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan as-Sa’dee.

When the noble Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan as-Sa’dee (رحمه الله) passed away, Shaykh Muhammad was made the imaam of the main congregational mosque of ‘Unayzah, as he was also made responsible for teaching in the national library of ‘Unayzah, in addition to his teaching duties at the learning institute. Then he later transferred to the two colleges: the College of Sharee’ah and the College of Usoolud-Deen (the Fundamentals of the Religion) wherein he would teach at the Qaseem branch of Imaam Muhammad ibn Sa’ud Islaamic University. Similarly he was also a member of the Committee of Senior Scholars of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Shaykh (رحمه الله) was an active participant in da’wah efforts everywhere and we are very thankful for his great efforts in this regard.

It is also worthy of mention that the prominent scholar Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem (رحمه الله) suggested, rather insisted, that Shaykh Muhammad assume the position of judge. Surely, he went so far as to issue his decision in the form of a formal document which appointed the Shaykh to the position as the head of the Sharee’ah court in al-Ahsaa, but he respectfully declined and after continuous follow up and even a personal phone call, finally the Shaykh (Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem) relented and allowed for Shaykh Muhammad to be excused from taking the position.

His Works

He has authored many different books and the number of his written works has reached approximately forty; comprising of both books and small treatises all of which have been compiled and included in his “Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il”.