Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee

**Brother_Mujahid** · 06-02-2005

20 Points Regarding Shaykh al-Albaanee by Abu Hudhayfah

as-salaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu...

[1] Shaykh Al-Albani has Ijaza in hadith from the late Allamah Shaykh Muhammad Raghib at-Tabaagh with whom he studied hadith sciences, gaining authority to transmit from him. The Shaykh himself refers to this Ijaza in Mukhtasar al-Uluw (p.72) and in Tahdir as-Sajid (p.63). He has a further Ijaza from Shaykh Bahjatul Baitaar(through whom his isnad stretches back to Imam Ahmad). These are mentioned in the book Hayat Al-Albani (the Life of Al-Albani) by Muhammad ash-Shaibaani. This sort of Ijaza is given only to those who have excelled in hadith and can be trusted to accurately convey a hadith. A copy of the Ijaza is in the possession of his student, Ali Hassan al-Halabi. So it is not correct to say that the Shaykh is self-taught from books, without authority and without Ijaza.

Whilst we are on the subject, I think it would not be out of place here to mention a few snippets from Shaykh Al-Albani's life and career to further emphasise his great standing in the field of hadith science as well as the respect shown to him by other scholars. One cannot really do the subject justice in one or two brief emails, however, I hope the readers will find this information both encouraging and interesting:

[1] Shaykh Al-Albani was born in 1914 in Ashkodera, the former capital of Albania.

[2] His first shaykh was his father, Al-Haaj Nuh Najjatee, who himself had completed Shariah studies in Istanbul, returning to Albania as one of its Hanafi scholars. Under his father's guidance, Shaykh Al-Albani studied Qur'an, tajwid, Arabic language as well as Hanafi fiqh.

[3] He further studied Hanafi fiqh and Arabic language under Shaykh Sa'eed al-Burhan.

[4] He would attend the lectures of Imam Abdul-Fattaah and Shaykh Tawfiq al-Barzah.

[5] The Shaykh met the late hadith master, Ahmad Shakir, with whom he participated in knowledge based discussions on hadith and its research.

[6] He met the late Indian hadith scholar, Shaykh Abdul-Samad Sharf ad-Deen, who himself had referenced the hadith to the first volume of An-Nasa'ee's Sunan al-Kubra as well as Al-Mizzi's monumental Tuhfatul-Ashraf, and they continued to exchange letters on matters of knowledge. In one such letter, Shaykh Abdul-Samad expressed his belief that Shaykh Al-Albani was the greatest hadith scholar of the time.

[7] In recognition of his knowledge of hadith, he was commissioned as far back as 1955 by the Faculty of Shariah at Damascus University to carry out detailed analysis and research into hadith related to buying and selling and other business related transactions.

[8] Shaykh Al-Albani began his formal work in the field of hadith by transcribing Al-Hafidh al-Iraqi's monumental Al-Mughni 'an Hamlil Asfar, being a study of the various hadith and narrations contained in Al-Ghazali's famous Ihya Ulum ad-Din. This work alone contains some 5000 hadith.

[9] The Shaykh was famous for attending the Zahiriyyah library in Damascus, and was eventually given his own set of keys due to his frequent and lengthy study there. On one such occasion, an important folio was missing from a manuscript in use by the Shaykh and this led Shaykh Al-Albani to painstakingly catalogue all the hadith manuscripts in the library in an endeavour to locate the missing folio. Consequently, he gained in-depth knowledge of 1000s of hadith manuscripts, something that was attested to years later by Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Azami in the introduction to Studies in Early Hadith Literature where he said: 'I wish to express my gratitude to Shaikh Nasir al-Din al-Albani, who placed his extensive knowledge of rare manuscripts at my disposal.'

[10] Shaykh Al-Albani would sometimes mention his extreme poverty during his early life. He said he would be reduced to picking up scraps of paper from the street, often discarded wedding cards, and use them to write his hadith notes on. Often, he would purchase scrap paper in bulk from the rubbish dump and take it home to use.

