Al-Albaanee biography

Abul Harith

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SHAIKH NASIR UD-DEEN AL-ALBANEE: MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH A SCHOLAR WHO MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED </SPAN>

By Mahmoud Ridha Murad


All praise is due to Allah Who made the scholars the heirs of the Prophets, and all praise is due to Him who made us of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. Revivalists are rare breeds who come one at a time at the top of every hundred years. Therefore, the whole Ummah feels the loss of one, particularly by the students of knowledge and scholars.

Although the death of scholars like Bin Baz and Nasirud-Deen al-Albani, may Allah admit them into Jannat al-Firdaws, is grave calamity, yet it does not mean the end of the Muslim Ummah. Their death however is not like the death of an ordinary man regardless how influential or powerful he may be. The death of a scholar leaves behind a vacuum that is not easy to fill. The time will come when Muslims realize that Shaikh Nasirud-Deen al-Albani was a genuine revivalist, and a specialist in a science which is nowadays shun by many students because it requires endurance, perseverance and an amazing memory to retain texts and chains of narrators in correct and chronological order. Even those who take the chance and study it, many of them are content with the university curriculum, and do not pursue further studies of their own. Rather, they rely on researches that were made by scholars of the past. And when it comes to narrating a hadeeth, some of them do not retain the precise text, rather, they narrate its meaning or miss or change one word here and another there. When one of them is asked about the source of a hadeeth, he would say after some ‘ahm, ahm. I think this or that Imam compiles it!

Shaikh Nasir did not attend regular schools or universities; he acquired his education studying under scholars and through his own research and studies, just like the Pious Predecessors. Yet he dwarfed doctoral Graduates who could not stand the chance of debating with him.

The arguments of those who differed with the Shaikh on certain Fiqh issues, such as the prohibition of wearing circular gold jewelry by women, and other issues, are too weak to stand the scrutiny of the Shaikh and his scholarly counter arguments.

About 17 years ago, I brought back with me from Kuwait a large number of cassette tapes of the Shaikh’s lectures. I passed the time during the flight listening to them, one after another with full concentration. At times I used to rewind the tape more than once to make sure I did not miss even a word from his lecture.

Besides his warm voice that reaches the listener’s heart, the Shaikh had a unique scientific method in subdividing the topic into various issues. He would handle each issue separately without straying from the main topic regardless how long it took him to elaborate on that issue. This is indicative of his vast knowledge, and powerful memory retention. He would entertain a question from one of the listeners during the course of the lecture, and he would answer it in details, and then go back to the very point where he left off before answering the question. There is no doubt that that was a trait of a genuine scholarship.

At times he would be deeply involved in a certain issue in his research, when suddenly a caller phones in to inquire about one particular hadeeth or seek a fatwa. The Shaikh would leave his work, and provide a detailed answer and give the caller the name of the reference, the name of the compiler, and even the page number. He would not give up until the caller is satisfied.

On the other hand, dealing with the Manhaj (methodology) issues was not common at that time. Scholars in Saudi and elsewhere restricted themselves to Aqeedah, Fiqh, or Targheeb and Tarheeb (making people hopeful of the mercy and His reward, and making them fearful of Allah and His punishment.) There was not a single scholar who discussed Manhaj issues. In fact it was the first time I heard someone not only making a reference to it, but also discussing it in detail. Having lived in variant Muslim societies, Shaikh Nasir stressed on the importance of combining between the sound Manhaj and the sound Aqeedah. This combination was clearly noticed in his lectures.

There was one particular lecture to which I listened many times. I consider it as a model-lecture to prove the significance of the Manhaj. The Shaikh in that lecture explains the Hadeeth of al-Eenah (Eenah transaction. He said that it is selling a commodity for a certain price to be paid at a certain period, and then buying it for less than the price for ready money.) That hadeeth is compiled by Abu Dawood and narrated by Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “If you deal with Eenah, and hold the cows' tails, and become content (with employing yourselves) with agriculture, and abandon jihad in the cause of Allah, Allah would permit your humiliation, and would not relieve you of it until you return to your Deen.”

This means that all of the ailments to which the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, referred in the above hadeeth are the consequences of one root problem; the departure from methodology of applying Islam, and the only remedy is the return to it.

Returning to Islam necessitates returning to its pure sources, the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, may Allah exalt his mention, and understanding them as the Pious Predecessors understood them.

Due to the fact that the majority of the Muslims are ignorant of the Manhaj of the deviant sects, many of them are easily deceived by them believing they are good Muslims. Had they learnt the proper Manhaj, they would have realized that the only Muslim sect that will be delivered on the Day of Resurrection is Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah.

It did not take me long before I listened to every tape of the Shaikh. I listened to some more than three or four times. Needless to say that afterwards, I bought or borrowed many other tapes of the Shaikh. Beside the science of hadeeth, the Shaikh dealt with the issues of Aqeedah, fundamentals of jurisprudence, Fiqh, Qur’anic commentary, Sirah, Arabic grammar, comparative studies of the madthahib, sectarian and many other issues of variant sciences.

The Shaikh encouraged students of knowledge to research and study on their own, and not to be content with school or university curricula. He also warned against following blindly one particular madth-hab, rather, one should follow the daleel (textual proof). He summed up his methodology in this regard in a beautiful manner in his book Sifat Salat an-Nabi. He said:

Since the main objective of this book is to show the format of the Prophet’s prayer, then it is obvious that I do not restrict myself to one particular madth’hab. Rather, I quote only the authentic proofs, in conformity with the methodology of the traditionists in the past and present. Hence, this book will in sha Allah, assemble pieces of relevant information that I have collected from various reference book of Hadeeth and Fiqh regardless of their schools of Fiqh. He who follows this book (Sifat Salat an-Nabi, or the Format of the Prophet’s Salah) will in sha Allah is among those whom Allah has guided ‘to the truth over which they dispute, with His leave, and Allah guides whoever He pleases to the straight path.’

Having restricted myself to this methodology, i.e., adhering to the authentic Sunnah which I have pursued in this as well as in other books of mine which will be circulated by the Muslims, in sha Allah, I knew that it will not meet the satisfaction of all sects and madthahib. Rather, some or most of them will censure me verbally as well as in writing. But there is no harm in that; because I know that pleasing all people is an unattainable aim. But I also know that “he who pleases people through displeasing Allah, Allah would commit his affairs to people.” (At-Tirmidthi)

It is enough for me to know that this is the right path that Allah has commanded the believers to pursue. Our Prophet, Muhammad, the best of all Messengers defined it. It is the same path that was pursued by the pious Predecessors of the Companions, the Tabi’een and those who followed them including the Four Imams to whose madthahib the assembly of believers adhere. All of the Four Imams are agreed that it is imperative to adhere to the Sunnah and to hold it as a term of reference, and reject everything, which opposes it regardless of how great, is the one who issues it. Because the Messenger of Allah is greater, and his methodology is the best. That is why I have pursued their guidance, followed their footsteps, and observed their command of adhering to the authentic hadeeth even if it contradicts their statements. Such commands have influenced me greatly in choosing this straight path, and turning away from blind taqleed (imitation.) May Allah reward them greatly on my behalf.

I was anxious to talk to this scholar, let alone seeing him. This finally took place when I made another trip to Kuwait, and visited the Society of Ihya’ at-Turath al-Islami. I was very happy when one of its officials gave me the Shaikh’s telephone number. At the time I had begun abridging and translating Ibn Katheer’s exegeses, which required scrutinizing the Prophet’s ahadeeth in it and pointing out their categories. I had to consult an authority on both, exegetical as well as hadeeth sciences.

Although it was costly to make overseas calls from Canada, yet it was greatly rewarding when I consulted the Grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, at the time, Shaikh Bin Baz, may Allah grant him mercy, and Shaikh Nasirud-Deen, may Allah grant him mercy, on the science of Hadeeth. From then on I communicated with Shaikh Nasir on regular bases.

During those calls, the Shaikh used to ask me about the Da’wah activities in N. America of which I briefed him, and of course I used to ask him questions and used to tape his answers and comments. Once I read to him the constitution of the Qur’an & Sunnah Society when I was its chairman, just to make sure that there were no violations in the Society’s Manhaj. He listened patiently and commented on certain points without showing any sign of boredom.

I used to visit Saudi frequently. So I asked the Shaikh if he was going for Umrah so that I could adjust my itinerary to meet each other in Makkah. But he suggested that I visit him first. I was not able that year to stop in Amman. In fact it was only two or three years after when I managed to do so. He asked me to give him the date and time of my arrival. I did so and expected that he would send someone to the airport to receive me. This was honoring enough for me. I felt excited about the idea. I also gave the same information to his eminence, Sh. Muhammad Shaqrah.

I had never seen any picture of the Shaikh, so I could only imagine him as a dignified gray haired old man. Had I remembered that he was an Albanian, I would have probably envisaged a picture of his closer to reality.

I felt as if the flight took longer time than usual, and I wished the pilot would double the speed of the plane. When finally it landed, I felt like dashing through the passport point in the airport into the meeting hall. Alas! I had to wait for long before I reached that hall. There was Sh. Muhammad Shaqrah, whom I met for the first time, Ali Abdulhameed al-Halabi and another brother.

I thanked them for taking the trouble of coming to receive me, and I asked them about the Shaikh. Ali al-Halabi said: “The Shaikh is waiting for us.” The first thing came to my mind was that the Shaikh was waiting for us in his residence. All I said was, ‘Alhamdu lillah.’ Having expected my reaction, Shaikh Ali looked at me and said: “The Shaikh is waiting for us outside in his car, for he could not bear standing for a long period of time.” I looked at Ali back to make sure I heard him right. He looked at me as though he knew the effect of the surprise on me and said smiling. ‘Yes, he is outside.’ I was about to break in tears, but managed to control myself, and did not know what to say.

Soon as the Shaikh saw us coming out of the hall, he opened his car door to come towards us. But I rushed to him to save him the trouble of walking. I looked at his shiny face and green eyes, his white straight haired beard and mustaches, and opened my arms to hug him. My arms could not encircle him for he was large. He then asked the brothers with an air of command to put my luggage in his car, and they did so obediently.

The excitement of being driven by a scholar made it difficult for me to carry on a long conversation with him. I remembered he was asking me questions about my family, my activities in the Society, and other questions of that nature. When we finally reached his house, which was on top of a hill, I was amazed of how he maneuvered the car through the narrow driveway and then into the car park. I took out my luggage, and went up the stairs while he took a simple electric lift that he later on told me that he designed and built because it was difficult for him to mount the stairs.

His study door was opened, and I went inside to see that there were other students of the Shaikh waiting for us. Someone made the introductions. I was asked about the da’wah in N. America, and activities of the Salafis, and the other sects. I gave them a brief account because I was anxious to hear the comments of the Shaikh, and his answers to their questions. That was my main concern.

I spent about a week in the Shaikh’s resident, which I consider as a condensed course in the science of hadeeth and fiqh. In deed it was a rare opportunity, at least for a person like me who at the time was living about 15,000. miles away from this renowned scholar.

Due to the fact that there was no mosque nearby, I would call the adthan for Fajr prayer, and he would lead the Salah then we would move into the library where the Shaikh began his work. Two hours later, the breakfast would be ready which we shared with two of the Shaikh’s aides. He used to talk while eating or listen to what they had to say.

Then the Shaikh would return to the library to resume his work until around 10 o’clock when he retired to his family’s apartment. He would remain there until Dthuhr prayer followed by lunch and siesta.

After Asr prayer, the Shaikh stayed in the library and remained there until around midnight. That was the best part of the day. Some of his close students would come in and join us for the rest of the evening. Due to certain reasons that were beyond his will, the Shaikh’s house was open only to his relatives and close students, not to visitors, let alone to public. They did not waste his time by idle talk or anything of that nature.. They would bring their questions concerning biographies of hadeeth narrators, their classifications and the hadeeth standards, and other issues on aqeedah or jurisprudence. He would answer them as if he was reading from a book.

There was another interesting period of that part of the day when the Shaikh began taking telephone calls and answering the questions of callers from all over the world. The phone never stopped ringing. As soon as one call was over, another would be waiting on line. We used to listen to the questions through a speakerphone. The topics varied widely.

He would give his answers according to the level of understanding of the caller. But he would not answer the question before he completely understood it, nor would he move from one point to another before he was sure that the caller understood the previous one. At times, he would repeat the point more than once without showing signs of frustration. He always used to ask the caller after answering his question whether he understood the answer.

One day the phone rang when the Shaikh was sitting in his library with some of his students. It was a female student of knowledge from Algeria, who used to call the Shaikh frequently. She said to him: Shaikh, I saw a dream last night. The Shaikh did not usually care much about interpreting dreams. But since he knew who she was, he allowed her to report to him her dream. She said: ‘I saw the Prophet (saws) walking while there was an old man with white beard sitting on the side of the road. I asked the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, who that man was, and he said: This is Shaikh Nasirud-Deen al-Albani.” At that point, the Shaikh broke in tears, and so did his students. In the meantime, the caller kept asking: ‘Shaikh are you there? Are you there?’ The Shaikh hung up, and gave his student a short speech about that fact that no one should take things for granted, for no one knows where will he end up. Or words to that effect.

Once the telephone period was over, he would listen to the comments or inquiries of his students on one of his answers, or would ask him questions relevant to some issues that were raised by callers. All of the questions and answers along with the comments of his students were taped. But unfortunately, the Shaikh did not keep the original tapes, and that was why he could not retrieve them from the fellow who was taping his sessions.

Knowing the Shaikh’s love of the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws), it was not surprising to know that he listened to his students’ funny incidents that occurred to them during the day. He himself would share with them an incident of his own. His Damascene dialect made his narrative more interesting.

Besides being a specialist in the science of hadeeth, the Shaikh, may Allah grant him mercy, also designed quite a few things in his home. One of them was the solar water-heater, which he showed me the next day of my arrival. He also designed an elevator for himself because it was difficult for him to climb up the stairs. He also devised a sundial that he placed on the roof of his house to show the exact prayer times, and other things.

There were other occasions that I really enjoyed. We used to receive invitations from his students for lunch, dinner, or even breakfast. He never refused any of them unless it was break fast, or when he was tied up with some important occupation. I enjoyed those occasions because they were attended by a large number of guests, which meant more questions and discussions.

One day we were invited for lunch by sh. Hassan al-Awaysheh. Among the guests was a young man who brought a message from Hikmatyar to Shaikh Naseruddeen al-Albani concerning the assassination of Shaikh Jamilur-Rahman, may Allah grant him mercy. The discussion was about the war in Afghanistan, and the assassination of Jamil Arrahman which was the topic of the hour. After the Shaikh opened the discussion and made his point, I asked his permission to share my views on the issue. The Shaikh looked at me in the face and noticed that I was irritated by Hikmatyar’s representative, and said: ‘In sha Allah.’ I waited long hoping that he would give me the chance to speak.

The time for Asr prayer was due, so we went to the masjid to perform Salah, and then we returned to our host’s house. When every one took his seat, the Shaikh looked at me and said, ‘I think you have something to say.’ I was just waiting for that moment, and did not hesitate to say: ‘Certainly.’

Having said what I had in my mind, I felt relieved. Later on, I realized that the Shaikh had a valid reason for not giving me the chance to speak when first I asked his permission. He knew that the statements of the guest irritated me, and he wanted me to calm down before I uttered any word.

On the way home, I apologized to him for being unable to hide my emotion while making my point. Although he agreed that it was valid point, but he said: “As you know, it is hard for the ego to accept the truth. It is more so to accept it when it is presented in a sharp manner.” I looked at him while he was driving, and gave him a smile tinted with a sense of guilt. I was unable to utter a word in response. I said to myself if these were the only words of wisdom I learnt from this great scholar during my stay with him, they would have been more than sufficient for me to take home.

