He was the Menteri Besar of Kelantan from 1990 to 2013 and the Mursyidul Am or Spiritual Leader of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) from 1991 until his death in 2015.

Nik Aziz was notable for his racially progressive stances in contrast to other contemporary figures within PAS's leadership that made it appeal to periphery non-Malay, non-Muslim electoral bases contributing to historic coalitions with left-leaning and multicultural parties like in Pakatan Rakyat; his death however led said leadership to purge like-minded progressives who splintered as the National Trust Party, as well shifting themselves further right towards Malay supremacism.

"[4] (means 'Master/sifu of Scholar or teacher' in Malay)[citation needed] Nik Aziz joined PAS in 1967.

[5] After stepping aside from federal politics, Nik Aziz won a seat in the Kelantan State Assembly in the 1986 general elections.

During the 1990s, his administration in Kelantan frequently clashed on the role of Islam in Malaysia with the then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

[7][8][9] In May 2013, Nik Aziz publicly stated that he did not consent on any co-operation between United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) as long as he was alive.

According to Fox News, Nik Aziz suggested that women would be at a lower risk of being raped if they abandoned using their lipstick and perfume.

[14] His son Nik Adli was held under the Malaysian Internal Security Act in 2001 for alleged terrorist activities including planning jihad, possession of weapons, and membership in the Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM), an Islamist extremist group.

Over the ensuing two years, Nik Aziz became increasingly ill with prostate cancer, and died on 12 February 2015(2015-02-12) (aged 84) at 9.40 p.m. Malaysia Standard Time (UTC+08:00); at his residence in Kampung Pulau Melaka [ms], Kota Bharu.