Fajr prayer
Ayatollah Saanei fell at his Qom home on the night of 10 September, fracturing his pelvis and arm. Due to preexisting conditions (he suffered from Diabetes-related kidney problems, as well as cirrhosis of the liver, he died during dialysis treatment before surgery could be safely performed to repair his injuries. He died shortly after the time of Fajr prayer on 12 September 2020. Due to COVID 19 pandemic precautions, no public funeral was held. The Ayatollah was buried in Sheikhan Cemetery located near Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom. He was survived by his three children. Tributes were paid to him from many parts of the clerical establishment and wider society, including the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khemanei and the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom.