Arabia's Islamic cleric. Shaikh bin Baz had been a judge, a university rector, the head of the prestigious Council of Ulema and finally grand mufti. He was a lifeline between the ruling family and its most important constituency, in Nejd, the conservative heartland of Arabia. Shaikh bin Baz's views and fatwas were controversial but were applauded by conservatives. Bin Baz supported the principle of 'peace with the Jews' and sanctioned Muslim-Christian dialogue. 'His forte was the ability to confront extremists with argument.' Shaikh bin Baz went blind at the age of 15 after contracting a disease. He had exceptional memory and he died of cancer.