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 …

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.

The Incident That Directed Al-Albaani Towards the Science of Hadith

“Imaam al-Albaani grew up in Damascus, Syria.  In his youth the state the Ummah had reached alarmed and greatly disturbed him: [its] ignorance, myths/superstitions, blind following, innovations, misguidance, in fact polytheism and idol worship, and he used to renounce it. A Shaikh heard him forbidding some wrong and so said to him, ‘Haven’t you heard the hadith of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, “Leave the people in their heedlessness?”

Al-Albaani, still a youth, replied, “Who reported this hadith? And what is its grading?” The Shaikh was taken aback by this youth and was unable, naturally, to answer him.

So al-Albani went and started to delve deeply into books, checking, researching, scrutinising until Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, guided him to the hadith with its complete wording, “Leave the people to their heedlessness, they are granted provision [by Allaah] one from another,” [see here for other wordings of this hadith without the word 'heedlessness,' to get a clearer context of the meaning] and so he checked it and expounded upon the condition of its narrators and made known its grading.

So Shaikh al-Albaani told me one time that this was the beginning of his work in this noble [field of] knowledge.”

Written by Muhammad ibn Badee’ Musa in Al-Isaalah magazine, 23/59.

Is it Allowed to Perform Ruqya on Someone Possessed by a Jinn Through a Cassette Recording?

 

Questioner: Is it allowed to perform ruqya [reciting aayahs/supplications on someone who is poisoned/possessed by Jinn, etc.] through a cassette?

Al-Albaani: Is it allowed to perform ruqya what?

Questioner: … through a cassette?

Al-Albaani: … through a cassette?

Questioner: Cassette.

Al-Albaani: … cassette.

Questioner: Yes.

Al-Albaani: Is the adhaan allowed? Is the iqaamah allowed [through a cassette]? If you are in doubt such that I should answer you [I will], and if you know that the answer is that it is not allowed [to call the adhaan or iqaamah using a cassette] then the answer is the same [concerning ruqya]–it is not allowed.

For this reason I said on some occasions that I think, and Allaah knows best if the report is true, that sometimes a single [unified] adhaan is played on tape–if this report is true [and people are actually doing that] then I say that I fear a day will come when the people will pray behind a cassette [recording].

Al-Huda wan-Noor, 616.

The Descent of Jesus عليه السلام

“It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “How will you be when the Son of Mary descends among you and you are led by one from among you?” I said to Ibn Abî Dhi’b, ‘Al-Awzaa’i narrated to us from Az-Zuhri, from Naafi, from Abu Hurairah, “And your Imaam is one of you.” Ibn Abi Dhi’b said. “Do you know what, ‘You are led by one from among you,’ means?” I [i.e., al-Walid ibn Muslim, one of the narrators] said, “Tell me.” He said, “He will lead you according to the Book of your Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, and the Sunnah of your Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.”” [Muslim]

Shaikh al-Albaani said, “This is forthright concerning the fact that Jesus عليه السلام will rule according to our legislation, and will judge according to the Book and the Sunnah, not with something other than these two [sources, whether that be from] the Injeel or Hanafi Fiqh or things like it!”

Mukhtasar Saheeh Muslim, p. 543.

“We are not Controllers over the People.”

 

The Imaam said, “From our Salafi aqidah is that we do not hold [that we have a] a legislative authority over the people [Ed. Note: i.e., to force them to take our opinion], for indeed Allaah said to His Messenger, “You are not a dictator over them,” [Ghaashiyah 88:22] so we are not controllers over the people.  But we say that statement mentioned by some callers, ‘Say your piece and go.’

You do not have authority with a sword, making the people follow your opinion, but rather with the true principle [that], ‘The truth is clear and falsehood defective.’ So we make clear our statement.

And of a surety, as is the case with the most true statement on the face of the earth, i.e., ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah,’–have all the people adopted it?  No.  So it is even more the case that the people will not adopt a [certain] opinion of this scholar or that.”

Aaraa’ul-Imaam al-Albaani at-Tarbawiyyah, p. 118.

Al-Albaani’s Goal in Life

 

The Imaam said, “And in reality, my entire goal in this life–after carrying out the obligatory duties and rights that Allaah has made incumbent upon me–is but to acquaint the Muslims with the accurate biography [seerah] of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم from every aspect as far as I am able, by teaching [them], lecturing and writing, and to urge them to take him as the definitive example for themselves, as Allaah the Most High has asked them to, as occurs in His Saying:

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent example for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allaah much.” [Al-Ahzaab 33:21]

And in that lies their happiness in this world and the Hereafter.”

Bidaayatus-Sool fi Tafdeelir-Rasool, p. 7.

