Shaikh al-Albaani

Translations From His Works

Shaikh al-Albaani’s Adhaan


 


Al-Albaani’s Humility: Not Seeing Himself as The Embodiment of The Sunnah


 

Shaikh Esaam Moosa Haadi said, “Some brothers said to him, ‘O Shaikh of ours! There is a man by us who regards you as an enemy and speaks ill of you–should we boycott him?’

So our Shaikh replied, ‘Does he oppose Al-Albaani as a person or does he oppose the ’aqeedah which Al-Albaani holds and calls to? The ’aqeedah of the Book and the Sunnah? If he is showing enmity to the ’aqeedah of the Book and the Sunnah then one is to discuss [such issues] with him and he is to be shown patience. Thereafter if you see that it is beneficial and more advantageous to boycott him, then he is boycotted.

But if he is opposing Al-Albaani as a person whilst he agrees with us on the path of the Book and the Sunnahthen no [he is not to be boycotted].’”

Muhaddithul-Asr, Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaani Kamaa ’Araftuhu, p. 94, of Esaam Moosaa Haadi.

On Mentioning the Good Deeds of a Person When Refuting Them | 1 |


 

Questioner: Noble Shaikh!  Is it from the methodology of the Salaf to mention the good qualities/deeds [hasanaat] of a dissenter when one is refuting him?  We would like a detailed answer to this question.

Al-Albaani: If the purpose is to clarify the truth concerning an issue that has arisen, then this is something.  And if the purpose is to give a biography of someone who we hold to have been mistaken in a certain issue then this is something else. In the first instance it is not a condition when answering someone who opposes [the Sunnah] that his good deeds are mentioned.  But if the situation differs from that, and that is what I just alluded to, that the person himself is going to be spoken about, then there is no doubt that the one refuting/making the criticism should not turn to mentioning [just] his mistakes but should couple that with a mention of his virtues and good qualities based upon His Saying, the Blessed and Most High, “… and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just. That is nearer to righteousness. [Maa’idah 5:8]

As for when just refuting then this [i.e., mentioning the good deeds] is in opposition to the methodology of the Salaf as-Saalih and in opposition to what is known from the Prophet’s responses عليه السلام to whoever had made a mistake from his Companions. And in my opinion, if the hadiths that have been reported concerning this issue were to be collected they would form a treatise.

For example, he said to the person who praised his brother to his face …

Did al-Ghazali Come Back to the Manhaj of the Salaf?


 

 

Questioner: Did Abu Haamid al-Ghazali come back to the methodology of the Salaf, how correct is this statement?

Al-Albaani: No, unfortunately. But he started to take a few very slow steps towards it, and I ask Allaah عز وجل to forgive him and those like him from the people of knowledge.

Al-Hudaa wan-Noor, 13.

The Shaikh’s Advice to a Christian who Embraced Islaam | 1 |


 

Al-Albaani: Regarding the brother I want to say that his reward is doubled, this is what our Prophet عليه السلام stated in the authentic hadith which Imaam Bukhaari reported in his Saheeh, “Three people will be given their reward twice …” and from those three he mentioned, “… and a man from the Christians who believes in me and becomes a Muslim, his reward is doubled,” this means that he was a believer beforehand in the legislation of Jesus, peace be upon him, then when the truth became clear to him [concerning the fact] that what Muhammad عليه الصلاة والسلام brought is the truth he also believed in that, such a person’s reward is recorded twice for him.

This is not the case with anyone who was an unbeliever [mulhid] from the Christians, [someone who was] not a Christian or a Muslim and who then embraced Islaam, such a person is rewarded once, but as for the person who was truly a Christian including whatever deviation that may entail then he is a believer and he is rewarded twice, and I say, ‘… including whatever deviation the Christians have …’ because when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم uttered this hadith, saying, ‘… he will be given his reward twice …’ he was referring to the Christians who were present in his time عليه الصلاة والسلام, those Christians about whom Allaah عز وجل said in the Noble Quraan, They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allaah is the third of three,’” [Maaidah 5:73] and these are the people whose sacrificial slaughter it is permissible for us to eat, thus it is not fitting that a Muslim doubts or questions [himself] about these Christians [saying] that they say, ‘The father, the son and the holy ghost are one,’ in response we say that they were like that in the time of the Messenger عليه السلام and they are the ones who the Lord of mankind referred to in the previous verse, “They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allaah is the third of three.’”

Thus, any person from the People of the Book who embraces Islaam and believes in Allaah and His Messenger will be rewarded twice: one time for his previous eemaan with all its flaws and defects, and a second time for his subsequent eemaan which is all truth containing no falsehood.

So firstly we ask Allaah to grant you firmness, and then [we ask Him to grant you] steadfastness upon the truth.

And it is obligatory upon you–and the religion is but to sincerely advise–to be eager to become acquainted with the correct Islaam, and unfortunately I say, ‘… the correct Islaam …’ because the Muslims have been afflicted with that which those who came before them were afflicted with, the Muslims have been stricken with that which befell the Jews and Christians in terms of becoming divided in the religion, and this is a confirmation of the statement of the Prophet عليه الصلاة والسلام, “You will certainly follow the ways (and habits) of those who came before you, handspan by handspan, cubit by cubit, until even if they entered a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.” We said, “O Messenger of Allaah, the Jews and the Christians?” He said, “Who else?” [Muslim] Namely, they will have power and influence at that time.

This narration,“You will certainly follow the ways (and habits) of those who came before you, handspan by handspan …” is true concerning most of the Muslims today, the Muslims have become divided.  So if Allaah عز وجل has blessed you with the greater [type of] guidance …

Al-Albaani’s Humility


He said, “And if you see that I have strayed or made a mistake you must advise me …”

Al-Hudaa wan-Noor, 82.

Al-Albaani’s Advice to Every Muslim on the Face of the Earth


 

 

The Imaam said, “My advice for every Muslim on the face of the earth, especially our brothers who share with us their affiliation to the blessed da’wah, that of the Book and the Sunnah on the methodology of the Pious Predecessors–I advise them and myself to fear Allaah, the Blessed and Most High, firstly, and then [advise them] to seek more beneficial knowledge as He the Most High said:

“And fear Allaah. And Allaah teaches you.” [Baqarah 2:282]

And [I advise them] to couple their meritorious knowledge which in our united opinion is that which does not digress from the Book, the Sunnah and the methodology of the Pious Predecessors, along with this knowledge of theirs and [along with] whatever increase in it they are able to seek–[I advise them] to couple that with action upon that knowledge, so that it will not be a proof against them but for them:

“The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allaah with a sound heart.” [Shu’araa 26:88-89]

Thereafter I warn them from joining many of those who have left the path of the Salaf in many, numerous issues, something which can be termed as rebelling against the Muslims and their Jamaa’ahs [i.e., like the Khawaarij], rather we order them to be as the Prophet عليه الصلاة والسلام said in an authentic hadith, “And be servants of Allaah, brothers,” as Allaah the Blessed and Most High ordered you, and we should, as I said in a previous sitting and which I repeat again [here], and there is benefit in repeating [such points]–in our da’wah we should be gentle with those who oppose it and we should always and forever stand in line with His Saying, the Blessed and Most High:

“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best,” [Nahl 16:125] and the ones who have the most right for us to use [such] wisdom with them are those who are the most severe in their conflict/disagreement with us in our doctrine and our aqidah so that we do not bring together [both] the weightiness of the true call [itself which] Allaah عز وجل favoured us with and the burden of ill manners in calling to Allaah عز وجل.

So I hope that all of our brothers in all Islamic countries imitate these Islamic manners and seek, by doing so, Allaah’s Face عز وجل [i.e., to do so sincerely] and not to want any reward or thanks [from the people].”

Al-Hudaa wan-Noor, 900.

PDF of The Recent Boycotting Posts


Here is the PDF of the recent boycotting posts:

On Boycotting.

Al-Albaani on Boycotting | End | Wrongfully Looking at Misguided Muslims with Scorn, Contempt, Spite and Buried Hatred and a Discussion About Whether the Ruling Applied to Whole Groups is Applied to Individuals from those Groups


Continuing from the previous post.

Al-Albaani: Today, regretfully, my brother, the situation of the Muslims is very precarious. Today the Christians, rather the Jews, in fact the Magians live in an Islamic country as natives and the ruler does not differentiate between a Muslim and a non-Muslim, all are covered by the term citizen, and our Lord the Mighty and Majestic says, Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals? What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?” [Qalam 68:35-36] for this reason this society which has reached this level of corruption … it is not permissible for an individual, righteous Muslim who acts upon his knowledge to confront this society with force because he will have to make an about turn, but rather [he should use] the force which cannot be overpowered, and that is the force of proof/evidence and clear statements [explaining the truth].

Next question.

