Saying ‘rahimahullah’ for an innovator – Shaykh al-Albanee

 

Questioner:

What do you say, O Shaykh, about those who claim that mercy should not be asked for those who contradict the belief of the salaf like Ibn Hajar and an-Nawawee, ibn Hazm and ibn al-Jawzee and those like them from the scholars of the past, as well as those modern leaders like Hasan al-Bannah and Sayyid Qutb, considering that you are familiar with what Hasan al-Bannah wrote in his book Muthakkiraat ad-Dawah wad-Daaýiyah, and Sayyid Qutb in Fee Thilaal al-Quraan.

Shaykh al-Albaani:

We believe that rahmah (mercy); that is, a statement supplicating to Allaah to have mercy upon someone; is permissible for any Muslim and forbidden for any disbeliever. This answer refers to the belief which is held in the soul of the individual.

 

So whoever believes that those who were mentioned in the question and those similar to them are Muslims, then the answer is known from what was said previously; that is, it is permissible to make duaa (supplication) for them that Allaah has mercy on them and forgives them.

 

And whoever considers those mentioned in the question to be non-Muslims – may Allaah not let it be so – then asking for Allaah’s mercy for them would not be permissible, because mercy has been made forbidden for the disbelievers. That is the response relative to what came in the question.

[Recorded by Abu Laylaa al-Athharee on the 7th of Shabaan in the year 1413, corresponding to the 31st of January 1993]

 

Prohibition of Music from the Sunnah by Shaykh al-Albaanee (Rahimahullah)

 

A sincere advice to those who allow music and its instruments -in the name of Islaam.

1. The first of these is from the best of all the past and present scholars, the Prophet (ȘallaAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). As narrated by Aboo Umaamah al-Baahilee (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu):

“Do not indulge in selling the qaynaat [female servants specialized for singing to their masters], and do not buy them, and do not teach them to sing, and there is no good in trading in them, and their worth is haraam. And in the likes of this, was revealed this verse : ‘And of mankind is he who purchases lahhwal-hadeeth [idle talks] to mislead (men) from the Path of Allâh without knowledge.’ to the end of the verse.”

[Șaheeha: 2922, Șaheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee, Imaam Ahmad in al-Musnad: 22181 without the verse]

I (Shaikh al-Albaanee) think that at this point you have seen clearly that this verse is an explicit proof against music. So let those who claim that there is no prohibition of it in the Qur’aan take heed.

 

 

2. Aboo Maalik al-Ash’aree (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) mentions that The Messenger of Allaah (Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

“Indeed, there will be in my Ummah such people who will make permissible for themselves fornication, silk, wine and musical instruments….”

[Narrated by Imaam al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh, Aboo Daawood in his Sunan]

Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalaani said:

‘And in this hadeeth is a severe warning for the one who deceives by [and] makes permissible that which is impermissible by changing its name..’

[Fath-ul Baaree.]

Imaam Al-Albaanee said : ‘In his statement : make permissible’ it is a clear proof that the four things mentioned are not halaal (permissible) in the legislation: and amongst them is : musical instruments.’

 

 

3. Aboo Maalik al-Ash’aree (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) said: The Messenger of Allaah
(Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

“Indeed a people from among my nation will consume wine; and will call it by other than its name [they will change the name of it], while singers and musical instruments are played over their heads: Allah will cause the earth to swallow them and change them into monkeys and swines.”

[Narrated by Ibn Maajah, and Ibnul Qayyim said it is authentic in two different places in his book Ighaathatul-luhfaan : 1/347 & 361. And it is in Șaheeh at-Targheeb wa tarheeb : 2378.]

 

 

4. Anas ibn Maalik (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) said that The Prophet (Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

“Two voices are cursed in this world and the hereafter; Music at the time of happiness and wailing at the time of calamity.”

[Narrated by Al-Bazzaar in his Musnad: 1/377, Kashful astaar-795, and Adh-Dhiyaa al Maqdisee in al- Ahadeeth al-Mukhtaara: 6/188/2200&2201. Al-Bazzaar said : We don’t know it from Anas except from this chain.’ I say: ‘Its chain is good, rather it is authentic with what follows: And it has been followed by the narration of ‘Isa ibn Tamhan from Anas as narrated by Ibn Simaak. So the hadeeth is authentic, and all Perfect praise is for Allaah. And it is emphasized in its strength of Authenticity by the following hadeeth [hadeeth no.5] ]

 

 

 

5. From Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah from ‘Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf (radhiyallaahu ‘anhum) who said: ‘The Prophet (Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

“Surely I do not prohibit crying ; but verily I have prohibited two asinine and evil voices: a voice at the time of happiness; play, leisure and music, and voices at the time of a calamity; slapping of the faces, and tearing of clothes and wailing.”