Hizbiyyah That Resembles Taking Rabbis and Monks as Lords Besides Allaah

 

The Imaam said, “And it has reached the extent that one of those factions [hizbs] made it obligatory on all its members to adopt any opinion the hizb adopts, whatever that opinion maybe–even if it has no value from an Islamic point of view–and if that individual is not convinced with a particular opinion of the hizb, he is excommunicated and is not regarded as being part of the hizb, [a hizb] which calls itself a [so called], ‘Islamic’ one.

And what that means is that they are going back to what resembles the Jews and the Christians when they follow whatever their rabbis and monks make halaal or haram, for indeed Allaah, the Most High, has said, “They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allaah and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God–there is no deity [who has the right to be worshipped] except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.”” [Tawbah 9:31]

Silsilatul-Hudaa wan-Noor, 1/320.

A Lovely Letter From Ibn Baaz to Al-Albaani

In the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful

From Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz to the honourable, revered brother, the eminent Shaikh, Naasirud-Deen al-Albaani, may Allaah grant him success.

Salaamun alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu.

As for what follows:

Your amicable letter reached me through Shaikh Muhammad ibn Naasir al-Aboodi, may Allaah bestow His Guidance upon you and it pleased me greatly due to its informing me of your good health and the fact that you are continuing to write and teach and call to Allaah, all praise is due to Allaah for that, and I ask Him, the Most High, to give you even more success and that He grants you continued vigour to do everything that benefits the Muslims, indeed He is Most Gracious, Most Generous.

Just as I was also pleased at your completion of the summarisation of the Saheeh of Imaam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaaj and your resolve to summarise the Saheeh of Imaam al-Bukhaari whilst paying attention to the [core] meanings and without their being any detriment to it, I ask Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, to give you the good that you hope for, and that He helps you in everything in which there is good for the Muslims and in which lies their deliverance in this world and the next.

There is no doubt that the people of knowledge are in need of a summary of the Saheeh of Imaam al-Bukhaari whilst paying attention to [preserving] the [core] meanings, but that requires a huge effort and a long time, so if that [task] does not disrupt you from doing what is more important like directing [the people], teaching, da’wah and writing against innovations and superstitions/myths, and making authentic hadiths clear from the weak–then there is no harm in that.

In any case, my advice to your eminence is to fear Allaah in all matters and to seek His Guidance [istikhaarah], subhaanah, concerning this lofty project and to seek the counsel of those whose knowledge and advice you trust, and then if you are pleased with that then seek Allaah’s Aid and act–and [we] ask Allaah to grant you what is correct, and [to grant you] support and facilitation, and that He makes us and you and all of our brothers callers to guidance, helpers of the truth, indeed He is All-Hearing, the One who is Near, and we will spare no effort, inshaa Allaah, in seeking the help of some of those who love good to undertake the printing of your summary of Saheeh Muslim, and I will inform you of what comes of that, inshaa Allaah.

As for volumes nine, ten and eleven of Fathul-Baari, then we have taken them from Shaikh Muhammad Abdul-Muhsin al-Kutbi, and they will reach you, inshaa Allaah, via some of the students.

And the one who loves you [i.e., Shaikh Ibn Baaz is referring to himself as someone who loves Shaikh al-Albaani] is ready to provide every necessity and [fulfil every] need that he is able to, may Allaah make me and you from those who love each other for His Sake until the time we meet Him, subhaanah, and I hope that my greeting of salaam be conveyed to [my] sons [i.e., the youth] , and the notable Shaikhs and brothers especially Shaikh Zuhair, just as all the sons, Shaikhs and brothers amongst us are fine and in good health.

Was-salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu.

PS. We have made a copy of Kitaabus-Sunnah of Ibn Abi Aasim with costs covered by the esteemed sir, Hasan ash-Sharbatli, and we indicated to him that a [fair] amount be printed, and he agreed to that.

We attained a manuscript of the aforementioned book and Shaikh Hammaad al-Ansaari, the one whom all love, informed me that it is written in a good [clear] script, so we borrowed it from its owner, and saw fit that two copies be sent to your eminence to correct, check and annotate after you tell us how much [monetary] compensation you deem to be appropriate for this project so that we can inform ash-Sharbatli about that and get his approval.

We have handed over the two books to Shaikh Ameen Lutfi to pass on to your eminence, and we are waiting for a speedy response from you concerning this issue.

Shaikh Zuhair mentioned to me that he has decided to print the aforementioned book and so I would hope that contact be made with him and that he be informed, so that I can [then] be notified of both of your opinions regarding that, for I fear that he may have a specific opinion concerning the topic since he has resolved to print the book.

And I ask Allaah to grant everyone the success to do what pleases Him.

Wa sallallaahu alaa Nabiyyinaa Muhammad wa Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa sallam.

29/3/1390ah [4/6/1970ce]

Ar-Rasaa’il al-Mutabaadilah Bainash-Shaikh Ibn Baaz wal-Ulemaa,pp. 53-54.