He was born in 1935 in eastern Mauritania. He studied sacred sciences in the Mauritanian centers of learning known as Mahadhir. He then studied law at the Faculty of Law in Tunisia and was trained in Tunisian courts in 1961. Shaykh Bin Bayyah has served in many distinguished positions over the years, including but not limited to Judge at the High Court of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the first Minister for Islamic Affairs and Education, Minister of Justice and Official Holder of the Seals. He is currently the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, Member of the Muslim League’s International High Council of Mosques and lecturer at the King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia.

Shaykh Bin Bayyah has published numerous writings and has been distinguished in a variety of ways for his work in Islam, interreligious dialogue and peace building. He was named one of the Most Influential Muslims from 2009-2013. Shaykh Bin Bayyah has received numerous awards for his work as an Islamic scholar and advocate for peace.