MAKKAH —The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque mourned the death of Sheikh Saleh Al-Shaibi, senior caretaker and key holder of the Holy Kaaba. He was 79. Al-Shaibi died in Makkah on Friday evening after prolonged illness. His body was buried in Makkah's Al-Moalla Cemetery after offering funeral prayer for him after Fajr prayer at the Grand Mosque on Saturday. The authority said in a statement published on its X account on social media: "With hearts content with God's will and destiny, the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque and all its employees extend their condolences and sympathy to the family of the deceased Sheikh Saleh Al-Shaibi, senior caretaker of the House of God, asking God Almighty to shower His vast mercy on him." Several scholars, academics and prominent figures in Makkah also mourned the death of Dr. Al-Shaibi, who was a great scholar, academic and author. He served as senior keeper of the Kaaba, spanning over a decade. He assumed the position as the 77th key holder of the Kaaba after the death of his uncle Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Shaibi in October 2014 and remained in this position until his death. He was the 10th senior keeper during the modern Saudi era, and he accompanied Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman a number of times when the King led the ceremonial Kaaba washing ceremony. Al-Shaibi was born in Makkah in 1366 AH, and grew up in an ancient family known as the keepers of the Holy Kaaba for centuries. He obtained a doctorate degree in Islamic studies from Umm Al-Qura University, and then worked as a university professor for several years. He served as head of the Department of Creed at the university and was author of several books on Islamic creed, Islamic studies and history. He also attended several conferences and academic seminars. During the period of King Fahd, he was appointed to the Saudi Shoura Council. During his tenure as senior caretaker of the Kaaba, Al-Shaibi was responsible for everything related to its affairs, including opening and closing it, changing its kiswa (cover), cleaning, washing, perfuming, as well as monitoring all affairs related to the Holy Kaaba. The Shaibi family continues to honor the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by handing down the position of keeper (sadin) of the Kaaba to its oldest member. When the Prophet (PBUH) entered the Kaaba after conquering Makkah, he smashed all the idols inside it, washed it, closed its gate and then called Othman Bin Talha and gave him the key saying, "These keys will remain with you until the Day of Judgment. No one can take it away from you except an oppressor." The Shaibi family is the keepers of Kaaba since then as God desired so by revealing the only verse that was revealed inside the Kaaba. "Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they belong to ....." Sheikh Saleh Al-Shaibi was the 77th successor of Othman Bin Talha.