[11] He would correspond with numerous scholars, particularly those from India and Pakistan, discussing matters related to hadith and the religion in general, including Shaykh Muhammad Zamzami from Morocco and Ubaydullah Rahman, the author of Mirqat al-Mafatih Sharh Mushkila al-Masabih.

[12] His skill in hadith is attested to by a host of qualified scholars, past and present, including Dr. Amin al-Misri, head of Islamic Studies at Madinah University who considered himself to be one of the Shaykh's students; also Dr. Subhi as-Salah, former head of Hadith Sciences at the University of Damascus; Dr. Ahmad al-Asaal, head of Islamic Studies at Riyadh University; the late Pakistani hadith scholar, Allamah Badiudeen Shah as-Sindee; Shaykh Muhammad Tayyib Awkeej, former head of Tafsir and Hadith at the University of Ankarah in Turkey; not to mention the likes of Shaykh Ibn Baz, Ibn al-Uthaymeen, Muqbil ibn Hadee and many others in later times.

[13] After a number of his works appeared in print, the Shaykh was chosen to teach hadith at the new Islamic University of Madinah for three years from 1381 to 1383H where he was also a member of University board. After this he returned to his former studies and work in the Zahiriyyah library. His love for Madinah University is evidenced by the fact that he bequeathed his entire personal library to the University.

[14] He would hold study circles twice a week whilst in Damascus which were attended by numerous students and university lecturers. In this way, the Shaykh completed instruction in the following classical and modern works:

Fathul-Majid of Abdur-Rahman ibn Husain ibn Muhamamd ibn Abdul-Wahhab
Rawdah an-Nadiyah of Siddiq Hasan Khan
Minhaj al-Islamiyyah of Muhammad Asad
Usul al-Fiqh of Al-Khallal
Mustalah at-Tarikh of Asad Rustum
Al-Halal wa al-Haram fil-Islam of Yusuf al-Qardawi
Fiqh as-Sunnah of Sayyid Sabiq
Bath al-Hathith of Ahmad Shakir
At-Targhib wa at-Tarhib of Al-Hafidh al-Mundhiri
Riyadh as-Saliheen on Imam an-Nawawi
Al-Imam fi Ahadith al-Ahqam of Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid

[15] After carrying out an analysis of the hadith in Ibn Khuzaymah's Sahih, the Indian hadith scholar, Muhamamd Mustafa Azami (head of Hadith Science in Makkah), chose Shaykh Al-Albani to verify and re-check his analysis and the work is currently published in 4 volumes containing both their comments. This is an indication of the level of trust placed in Shaykh Al-Albani's hadith ability by other scholars.

[16] In their edition of the well known hadith compilation, Mishkat al-Masabih, the Maktaba al-Islamee publishing house requested Shaykh Al-Albani to edit the work before publication.The publisher wrote in the introduction: 'We requested that the great hadith scholar, Shaykh Muhammad Nasir ad-Deen al-Albani, should help us in the checking of Mishkat and take responsibility for adding footnotes for any ahadith needing them, and researching and reproducing their sources and authenticity where needed, and correcting any deficiences'

[17] The Shaykhs printed works, mainly in the field of hadith and its sciences, number some 112 books. I personally have 17 of these books and these alone run into 45 volumes! He left behind him in manuscript form at least a further 70 works.

[18] It is recorded on one occasion (and this incident is available on two tape cassettes - his students were in the habit of recording his teaching sessions), that a man visited Shaykh Al-Albani in his home in Jordan claiming to be a prophet! How would we have reacted when faced with such a situation? Shaykh Al-Albani sat the man down and discussed his claims at length (as I said, covering two tape cassettes) and in the end the visitor made tawba from his claim and all present, including the Shaykh, were overcome with tears. In fact, how often is Shaykh Al-Albani heard on tape bursting into tears when speaking about Allah, His Messenger and the affairs of the Muslims?