Questioner: Also, as a completion, O Shaikh, ya’ni, a Muslim’s compassion for such a person before, ya’ni, establishing [the proof] …

Al-Albaani: It is that, all of that … ya’ni¸“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction …” [Nahl 16:125] that is what this means, and in this regard I say that many of our brothers who are enthusiastic for the correct Islaam [wrongfully] look at other Muslims, who have deviated due to their ignorance of the Book and the Sunnah, with a look of scorn and contempt and spite and buried hatred.  For example, many [astray] Shaikhs permit seeking succour from the Allies [of Allaah] and the righteous, they permit other things even more readily [like] seeking intercession through them instead of the Lord of the Worlds, they permit frequenting their graves and seeking blessings [from them] by coming to them and so on. And another type [of Shaikh] forbids following the Book and the Sunnah based upon the fact that [according to them] the general folk do not understand the Book and the Sunnah, and they impose blind-following on them, and then the stance of the other people who are with us upon the Book and the Sunnah and the methodology of the Pious Predecessors is to have enmity towards these people and to hate them in a most severe manner, such that it is not possible that this person will meet that one–this is a mistake.

I say: these people [who call upon the Allies of Allaah and the righteous etc.] … I do not refrain from calling them by their [rightful] name … [i.e.,] people have ‘deviated from the truth [daaloon]’ and when I [do] say that they have ‘deviated from the truth’ there is no problem in using this expression from an Islamic perspective, for Allaah the Mighty and Majestic used this expression concerning His Messenger عليه السلام [stating] that before the revelation was sent down to him, “And He found you lost [daal] and guided [you].” [Duhaa 93:7]

Thus, there is no doubt that these people who oppose the Book and the Sunnah are misguided/lost [daaloon] … what I want to say is: as long as they are like that then they are ill and it is obligatory for us to be compassionate towards them and to deal with them with gentleness and to call them [to the Truth] as is mentioned in the previous aayah, “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.” [Nahl 16:125]

And we remain in this state until it becomes clear to us from one of them that he is haughty and denies the truth and that kindness and softness have no benefit at all with him, it is then that the Statement of our Lord the Mighty and Majestic comes in to play, “… and turn away from the ignorant.” [A’raaf 7:199]

Bring the next question.

Questioner: I mean, O Shaikh, now … so that we can move on to the second question [let me just ask about this final point] because it [i.e., the second question] is totally separate from this one … [so] is this [i.e., the answer you just gave] regarding Jamaa’ahs as a whole or [is it applied to] people on an individual basis … when it becomes clear that all of them as a group or sect or such are haughty [subsequently] when someone meets one of them individually should he apply this to them on an individual level?

Al-Albaani: No. That which is applied to a Jamaa’ah is not applied to the individual.

We say, for example, the system and laws of some of the factions present today in the Islamic world, unfortunately, are ones of disbelief, like the Ba’ath Party for example and the Communist Party, there is no doubt that these forms of government are those of disbelief, and that whoever adopts them as religion is a disbeliever.

But we know that as regards the reality in many Islamic countries, especially Syria for example, many of those people who used to affiliate [themselves] to the Ba’ath [Party] used to pray and fast and totally guard the obligatory duties, and [that] when they would be reminded and warned from affiliating to a sect such as it they would say, and their statement was invalid [i.e., incorrect] … but we understand that they have not adopted Ba’athism as a replacement for Islaam [and we know this] because they would say, ‘Yaa akhi, what can we do, we want to live,’ so the example of such a person is like any other obstinate sinner [faasiq] who does something forbidden in order to live … in order to earn a living.

And how many trades, professions and businesses many of the Muslims pursue nowadays which contain forbidden things, and when you remind them and tell them that this and that are haram, they’ll say, ‘Yaa akhi, what can we do,’ and the good one from among them will say to you, ‘Wallaahi, I’m thinking about getting something … [getting] another job which will be [Islamically] legal but until it becomes possible I’ll carry on doing what I’m doing,’ and so on. This all shows that it is not possible to declare these people to be disbelievers in the same way that we declare the system and all those who [actually] adopt it as a part of their ’aqidah to be disbelievers.

Therefore, it is possible that individuals in these factions can be found who really are disbelievers because they have adopted their system as a replacement for Islaam and [at the same time] there are individuals amongst them who are not like that and who only, as I gave you an example of just now, take it as a means of living–[but by me saying this] I do not mean that this way is permissible, what I mean is that as long as the individual has not adopted it as creed, as a system [which replaces Islaam], as an ideology, then it is not allowed to deal with them as the system itself and those who do adopt it as ’aqidah are dealt with.

End.

Al-Huda wan-Noor, 735.

“Be Gentle, and Gentleness Shall be Rendered to You.”


إِسْمَحْ يُسْمَحْ لَكَ

“Be gentle/forgiving, and gentleness/forgiveness shall be rendered to you.”

Saheeh | As-Saheehah | 1456

Reported from Ibn ’Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, in marfoo’ form.

Explaining it, al-Manawi said in al-Faid, “Deal with Allaah’s creation who are [all] dependent on Him and are His slaves with gentleness and ease, and their Lord will render the same to you in this world and the Hereafter.”

Faid al-Qadir, vol. 1, p. 512.

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