[Sunan at-Tirmidhee and he said : It is a good hadeeth. Al-Haakim : 4/40, Al-Bayhaqee: 4/69]

 

Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said :

‘This hadeeth is from the best of what is proof on the impermissibility of singing, as in the wording of the one narrated by Jaabir : ‘voice at the time of happiness: play, vain talk and the instruments of shaytaan.’ Thus he prohibited the sounds which are carried out at the times of enjoyment just as he prohibited the sounds made at the time of a calamity, and the sounds made at the time of joy are the sounds of music.’

[Al-Istiqaama : 1/292-293]

 

 

6. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas (radhiyallaahu ‘anhumaa) said: ‘The Messenger of Allaah (Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

“Allaah has prohibited on me – or prohibited- alcohol, and gambling, and the drum, and every intoxicant is haraam.”

This has been narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas Qays ibn Habtaar, and it has been narrated from him [Qays] in two routes:
The first one: From ‘Alee ibn Badheema who said Qays ibn Habtaar narrated to me… [Aboo Daawood : 3696, al-Bayhaqee: 10/221, Musnad Imaam Ahmad : 1/274]
The other one: From ‘Abdulkareem ibn al-Jazariyy from Qays ibn Habtaar with the wording:

“Indeed Allaah has prohibited on you : alcohol, and gambling, and the drum.’ And then he said : ‘and every intoxicant is haraam.”

[Al-Bayhaqee: 10/213-221, Musnad Imaam Ahmad: 1/289. And this chain is authentic. And also shaykh Ahmad Shaakir authenticated it in his notes on the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad in two different places: 4/158 & 218.]

 

 

7. ‘Imraan ibn Husayn (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) narrates that The Messenger of Allaah (Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

“In this Ummah there will be [people who will be] sunk into the earth, deformed, and upon whom stones will rain from the skies.” It was said: ‘And when will that be?’ He replied: “When singing girls and instruments of music will appear (become prevalent), and alcohol will be drunk.”

[ Narrated by Tirmidhee in the book of Fitan: 2213 , Ibn Abi ad Dunya in Dhamm al-Malaahi.]

 

8. And it has come in one route as mursal, and in another route as connected – and this is more authentic of the two- from Abul-‘Abbaas al-Hamdaani from ‘Ammaara ibn Raashid, from al-Ghaazee ibn Rab’eea , raised to the Messenger of Allaah (Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) :

“There will be a people who will be deformed -into monkeys and swines- while they are reclining on their couches. Because of their consuming of alcohol and their using of the lute [instruments] and singing girls.”

[In his route, Ibn Asaakir in Taarikh al-Dimashq : 12/582 , Ibn Abi ad Dunya in Dhamm al-Malaahi,]

 

 

9. And it is strengthened more by the corroborating narrations regarding the fitan [trials to appear at the end of times] , and from these is the hadeeth :

“A group among this Nation will spend a night in drinking and eating, and entertainment and play; and by the time morning reaches them they will be turned into swine and monkeys, and they will be ceased by a rain of stones, and splitting of the earth to swallow them.

 

Thus the people will say : ‘Last night the clan of so-and-so was swallowed by the earth,’ and they will also say: ‘In the night the house of so-and-so individually was swallowed into the earth.’ And indeed stones from the skies will descend upon them -on a certain tribe and those around them- just as they descended on the people of Loot ;

 

And a [violent]dry wind which destroyed the people of ‘Aad will be sent to a tribe and those around them : [All of this] because of their drinking of alcohol, and wearing of silk [by men], and entertaining female singers, and consuming of ribaa [usury], and cutting of the ties of kinship.”

[Al-Haakim: 4/515, Al-Bayhaqee in Shu’b al-Eeman: 5/16, Ahmad: 5/329, Al-Asbahaanee in At-Targheeb: 1/498-499, Abu Nu’aym in al-Hilyah: 6/295. It was authenticated by Al-Haakim and Ad-Dhahabee agreed with him, although it has something to look into; check Șaheeha: 1604. ]

 

 

[Imaam Al-Albaanee continues to say] : ‘Yes, and at this point [this narration] becomes authentic without any doubt –due to these corroborating evidences.’