[19] On another occasion (and I was told this by a Shaykh who was present in the gathering) he was visited by three men all claiming that Shaykh Al-Albani was a kafir. When it came time to pray they refused to pray behind him, saying it is not possible for a kafir to lead the prayer. The Shaykh accepted this, saying that in his eyes the three of them were Muslims so one of them should lead the prayer. Afterwards, they discussed their differences at length and when it came time for the following prayer, all three men insisted on praying behind Shaykh Al-Albani!

[20] During the course of his life the Shaykh has researched and commented on over 30,000 individual chains of transmission (isnad) for countless hadith, having spent 60 years in the study of the books of the Sunnah and being in the company of, and in contact with, its scholars.

Abu Hudhayfah

**Umm Yoosuf** · 05-21-2007

Masha Allah Tabarakallah. May Allah reward the shaikh Al-Albani with Jannah.

May Allah reward you with Jannah too Br Al Madani. Barakallahu feek for the post.

**Umar001** · 05-22-2007

He looks so handsome.

**Umm Yoosuf** · 05-25-2007

The Wasiyyah (Will) of Imaam Al-Albaanee

Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al-Albaanee
Source: Ma'a Shaykhinaa Naasiris-Sunnah wad-Deen (p.27-31)
Translated exclusively for www.bakkah.net

In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful...

Firstly, I advise my wife, children, friends, and all of my beloved ones, when the news of my death reaches them, to supplicate to Allaah, asking His Forgiveness and Mercy for me. I ask that they do not wail over me nor cry with a raised voice.

Secondly, I ask that they hurry my burial. I ask them also not to inform any of my close relatives or brothers (at the exclusion of others), except that which is necessary to prepare me for burial. Also I ask that they allow my body to be washed by my neighbor and sincere friend, 'Izzat Khidr Aboo 'Abdir-Rahmaan, and whoever he asks to help him with it.

Thirdly, I choose to be buried in the closest place available, so those who carry me will not place me in a car, nor will the followers of the janaazah (funeral) ride in their cars. I also ask that the graveyard be an old one, to ensure that its graves will not be exhumed...

...And for those living in the land that I die in, I ask that you do not make it a priority to inform my children from other lands until after I am buried. This is to prevent the emotions from overwhelming you, and as a result my janaazah becomes delayed.

I ask Al-Mawlaa (Allaah) that I meet him and that he has forgiven my past sins, and those I have yet to commit (at the time of writing this)...

...I bequeath my entire library, every printed book, copy, and manuscript (by my handwriting or someone else's) to the library of the Islaamic University of Al-Madeenah. That is because of my many fond memories of that place, the da'wah to the Book and the Sunnah upon the way of the righteous Salaf that I remember from the years I used to teach there.

I hope that Allaah will cause it to benefit the leaders of the da'wah there, as its owner used to benefit the students there in days gone by. And I ask that Allaah benefits me by them, from their sincerity and their work in the da'wah.

( O my Lord! Make me thankful for Your Favor that You bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and make me one that does righteous deeds that you love. And correct my offspring for me. Surely I repent to You, and surely I am from amongst the Muslims. ) [1]

Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al-Albaanee
The 27th of Jumaadaa Al-'Oolaa, 1410

Comments on the Wasiyyah
by 'Alee Al-Halabee

These are the most important excerpts from his wasiyyah, may Allaah sanctify his soul, from what is beneficial for the masses of the people. Some things specific to his situation, may Allaah have Mercy on him, were excluded.

And we took care of his request as he asked; as his death was before sunset and the prayer on him was performed after 'Eshaa'. And the time between his death and burial was less than three hours.

And in the hour of his burial, those present from his brothers, children, students, loved ones, friends, and relatives gathered, their number being close to 5000, or perhaps more.

And the prayer was performed outdoors in an open area, according to the Sunnah.

He was carried upon the shoulders of the people to the closest graveyard to his house, a privately-owned graveyard not open to the public. Allaah Alone granted us ease in getting him buried there, in a lahd [2], precisely according to the Sunnah once again.

