Council of Senior Scholars (Saudi Arabia)

The Council of Senior Scholars (Hay'at Kibar al-‘Ulama - هيئة كبار العلماء, also known as the Senior Council of Ulama) is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's highest religious body, and advises the king on religious matters. The council is appointed by the king, with salaries paid by the government. As of 2009, the council was made up of 21 members. Saudi King Fahd continued the precedent set by earlier kings of meeting weekly with Council members who resided in the capital, Riyadh. In 2010, Saudi King Abdullah decreed that only members of the Council and a few other Islamic Scholars could issue fatwa in Saudi Arabia.