One evening Shaikh Muhammad Shaqrah, may Allah preserve him, invited us for dinner. That night I felt sorry for having forgotten to bring along my tape recorder. The Shaikh at that night was in a good mood. There were only few of his devoted students with us, when he talked about his suffering in his life, and how he had to leave his father’s residence with little amount of money and be on his own. His recollection moved him to tears, and we cried along with him. I hope some day I will be able to write about that part of the Shaikh’s life which is not recorded in books.

Needless to say the duration of my visit flashed by when all of a sudden I realized that I had to pack for the return trip. The Shaikh insisted to take me to the airport, and I insisted that he should stay home. But he ignored my objection. Although I enjoyed his uninterrupted company for more than forty minutes, yet I felt guilty for taking him away from his work.
 

Rimatisma

^^^ما لي وللدنيا؟^^^
One day the phone rang when the Shaikh was sitting in his library with some of his students. It was a female student of knowledge from Algeria, who used to call the Shaikh frequently. She said to him: Shaikh, I saw a dream last night. The Shaikh did not usually care much about interpreting dreams. But since he knew who she was, he allowed her to report to him her dream. She said: ‘I saw the Prophet (saws) walking while there was an old man with white beard sitting on the side of the road. I asked the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, who that man was, and he said: This is Shaikh Nasirud-Deen al-Albani.” At that point, the Shaikh broke in tears, and so did his students. In the meantime, the caller kept asking: ‘Shaikh are you there? Are you there?’ The Shaikh hung up, and gave his student a short speech about that fact that no one should take things for granted, for no one knows where will he end up. Or words to that effect.


:salam2:

jazaka Allah 5ayr

the dream's ARABIC audio in this thread:

http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20695

but in this audio it's said that the girl told her friend that this is sheikh Albani

:salam2:
 

Shishani

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Staff member
Imaam Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee
His Name and Lineage:
He was Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen bin Nooh bin Aadam Najaatee, Al-Albaanee by birth, Ad-Dimashqee by residence and Al-Urdunee (from Jordan) due to his migration and place of death. He was born in Ashkodera, the capital of Albania, in the year 1332H (1914 C.E.) and it is to this country that he ascribes himself.

He was a Muhaddith (scholar of hadeeth), a Faqeeh (scholar of Fiqh), a caller to the Book and the Sunnah with the understanding of the Salaf As-Saalih (righteous predecessors). And he was a proficient writer and an expert scholar.

His father was Al-Hajj Nooh, from the major Hanafee scholars of his land. During the doomed secularist, Ahmad Zogu's reign of Albania there was severe oppression for the Muslims of that land.[1] Because of this, Al-Hajj Nooh migrated with all of his children, which included Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen, fleeing for the sake of his religion to the land of Shaam. He traveled to Shaam due to what was reported in the prophetic ahaadeeth about its virtues and merits. And it is there that he and his family took residence. Fifty years later, the Shaikh (Al-Albaanee) migrated from here to 'Amaan, the capital of Jordan. And it is in this city that he remained for the rest of his life as a scholar and teacher and a Faqeeh and educator.

His Educational Background and Teachers:
He received his education in a school, which was part of a relief shelter in Damascus, the capital of Syria. This school served as a place of refuge for seekers of knowledge for many previous generations. He benefited and learned from a number of Shuyookh and people of knowledge the likes of his father Al-Hajj Nooh, Sa'Eed Al-Burhaanee and others.

Allaah made the science of the Prophetic Hadeeth beloved to him during the prime of his life and the early part of his youth. This was during the time when he would review articles written by Shaikh Muhammad Rasheed Ridaa in the magazine Al-Manaar, in which he would criticize weak narrations that Abu Haamid Al-Ghazaalee mentioned in his book Ihyaa 'Uloom-ud-Deen.