Our teacher, the Shaykh, Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaymeen, may Allaah preserve him [3], called the family of Shaykh Naasir on the night of his death to console them for their loss, saying, "His entire life was an exemplification of the Sunnah, his living as well as his dying." May Allaah reward him.

I can not find words to close with regarding our Shaykh, the great scholar, except that I say about him what Al-Imaam Al-Haakim said about his shaykh, Al-Haafith Abee 'Alee An-Naysaabooree, may Allaah have Mercy on all of them:

"I do not say this as a dedicated fanatic since he was my teacher, but I simply never saw anything comparable to him." [4]

FOOTNOTES

[1] the meaning of Soorah Al-Ahqaaf (46):15

[2] an L-shaped grave

[3] may Allaah have Mercy on him

[4] Siyaru A'laam An-Nubalaa' (16/54)

**Ibn Abi Ahmed** · 05-27-2007

The Book of Falsehood: 'al-Albânî Unveiled'

A Response to the Book of Falsehood 'Al-Albaanee unveiled' and about Saqqaaf - Second Edition

The Background

This article is based around an extremely abreviated translation of 'al-Anwaar al-Kaashifah' of Shaykh Ali Hasan, his refutation of 'at-Tanaaqudaat' of Saqqaaf, prepared by brother Dawood Burbank. In this article I have added many more examples of the lies and concoctions of Hasan Ali as-Saqqaaf not only against Shaykh al-Albaanee but against other scholars as well, on top of this adding more detail to various points that brother Dawood, may Allaah reward him, only translated briefly. Furthermore I have replied to all of the 'counter refutations' by Saqqaaf to Shaykh Ali that reached me via the means of his followers in this country. To date Hasan Saqqaaf still persists in his lies and has refused to retract them, instead he continues to add lies on top of more lies and we pray that Allaah grants him the tawfeeq to repent for his slander and hatred of Ahlus Sunnah before he dies.

I have stated more than once in the article that any reader who still has doubt in what we write, then let him recourse to the work 'at-Tanaaqudaat' of Hasan Saqqaaf and compare his claims to the written words of al-Albaanee and by the Grace of Allaah the truth will become clear to him. The point of this article is not to show that al-Albaanee is error free or even contradiction free for by the grace of Allaah, He has given Shaykh al-Albaanee the quality of readily accepting and correcting himself when his errors are shown to him.

Throughout the works of al-Albaanee we find that he corrects himself, asks others to correct him and supplicates for them when they do so. On many occasions we find him, during the course of replying to attacks directed against him by his opponents, accepting some of their points as genuine and correcting himself.

Many of the students of Shaykh al-Albaanee have, with his permission, outlined his mistakes within their own works or in separate volumes devoted to this, examples of this lie with Shaykh Mashur Salmaan and Abu Ishaaq al-Huwaynee.

Therefore in conclusion, the purpose of replying to Hasan Saqqaaf is not because he has written a work outlining the mistakes of al-Albaanee. The purpose in replying is because of his filling the book with lies, slanders and concoctions, his incredibly rude and arrogant attitude, his total blindness to justice and his ignorance of the Science of Hadeeth.

I ask Allaah to guide us all to the straight Path and that He forgive any of my mistakes for they are from myself and Shaytaan.

Introduction

Truly all praise belongs to Allaah, we praise Him, we seek His aid and we seek his forgiveness. And we seek refuge with Allaah from the evils of our souls and from our wicked actions. He whom Allaah guides then no-one can misguide him, and he whom Allaah misguides then no-one can guide. I bear witness that there is no true god except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His Slave and Messenger. [1]

Allaah says (translation of the meaning of):

"Why do you mix truth with falsehood, and conceal the truth knowingly?" [Family of Imraan (3):71]

And the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said,

"Truly it is from the signs of the hour that knowledge will be sought from the small ones" (i.e the people of innovation, those on other than the path of the companions.) [2]

He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam also said,

"He who defends his brother in his absence, Allaah will defend him in this world and in the Hereafter." [3]

