Council of Senior Scholars (Saudi Arabia) (English Wikipedia)

Henderson, Simon. "After King Abdullah Succession in Saudi Arabia" (PDF). August 2009. Washington Institute for Near East Policy. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2014. The ulama must then declare the new king an imam (Muslim leader).The declaration can only be made on the basis of a fatwa indicating that the decision is legitimate. The approval of the nation's religious leaders not only authenticates the succession on religious grounds but also serves as a reminder of the historically close relationship between the House of Saud and the dominant Salafi version of Islam in the kingdom. In theory, a danger exists that the ulama will be independent in its judgment and issue a fatwa bequeathing leadership outside the normal line of succession, but this has never happened. The ulama issuing the fatwa comprises members of the Supreme Religious Council, appointed by the king.

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"Saudi Fatwa Restrictions and the State-Clerical Relationship"| by Christopher Boucek| Carnegie Endowment| 27 October 2010
Islamopedia: "Standing Committee for Scholarly Research and Issuing Fatwas, (Saudi Arabia)" Archived February 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine retrieved 22 June 2013
Saudi Gazette: "Council of Senior Ulema reconstituted" Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine 22 June 2013| (list of members of the council)
Henderson, Simon. "After King Abdullah Succession in Saudi Arabia" (PDF). August 2009. Washington Institute for Near East Policy. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2014. The ulama must then declare the new king an imam (Muslim leader).The declaration can only be made on the basis of a fatwa indicating that the decision is legitimate. The approval of the nation's religious leaders not only authenticates the succession on religious grounds but also serves as a reminder of the historically close relationship between the House of Saud and the dominant Salafi version of Islam in the kingdom. In theory, a danger exists that the ulama will be independent in its judgment and issue a fatwa bequeathing leadership outside the normal line of succession, but this has never happened. The ulama issuing the fatwa comprises members of the Supreme Religious Council, appointed by the king.