 

Upto where he said:

10. ‘And there is another narration like this from Anas (radhiyallaahu anhu) who said: ‘The Messenger of Allaah (Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

“When my nation make permissible six things, then for them is destruction :
‘When cursing each other [increases] becomes apparent between them, and drinking of intoxicants, and wearing of silk [by men], and employment of singers, and when the men resort to be sufficed by men, and the women by women [i.e. when they take on homosexuality.”

[At-Tabaraanee in Mu’jam al-Waseet (1/59/1060 by my enumeration), and al-Bayhaqee in Shu’b: 5/377- 378 through two routes from him of which Bayhaqee used to strengthen [the authenticity] by them.]

_______________________________________________________________

 

Related Links:

¶ Prohibition of Music from the Qur’an by Shaykh al-Albaanee (Rahimahullah)

¶ Ijmaa and the 4 Madhaahib on the Tahreem (prohibition) of Musical Instrument

¶ A Practically Dead Sunnah- When You Hear Music…

 

Prohibition of Music from the Qur’an by Shaykh al-Albaanee (Rahimahullah)

 

A sincere advice to those who allow music and its instruments -in the name of Islaam.

 

Before we bring the proof, I (Shaykh Al-Albani)  would like to advise and remind the reader of a great sin which many people fall into, and that is the sin of interpreting the Book of Allaah whilst they are not qualified to do so. Look at this statement of our beloved one (Șallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam):

“The one who speaks about the Qur’ân without any knowledge; then let him take his place in the Fire.”

[ Sunan at-Tirmidhee, and he [Imaam at-Tirmidhee] said : Hasan Saheeh.]

That is how great of a sin it is!

Therefore we should leave this noble science to its scholars (while making an effort and studying to be amongst them), and not indulging and applying – rather relying on our desires to twist the meanings to be that which we want.

 

 

After that reminder; now we go to the main proof from the Qur’ân, and it is the
statement of Allaah :

Alif Lâm Mîm [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings.] These are Verses of the Wise Book (the Qur’ân). A guide and a mercy for the Muhsinûn (good doers).Those who establish the prayer and give Zakât and they have faith in the Hereafter with certainty. Such are on guidance from their Lord, and such are the successful.
And of mankind is he who purchases lahhwal-hadeeth [idle talks] to mislead (men) from the Path of Allâh without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allâh, the Verses of the Qur’ân) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).”

[ Sooratu-Luqmaan : 1-6]

 

 

The scholars of the Tafseer have defined lahhwal-hadeeth to mean music and its instruments.

And from them are [we will mention the noble ones of whom their statements have weight upon the Ahlus-Sunnah]:

 

1. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas (radhiyallaahu ‘anhumaa), he said:

‘It (the verse) was revealed regarding music and its likes.’

[Imaam al-Bukhaaree in Aadaabul Mufrad: 1265, Ibn Abee Shaybah: 6/310, At-Tabari: 21/40]

 
2. ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) , he was asked about it and he said :

‘By the One whom there is no Lord other than Him ; indeed It is music.’ And he repeated this three times.

[Ibn Abee Shaybah, At-Tabari, Ibnul Jawzee in Talbees Iblees: pg.246, al-Haakim: 2/411 and he said: ‘its chain is authentic.’ And Imaam adh-Dhahabee agreed with him, and it is as they say.]

 
3. Ikrimah (rahimahullaah) : Shua’yb ibn Yasaar said :

‘I asked Ikrimah on lahhwal-hadeeth?’ And he said : ‘It is music.’

[Imaam al-Bukhaaree in Taareekh : 2/217, Ibn Abee Shaybah, Ibn Jareer At-Tabari , and al-Bayhaqee : and it is a hasan (good narration)]

 
4. Mujaahid (rahimahullaah):

He said the same.

[Ibn Abee Shayba : 1167,1179, Ibn Jareer, Ibn Abee Dunya from different routes of narration, some of which are authentic, and Abu Nu’aym in al-Hilyah : 3/286.]
5. And Likewise,

Jaabir and Sa’eed ibn Jubayr, and Mak-hool (rahimahumullaah) said the same

[Tafseer ibn Katheer.]

 
6. Al-Hasan al-Basree said :

‘This was revealed concerning music and instruments.’

[Ibid]

 

This I think, alhamdulillaah, is sufficient proof for us.

 

But the best of all these scholars of tafseer is yet to come.

 

To fully comprehend the context of the verse [and this is why we wrote the whole 6 verses and not just the main proof] – we shall refer to the tafseer of al-Imaam Ibn Katheer, where he says [on the tafseer of these verses] :

‘After Allaah has mentioned the state of the people of success – and they are the ones who benefit by the Book of Allaah, and gain from listening [studying] to it- as Allaah has said :

 
“Allâh has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Qur’ân), its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allâh. That is the guidance of Allâh. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allâh sends
astray, for him there is no guide.” [Soorat-uz-Zumar : 23]

 

He connected that by mentioning the state of the wretched ones – those who turn away from benefiting by listening [and studying] it – and they directed themselves to listening to flutes, and music by melodious voices, and musical instruments…’

 

Book: ‘Tahreem Aalaatu-t-tarab’ by Shaykh Nasiruddin al-Albanee (rahimahullah)

Translated and prepared by: Aboo Waheeda As-Salafee

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Related links:

• Ijmaa and the 4 Madhaahib on the Tahreem (prohibition) of Musical Instrument

• A Practically Dead Sunnah- When You Hear Music…

 

 

What is the best way for women to give da’wah? By Shaykh Al-Albani

 

Question: What is the best way for women to give da’wah?

 

Answer:

 

I say to the women: “Remain in your homes.” [Surah Ahzaab: 33] And you should not concern yourselves with da’wah.

 

I reject the use of the word “da’wah” amongst the male youth by them making it seem like they are from the people of da’wah – as if the word da’wah has become the fashion of modern times. So every individual that knows something about the Religion becomes a Da’ee (caller to Islaam)! And this matter did not stop with the male youth until it was carried over to the female youth and housewives. And in many instances, they have begun to turn away from fulfilling the obligations of their households and their husbands and their children, turning away from these obligations towards something that is not obligatory upon them, such as establishing the da’wah.

 

The general rule concerning the woman is that she is to stay in her home. And it has not been legislated for her to leave it unless she has a dire need. This is based on the statement of the Prophet, sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “And (praying in) their homes is better for them”, i.e. than the (congregational) prayer in the masjid.”

 

Today we see a prevalent phenomenon amongst the women in that they go out often to the masjids in order to pray the congregational prayer, not to mention the Jumu’ah prayer. In spite of this, their homes are better for them – unless there is a masjid in which the Imaam is a scholar who teaches those attending some aspects from the sciences of the Religion. So in this case, the woman could go out to pray in the masjid in order to listen to the knowledge. There is nothing preventing her from that. As for the woman preoccupying herself with the da’wah (!), then let her sit in her home and read from the books that her husband or brother or other male relatives provide for her.

 

Furthermore, there is nothing preventing her from setting a day in which she calls the women to come to her house or she goes out to attend the house of one of them. That is better than a group of women going out (to her). One woman going out to a group of women is better for them than all of them going out to her. As for her moving about and traveling, perhaps traveling without a mahram, and she justifies that by claiming that she went out for the purpose of da’wah, then these are from the presentday innovations. And I do not specify the women only with that, rather, even some of the male youth speak excessively about the da’wah and yet they have very little knowledge.

 

[Al-Asaalah, Issue #19]

 

Related Link: Is giving da’wah mandatory upon the woman?

Al-Albaani on Self-importance and Conceitedness | An advice to the Students of Knowledge

Translated by Ahmed Abu Turaab

Shaikh al-Albaani (rahimahullah) said, “I advise you and myself firstly to fear Allaah, then [I also advise you and myself] with some of those things which branch off from the fear of Allaah, the Blessed and Most High. The first of which is that you seek knowledge purely for the Face of Allaah, that you do not want any reward nor thanks [for doing so], nor to be at the head of gatherings, only to the extent which Allaah the Most High specified the scholars with when He said, “Allaah will exalt in degree those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge.” [Mujaadilah 58:11].

And secondly that you keep away from the pitfalls that some of the students of knowledge fall into, from them being: how quickly one of them is dominated by self-importance [ujb] and conceitedness [ghuroor] such that he will dart forward, obstinate, issuing religious verdicts for himself and others based upon whatever is apparent to him without seeking the aid of the people of knowledge from the Salaf as-Saalih of this nation who bequeathed a great heritage to us illuminated with Islamic learning. [A heritage they left] so that we could seek its help in putting an end to many of the calamities that have accumulated through the ages; some of which we have lived through and which were [like] pitch-black darkness.

Seeking aid through the sayings of the Salaf and their opinions helps us to eliminate this darkness and to return to [take from] the spring of the Book and the authentic Sunnah.

And I will not conceal from you the fact that I lived in a time where I saw two opposing matters.

The first was when all of the Muslims, the Shaikhs and the students, the general masses and the scholars, lived in the centre of blind-following, not just of the madhhabs, but also of their fathers and forefathers, and in the midst of that we would call to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), at this location and that.

And in various Islamic countries there were individuals doing the same as us, so all of us were living like the strangers which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) described in some of his well-known hadiths from which is, “Indeed Islaam started as something strange, and it will soon return to being something strange [just] as it began, so glad tidings for the strangers.” And in some narrations there occurs that he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “They are righteous people, few amongst many. Those who disobey them are more than those who obey them.” And in another narration there occurs, “They are the ones who correct that which the people have corrupted from my Sunnah after me.”

 

 

I say: We lived through that time. Then we started to see a pleasant impact of the call of the rectifying strangers upon the believing youth. And we saw these youth stand upright in all earnestness in many of the Islamic countries, being keen to cling to the Book and the Sunnah when they knew it to be authentic.

But this happiness of ours at this awakening which we felt in these last years did not last until we were taken by surprise by a transformation which occurred in these youth in some of the countries, and which almost wiped out the effects of this good awakening.

And what was the cause of that?

Herein lies the lesson. [It was nothing] except for the fact that they were afflicted with self-importance and conceitedness due to them seeing that they now were upon something of correct knowledge. And [they did] not [see themselves as such] amongst the group of lost Muslim youth only, but even amongst many of the Shaikhs of knowledge, and this was when they felt that they had risen above the (scholars) [people who truly were Shaikhs] and the people of knowledge spread-out throughout the world.

Just as they didn’t thank Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, for the success [tawfeeq] He granted them [in guiding them] to this correct knowledge and its manners. Instead they deceived themselves and [falsely] thought that they had something to stand upon.

So they took to issuing crude religious verdicts [fatwas] not based upon an understanding of the Book and the Sunnah. So these religious verdicts came from [people with] immature opinions, [whereas] they thought it was knowledge taken from the Book and the Sunnah–and thus they were misguided due to those opinions as well as misguiding others.

And the effects of that seen in the existence of a group in some of the Islamic countries will not be hidden from you, [a group] who took to openly declaring all other Islamic groups to be disbelievers using philosophical arguments which there is no time to delve into now in this brief word, especially when we are in the middle of advising and reminding the students of knowledge and the callers.

For this reason I advise our brothers, the people of the Sunnah and the Hadith, in all the Islamic lands to be patient in seeking knowledge and not to be deceived by the knowledge they may have acquired. They should only follow the path and not just rely on their own understanding or what they call their ‘ijtihaad’!

And I have heard many of our brothers saying with the utmost ease, with total unaffectedness and without any concern, “I made ijtihaad [in this issue] … I think it is like this …” or, “I don’t hold that to be correct!” And when you ask them, “What is it that you have based your ‘ijtihaad’ upon such that your opinion is such and such? Did you rely upon the understanding of the Book and the Sunnah and the unanimous consensus [ijmaa’] of the scholars from the Companions and other than them? What did you use to help you? Did you use the books of fiqh and hadith and the understanding of the scholars to help you in that? Or is it [nothing but] desire and understanding deficient in its outlook and its derivations [of rulings from the proofs]?”

[And] indeed, it is.

In my opinion, this is the cause of that self-importance and conceitedness. And it is due to this that in the Islamic world I find a very strange phenomenon becoming apparent in some of the books [being written]–and it is: that you will find someone who is an enemy of the hadith authoring works in the field of the science of hadith! Only so that it may be said, “He has written [a book] in the science of hadith.”

And if you were to go back to that which he has written in this noble [branch of] knowledge you will find that it is nothing but the mere reporting of quotes which he has gathered and collected from here and there and from which he authored this book of his! What is the impetus behind that do you think? It is the love of showing-off and prominence. And he who said the following spoke the truth, “The love of showing off will be the end of you/your downfall.” [lit.: “will break the backs.”]

For this reason I repeat what I said to my brothers, the students of knowledge: that they distance themselves from every mannerism that is not Islamic, part of which is that they do not become deceived by the knowledge they have been given and that [they do not let] self-importance overcome them, and that lastly they advise the people with that which is best.

And that they distance themselves from having a harsh and severe manner in calling [to Allaah], since all of us believe that when Allaah the Mighty and Majestic said, “Invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better,” [An-Nahl 16:125]

He only did so because the Truth in and of itself is [already] heavy on the people, it is heavy on the souls of mankind and that is why they become arrogant and don’t accept it, except for those upon whom your Lord has mercy. So when another thing and another weight, i.e., harshness in calling to Allaah [da’wah], is added to the weightiness of the truth on the human soul, it will result in driving the people away from the call. And you know the saying of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), “Indeed from among you are those who drive people away.” He said it three times.

In conclusion, I ask Allaah the Mighty and Majestic that He does not make us from those who drive the people away, but rather that He makes us from those wise people who act upon the Book and theSunnah.

And I entrust you to Allaah.

Was-salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu.”

Al-Imaam al-Albaani, Duroos, wa Mawaaqif, wa Ibar, of Abdul-Aziz ibn Muhammad Abdullaah as-Sadhaan, pp. 161-164.

Just a Muslim?-I am a Salafi

Allaah Has Named us Muslims, So Why Ascribe Ourselves to the Salaf ?

This questions was very beatifully answered by Imaam al-Albaani in his discussion with someone on this subject, recorded on the cassette entitled, “I am Salafi”

 Allaah Has Named us Muslims, So Why Ascribe Ourselves to the Salaf ?

 

This questions was very beatifully answered by Imaam al-Albaani in his discussion with someone on this subject, recorded on the cassette entitled, “I am Salafi”, and here is a presentation of the vital parts of it:

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “When it is said to you, ‘What is your madhhab’, what is your reply?”

 

Questioner: “A Muslim”.

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “This is not sufficient!”.

 

Questioner: “Allaah has named us Muslims” and he recited the saying of Allaah Most High, “He is the one who has called you Muslims beforehand.” (al-Hajj 22:78)

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “This would be a correct answer if we were in the very first times (of Islaam) before the sects had appeared and spread. But if we were to ask, now, any Muslim from any of these sects with which we differ on account of Aqeedah, his answer would not be any different to this word. All of them – the Shi’ite Rafidi, the Khaariji, the Nusayri Alawi – would say, “I am a Muslim”. Hence, this is not sufficient in these days.”

 

Questioner: “In that case I say, I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah.”

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “This is not sufficient either”.

 

Questioner:

“Why?”

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “Do you find any of those whom we have just mentioned by way of example saying, ‘I am a Muslim who is not upon the Book and the Sunnah’?” Who is the one who says, ‘I am not upon the Book and the Sunnah’?”

 

At this point the Shaykh then began to explain in detail the importance of being upon the Book and the Sunnah in light of the understanding of the Salaf us-Saalih…

 

Questioner: “In that case I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah with the understanding of the Salaf us-Saalih”.

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “When a person asks you about your madhhab, is this what you will say to him?”

 

Questioner: “Yes”.

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “What is your view that we shorten this phrase in the language, since the best words are those that are few but indicated the desired intent, so we say, ‘Salafee’?”

Questioner: “Alright, I will submit to you and I say to you: Yes (I agree about summarising with saying ‘I am Salafee’), yet my belief is what has preceded, since the first thing that a person thinks of when he hears that you are a Salafee is that he recalls much of the experience he has had and which has involved severity which leads to harshness, all of which sometimes occurs from the Salafiee’s.”

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “Lets accept that your words are correct. If you said ‘I am a Muslim’, will not a person’s think of a Shi’ite Rafidee, or a Druze or an Ismaa’eeli (and incline to him).”

 

Questioner: “It is possible, however, I will have followed the noble verse, “He has named you Muslims”.

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “No my brother! You have not followed the verse, since the verse means the correct form of Islaam. It is necessary that you address the people according to their level of understanding… so will anyone understand from you (when you say ‘I am a Muslim’) that you are indeed a Muslim with the desired meaning in the verse (of correct Islaam)? As for the various cautionary matters you have mentioned, then these are sometimes correct and sometimes they are not correct.

Since your saying about harshness, then this can sometimes occur from individuals, yet this is not representative of a methodology  that is tied to knowledge and belief.

Leave aside individuals for now, we are actually talking about Manhaj (methodology). This is because when we say Shi’ite, or a Druze, or a Khaarijee, or a Soofee, or a Mutazilee, the various cautionary matters you raised come into play (and can apply to them aswell).

Hence, this is not the subject of our discussion. We are investigating a name which gives evidence to the madhhab of an individual and by which he worships Allaah… Are not all the Companions Muslims?”

 

Questioner: “Naturally.”

 

Shaykh al-Albaani: “However, there was amongst them, one who stole, or fornicated, but this does not allow any of them to say, ‘I am not a Muslim’, rather he is a Muslim and a Believer in Allaah, as a chosen way, however he sometimes opposes his chosen way, because he is not infallible. And it is for this reason that we – may Allaah bless you – are speaking about a word which indicates our Aqeedah and our thought and our starting point in our lives and which relates to the affairs of our religion by which we worship Allaah.

As for the issue of so and so who is harsh and so and so who is lax and too soft, then that is an entirely different issue…. I wish that you would reflect upon this concise word (i.e. Salafee) so that you do not persist upon the word ‘Muslim’. And you know that there is no one who will understand what you really intend (by using the word ‘Muslim’ alone) ever…” End Quote (Cassette “I am a Salafee”).

Hence, the point is that naming with “Muslim” or “Sunni” is not enough, since everyone will claim that. And Imaam al-Albaani emphasised the importance of the truth being distinguished from the falsehood – from the point of view of the basis of Manhaj and Aqidah, and that is taking from the Salaf us-Saalih, as opposed to the various sects and groups whose understandings are based upon those of their mentors and leaders and not that of the Salaf, fundamentally.

When he raised his hands in du`aa’……………………until he had wiped his face with them.”—-Da`eef (Weak) Hadeeth

 

“The Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam), when he raised his hands in du`aa’, he would not put them down until he had wiped his face with them.”

 

Transmitted by Tirmidhi (2/244) & Ibn `Asaakir (7/12/2) via: Hammaad ibn `Isa al-Juhani from Hanzalah ibn Abi Sufyaan al-Jamhi from Saalim ibn `Abdullaah from his father from `Umar ibn al-Khattaab, who said: …

Tirmidhi said after it, “This is a saheeh ghareeb hadeeth. We only know it as a hadeeth of Hammaad ibn `Esa, for he is alone in reporting it; he has few ahaadeeth, but the people have reported from him.”

 

 

However, this reporter is weak, as in Taqreeb of Ibn Hajr, who says about him in Tahdheeb:

Ibn Ma`een said, “A good shaikh” Abu Haatim said, “Weak in Hadeeth”; Abu Daawood said, “Weak, he reports munkar ahaadeeth”; Haakim and Naqqaash said, “He reports fabricated ahaadeeth from Ibn Juraij and Ja`far as-Saadiq.” He is declared to be weak by Daaraqutni. Ibn Hibbaan said, “He reports things which are the wrong way round on the authority of Ibn Juraij and `Abdul `Azeez ibn `Umar ibn `Abdul `Azeez, such that it seems to those whose field this is that it is deliberate; it is not permissible to use him as proof.” Ibn Maakoolaa said, “They declare his ahaadeeth to be weak.”

 

 

Hence, the like of this reporter is very weak, so his ahaadeeth cannot be raised to the level of hasan, let alone saheeh!

 

A similar hadeeth is: “When the Prophet did du`aa’ and raised his hands, he would wipe his face with his hands.”

Da`eef (Weak). Abu Daawood (1492) from Ibn Lahee`ah from Hafs ibn Hishaam ibn `Utbah ibn Abi Waqqaas from Saa’ib ibn Yazeed from his father.

 

This is a weak sanad due to Hafs ibn Hishaam being unknown and the weakness of Ibn Lahee`ah (cf. Taqreeb at-Tahdheeb).

 

 

This hadeeth cannot be strengthened by the two routes of narration together due to the severity in weakness of the first one, which you have seen.

 

The Weakness of the Ahaadeeth Mentioning Wiping the Face with the Hands After Du`aa’ (Supplication)  From Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel (2/178-182) by Shaykh al-Albaani.

 

Related Link: Supplicate with the palms of your hands……….when you finish, wipe your face with them——–Da`eef (Weak) Hadeeth