Throughout history it has always been the case that the great pillars of Ahlus Sunnah have been slandered, abused and hated by the people of misguidance and innovation. Thus fulfilling the truth of the hadeeth of the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam,

"There will always remain a group of my nation, manifest upon the truth. They will not be harmed by those that oppose them until the affair of Allaah comes about and they are like that." [4]

So of old Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee (RH) was accused of being a Raafidee Shee'a. Ibn Khuzaimah, Abu Ya'la, ibn Taymiyyah and others were accused of being mujassima and had lies heaped around them. And in this day and age the shaykh and muhaddith Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaanee has had a similar attack launched against him by those that would obstruct the call to the sunnah of the Best of Creation, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and would do all that they can to make their innovations widespread in the world. And we seek refuge with Allaah from them and their innovations.

Amongst these individuals is the Jordanian writer Hasan Ali as-Saqqaaf who wrote a three volume treatise entitled 'Tanaaqudaat al-Albaanee' (The Self-Contradictions of al-Albaanee) based upon which a work in the English Language was written entitled 'al-Albani Unveiled'

Unfortunately both of these books have conveyed many lies and distortions, and through these means have confused and misguided many people. Because of this we felt it our duty, as sincere advice to the Muslims, to produce this treatise outlining the lies of the liars and warning from the deviations that have polluted the pure sunnah of the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

We know that when the supporters of Hasan Saqqaaf in this country see the following treatise many accusations of 'lies', 'mistranslation' and 'distortions' will fly about. Due to this reason we have included, at the end, all the Arabic sections in the works of al-Albaanee that we have translated from so that any person who doubts what follows may recourse to an Arabic speaking person and verify all that we have translated.

And we ask Allaah that he guide us to the truth, and make us firm in following the footsteps of our righteous predecessors.

Footnotes:

{1} From the Khutbah al-Haajah (Speech of Need) which the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, would often start his lectures and khutbas by, as is related in Saheeh Muslim and others.

{2} Related by at-Tabaraanee in 'al-Kabeer' from the relation of Abu Umayyah. See 'Saheeh al-Jaami' (no. 2207). The commentary (in brackets) is from the words of Abdullaah bin Mubaarak related by ibn Mandah in 'al-Ma'rifah' (2/220/1) with a good sanad. The hadeeth is also related as mawqoof as the saying of ibn Mas'ud (RA) by al-Harawee in 'Dham al-Kalaam' (2/137). See 'as-Saheehah' (no.695) for detailed documentation.

{3} Related by al-Bayhaqi from the relation of Anas (RA), and it is hasan. See 'Saheeh al-Jaami' (no. 6575), and 'as-Saheehah' (no.1217) for detailed documentation.

{4} Related by Muslim, Abu Daawood, Tirmidhee and others from the narration of Thawbaan (RA) and it is saheeh.

**Ibn Abi Ahmed** · 05-27-2007

The rest of the book can be found here: http://www.islaam.net/main/display.php?category=36

**Umar001** · 06-09-2007

Originally Posted by Al Madani

The rest of the book can be found here: http://www.islaam.net/main/display.php?category=36

Wa Aleykum Salam,

I just have to post part of this book, it just made me laugh at how ridicolous some authors are:

51: In the chapter on ‘The placing of hands in prayer’ the author of ‘Albani Unveiled’ mention the hadeeth of ibn Jareer al-Dabbi from his father who said,

"I saw Ali holding his left arm with his right on the wrist, above the navel"

and quotes al-Albaanee saying in ‘The Prophets Prayer Described’ (pg 102-103), "this isnaad is candidate for the rank of hasan. Bayhaqi (1/301) firmly designated it to be hasan, and Bukhari (1/301) designated it with certainty while giving it an abridged, ta’leeq form."

The author then goes on to say (pg.31), " al-Albani claimed it was found in Bukhari (1/301), but when I examined the Sahih al-Bukhari (vol1, chapt 6, no 707, pg, 396, English ed.), I did not find the narration of ibn Jarir al-Dabbi (May Allaah be pleased with him) but instead a hadeeth from Sahl ibn Sa`ad....."