Shaikh Muhammad Raaghib At-Tabbaakh, the historian and Muhaddith of Halab (Aleppo), authorized him with an Ijaazah (certification) to teach his collection of narrations on trustworthy reporters, called "Al-Anwaar Al-Jaliyyah fee Mukhtasar Al-Athbaat Al-Halabiyyah."[2] This happened when he saw the Shaikh's intelligence and extraordinary abilities and his brightness in comprehending and understanding, as well as his strong desire to learn the Islamic sciences and the knowledge of Hadeeth.[3]

His Early Role in Da'wah and Effects on the Ummah:
He began writing and authoring books during the first stages of the second part of his life (i.e. after reaching middle age). One of the first books he wrote on Fiqh, which was based on knowing the evidences and using comparative Fiqh, was his book: "Tahdheer-us-Saajid min Ittikhaadh al-Quboor Masaajid" (Warning the Worshipper against taking Graves as a Place of Worship). This book was printed many times. And from his first books in which he referenced and checked hadeeth, was his book "Ar-Rawd-un-Nadeer fee Tarteeb wa Takhreej Mu'jam At-Tabaraanee As-Sagheer" (Blossoming Gardens: Arrangement and Referencing of the book Mu'jam As-Sagheer of At-Tabaraanee). This book is still in manuscript form and not printed.

The Shaikh was called and invited by many Islamic universities and Muslim organizations around the world to take high positions with them, but he turned down most of them by making excuses due to his many preoccupations with regard to (acquiring and teaching) knowledge.

He was put in charge of teaching the subject of Prophetic Hadeeth in the Islamic University of Madeenah at the time of its inception for the length of three years, beginning from the year 1381H. Because of him, this move had a great influence in bringing about a scientific and comprehensive revival of the subject of Hadeeth throughout the entire world - on all fronts. As for the official front, then this was by all the universities having a strong concern for that subject, such that they produced a hundred university treatises, which deal specifically with the Science of Hadeeth. As for the general nationwide front, then this was such that a large number of students of knowledge applied for studies in the Science of Hadeeth and specialization in that field. And this goes as well for all the other things that came as a result afterwards. So it became one of the Shaikh's many effects.

One of the greatest proofs for this is the large amount of Hadeeth books, with checked and authenticated chains of narration, and written indexes for Hadeeth that exist today, a majority of which were not known in previous years. No one can deny this effect due to its clear and obvious nature - not even those who opposed the Shaikh and fought against his methodology.

The Scholars' Praise for Him:
The senior scholars and Imaams of this time praised him and they would ask him questions, go to visit him, seek religious verdicts from him and exchange letters with him. And if they, may Allaah preserve those of them who are living and have mercy on those who have died, were to be counted, all of them would not be able to be accounted for.

At the head of them was the noble Shaikh and great scholar, 'Abd-ul-'Azeez bin 'Abdillaah bin Baaz, for he had great esteem and profound respect for him. May Allaah have mercy on them both.

Shaikh 'Abdul-'Azeez Al-Hudda said: "The Shaikh, the great scholar, the ocean (of knowledge), Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee (rahimahullaah) - the one whom no one's knowledge of the Science of Tafseer and the Arabic Language was comparable to his during his lifetime - used to respect Shaikh Al-Albaanee so remarkably to the point that when he would see him passing by, and he was giving his class in the masjid of Madeenah, he would stop his class to stand and give Salaam to him out of respect for him."

The great scholar, the teacher, Muhibb-ud-Deen Al-Khateeb said: "And from the callers to the Sunnah who devoted their lives to reviving it was our brother Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Nooh Najaatee Al-Albaanee."

The great scholar Muhammad Haamid Al-Fiqee (rahimahullaah) said: "...the brother, the Salafee, the Scholar, Shaikh Naasir-ud-Deen."

The former Muftee of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Muhammad bin Ibraheem Aali Shaikh (rahimahullaah) said: "And he is the upholder of the Sunnah, a supporter of the truth and an opposition to the people of falsehood."

During his lifetime, the father, the Shaikh, 'Abd-ul-'Azeez bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: "I have not seen under the surface of the sky a person knowledgeable of the Hadeeth in our current time the likes of the great scholar, Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee."

And he (rahimahullaah) was asked about the hadeeth of the Prophet (saws): "Indeed Allaah raises up from this ummah at the beginning of every century someone who will revive it for them (i.e. a mujaddid)." So he was asked who is the mujaddid of this century? He replied: "Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee. He is the mujaddid in my opinion and Allaah knows best."

Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said: "From what I came to know of the Shaikh through my gatherings with him - and they were few - was that he was very serious about acting upon the Sunnah and fighting against the innovations. And this was regardless of whether it was about the Belief or about actions. As for through my readings of his written works, then I have come to know that about him, and also that he possesses a vast amount of knowledge of Hadeeth, in terms of reporting them and investigating them. And Allaah has benefited many people through what he has written such as about knowledge, aspects of the Manhaj, and concern for the science of Hadeeth. And he has had an enormous influence on the Muslims, all praise be to Allaah."

Shaikh Muqbil bin Haadee Al-Waadi'ee (rahimahullaah) said: "Indeed, there cannot be found an equal in terms of the knowledge of Hadeeth like that of Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee. Allaah has given benefit through his knowledge and his books numerous times more than what has been accomplished by those zealots for Islaam who act upon ignorance - those who organize reformation and revolutionary movements. And that which I sincerely believe and am convinced about is that the Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee is from the mujaddideen (reformers/revivers) whom the Prophet (saws) spoke the truth of when he said: 'Indeed Allaah raises up from this ummah at the beginning of every century someone who will revive it for them (i.e. a mujaddid).' Reported by Abu Dawood and authenticated by Al-'Iraaqee and others."

The Basis of His Da'wah:
The students of the Shaikh - those who learned from him through the university or through his private gatherings of knowledge or through his written works - are many and widespread throughout all parts of the world, all praise be to Allaah. They are spreading the authentic knowledge and calling the people to the pure methodology with strength and firmness.

The Shaikh spent all of his life calling to Allaah upon sound proofs and evidences, basing his call on the methodology of Tasfiyah and Tarbiyah, which is based on knowledge and self-purification. So he was a noble instructor and a truthful educator (enforcing Tarbiyah). By Allaah, we were brought up and raised tremendously by his methodology (manhaj), his agreeable countenance, his good manners, his high morals, his elevated character and his soft heart.

His Characteristics:
The Shaikh, may Allaah have mercy on him, had many praiseworthy characteristics. Among the most clear, manifest and highest of them was his profound precision with regard to knowledge, his diligence, perseverance, his tolerance (with others), his firmness upon the truth, his quickness to return to correctness, his patience with the hardships of knowledge and Da'wah, and his taking of insults and harms for the sake of the Da'wah, bearing that with patience and consideration.

One of the greatest things that distinguished the Shaikh from many of his (Muslim) brothers amongst the people of knowledge was his strong support for the Sunnah and its adherents, his firmness upon the methodology of the Salaf As-Saalih, his love for those who called to it, and his refutation against the deviants from all levels and various positions, with an extreme clearness and a rare clarity.

His Fame:
The Shaikh, rahimahullaah, received a tremendous acceptance from the righteous Muslims all over the world. He gained wide and vast fame and notoriety in all of the different regions of the world, even though he did not seek after it nor strive for it. On the contrary, he would run away and flee from it. And he would always repeat these words: "Love for fame will break one's back." May Allaah have mercy on him.

No one amongst mankind had a blessing or bounty over him in any of the worldly affairs. His knowledge was his mediator and his patience was his guide. He was persistent (in his efforts), perseverant, patient, always struggling, earnest and hard working.

The Last Part of His Life:
The Shaikh, rahimahullaah, did not cease to be devoted to the knowledge, persistent in authoring works, diligent in teaching and educating until he reached the age of eighty-six. He did not stop authoring books, writing letters and doing referencing and checking of ahaadeeth - because of his heart's attachment to that - until the last two months of his life, when he grew very weak. This was until Allaah took his soul in death right before sunset (Maghrib) on Saturday when eight days remained for the end of the month Jumaadaal-Aakhira of the year 1420H (10/2/1999).

His Death and Its Effect on the Ummah:
The Shaikh's Janaazah (funeral) prayer was performed on the evening of the same day that he died. Scores of people, whose number exceeded that of five thousand persons, prayed over him in a musalla (place of prayer). Despite the fact that his body was prepared, he was prayed over and then buried, his burial was completed at the earliest time possible, in compliance with his final Will, in which he encouraged that the prophetic Sunnah be adhered to and acted upon.

The scholars, students of knowledge and common people were all affected by his loss. When the news of his death was conveyed, he was remembered and praised by the high and respected people of knowledge, such as Shaikh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdillaah Aali Shaikh, Chief Muftee of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen, Shaikh 'Abdullaah bin Jibreen, Shaikh Saalih bin 'Abdil-'Azeez bin Muhammad Aali Shaikh and others.

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[1] I heard our Shaikh say many times, when mentioning this man's name: 'The one whom Allaah has caused his heart to go astray.' You can find a biography of Ahmad Zogu in the book Al-Mawsoo'at-ul-'Arabiyyah Al-Muyassarah (1/733).

[2] This is a refutation against those who claim that: 'Al-Albaanee had no teachers (i.e. Shuyookh)' or that 'He studied the knowledge on his own!'

[3] In spite of this, there are some evil mischievous people today, who are guided by their desires and say about our Shaikh: 'He was dumb and not able to understand.' So what transgression do we find from these small ignoramuses and foolish people!

[4] Translator's Note: This section of the praise of the scholars for Al-Albaanee was added from Al-Asaalah Magazine Issue 23 (pg. 76-77).

[5] The brother, Dr. Muhammad Lutfee As-Sabaagh, may Allaah grant him success, related to us that he heard Shaikh Ibn Baaz, rahimahullaah, say about our Shaikh: 'I don't know of anyone under the surface of the sky with more knowledge of the Hadeeth of Allaah's Messenger than Shaikh Naasir.' [See Ad-Dustoor Newspaper of Jordan (10/8/1999)]

[6] As for what some people relate from him that he, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: 'I taught and I did not educate (using Tarbiyah)', then he only said this out of humbleness and to suppress his soul. And even if this is not so, then I ask, is there anything besides knowledge that will purify and cultivate (Tarbiyah)? Is it only words and expressions?! Or is it purely passions and emotions?!

[7] There is no contradiction between these last two characteristics, as is made quite clear with the least bit of reflection. By Allaah, how many times have we seen the humility of our Shaikh while he listened to those lower than him in his gatherings In fact, he even asked some of his youngest students and sought explanations from them for aspects of knowledge that he had trouble with. And he would accept peoples' arguments with open-mindedness. So he had no pride or haughtiness. We ask you, O Allaah, to rectify our hearts and to grant us refuge from the evils of our souls.

[8] The Shaikh handed me his introduction - written with his own hand - to the book Madaarik An-Nadhr fis-Siyaasah of the brother, the Shaikh 'Abdul-Malik Ramadaanee - so that I can give it to him. In this introduction is found the Shaikh's support for the book, according to the correct manner, and his aid for what clear truth is found in it. But in spite of this, we hear from some people that they have doubts about the Shaikh's introduction (!) or they say that he wrote it before the book was put in order! So then what was it?! That book was the book itself, without any doubt about it! As for what was supplemented to it, then that was only to aid and support its original status - they were not additions that changed the books main ideas. So based on this, warning against this book and belittling its status is an injustice that is contrary to what is correct and it is in opposition to what our senior scholars and Shaikhs are upon.

[9] So what some people say to themselves or that which some of them whisper to others - that they share credit in the Shaikh's fame or that they are responsible for people knowing him (!), then these are words, which the present situation and current conditions contradict and oppose.


PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com
Source: “With our Shaikh, the Upholder of the Sunnah and the Religion, Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee” (pages 5-11)
 
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Umme Ali

Junior Member
Dear Brother Abu Abdulrahman and ChechanMega :salam2:

Thanks for such a beautiful thread and the scholarly posts. I had always heard about Sheikh Albani but did not know these details of his life and work. There is a book of prayres( masnoon duas) by him. Unfortunately, I don't have much information on this. Can one of you brothers kindly post the book or the website
from where it can be downloaded.
Once again jazakallah for this post
Ummi Ali
 
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