This is what the author states, betraying his ignorance of the science of hadeeth! For he looks for a hadeeth in the main text of Bukhaaree, but had he known what the term "ta`leeq" meant he would have found the statement al-Albaanee was referring to!

The ta’leeq form of a hadeeth is when the collector omits the whole isnaad or part of the isnaad on his end and quotes only the text of the hadeeth. This type of narration is commonly found in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree in his chapter headings. Secondly al-Albaanee said that Imaam Bukhaaree mentioned it in abridged form. So what we are looking for is a summary of the above hadeeth, occurring in a chapter heading or the likes.

The statement of Ali occurs in the Book of ‘Actions While Praying’ (2/160) in the first chapter that "Ali used to place his right hand upon his left...."

In ‘Fath al-Baaree’ (2/93) ibn Hajr makes clear that this statement is abridged from the hadeeth of ibn Jarir ad-Dabbi from his father, "that when Ali stood for prayer, he would make takbeer and place his right hand upon his left, and he remained like that until he made ruku’..." related by Muslim.

And as al-Albaanee states the wording of this hadeeth with al-Bayhaqi (1/301) is as given at the beginning of this point.

http://www.islaam.net/main/display.p...30&category=36

Lol

**Yanal** · 06-09-2007

Originally Posted by Al Habeshi

Wa Aleykum Salam,

I just have to post part of this book, it just made me laugh at how ridicolous some authors are:

51: In the chapter on ‘The placing of hands in prayer’ the author of ‘Albani Unveiled’ mention the hadeeth of ibn Jareer al-Dabbi from his father who said,

"I saw Ali holding his left arm with his right on the wrist, above the navel"

and quotes al-Albaanee saying in ‘The Prophets Prayer Described’ (pg 102-103), "this isnaad is candidate for the rank of hasan. Bayhaqi (1/301) firmly designated it to be hasan, and Bukhari (1/301) designated it with certainty while giving it an abridged, ta’leeq form."

The author then goes on to say (pg.31), " al-Albani claimed it was found in Bukhari (1/301), but when I examined the Sahih al-Bukhari (vol1, chapt 6, no 707, pg, 396, English ed.), I did not find the narration of ibn Jarir al-Dabbi (May Allaah be pleased with him) but instead a hadeeth from Sahl ibn Sa`ad....."

This is what the author states, betraying his ignorance of the science of hadeeth! For he looks for a hadeeth in the main text of Bukhaaree, but had he known what the term "ta`leeq" meant he would have found the statement al-Albaanee was referring to!

The ta’leeq form of a hadeeth is when the collector omits the whole isnaad or part of the isnaad on his end and quotes only the text of the hadeeth. This type of narration is commonly found in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree in his chapter headings. Secondly al-Albaanee said that Imaam Bukhaaree mentioned it in abridged form. So what we are looking for is a summary of the above hadeeth, occurring in a chapter heading or the likes.

The statement of Ali occurs in the Book of ‘Actions While Praying’ (2/160) in the first chapter that "Ali used to place his right hand upon his left...."

In ‘Fath al-Baaree’ (2/93) ibn Hajr makes clear that this statement is abridged from the hadeeth of ibn Jarir ad-Dabbi from his father, "that when Ali stood for prayer, he would make takbeer and place his right hand upon his left, and he remained like that until he made ruku’..." related by Muslim.

And as al-Albaanee states the wording of this hadeeth with al-Bayhaqi (1/301) is as given at the beginning of this point.

http://www.islaam.net/main/display.p...30&category=36

Lol

yah lol ps al habeshi check ur private msg and reply to me

**amirah_87** · 06-25-2007

I don't know whether this has been posted before, but anyways..

Here's a picture of the library Sheikh Albaanee (Rahimahullaah) used to study:

AlbanisLibrary - Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee