شيخ محمد ناصر الدين الألباني
Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ)
Name and Lineage: Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ)
He was Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Ibn Nooh Ibn 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 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 Shaykh Muhammad Rasheed Ridaa (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) in the magazine Al-Manaar, in which he would criticize weak narrations that Aboo Haamid al-Ghazaalee mentioned in his book Ihyaa ‘Uloom-ud-Deen.
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.
He was put in charge of teaching the subject of Prophetic Hadeeth in the Islaamic University of Madinah 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 Shaykh’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 Shaykh 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 Shaykh and great scholar, ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn ‘Abdillaah Ibn Baaz, for he had great esteem and profound respect for him. May Allaah have mercy on them both.
Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez al-Hudda (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) said:
“The Shaykh, the great scholar, the ocean (of knowledge), Muhammad al-Ameen ash-Shanqeetee (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) – 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 Shaykh 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 (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) 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 (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) said:
“…the brother, the Salafee, the Scholar, Shaykh Naasir-ud-Deen.”
The former Muftee of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ibraheem Aali Shaykh (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) 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 Shaykh, ‘Abdul-’Azeez Ibn Baaz (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) 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 (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) was asked about the hadeeth of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) :
“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:
“Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee. He is the mujaddid in my opinion and Allaah knows best.”
Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaimeen (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) said:
“From what I came to know of the Shaykh 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.”
Shaykh Muqbil Ibn Haadee al-Waadi’ee (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) said:
“Indeed, there cannot be found an equal in terms of the knowledge of Hadeeth like that of Shaykh 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 organise reformation and revolutionary movements. And that which I sincerely believe and am convinced about is that the Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee is from the mujaddideen (reformers/revivers) whom the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) 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 Aboo Daawood and authenticated by Al-‘Iraaqee and others.”
The Basis of His Da’wah:
The students of the Shaykh 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 Shaykh 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 Shaykh (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ), 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 Shaykh 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 Shaykh (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ) 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.” (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ).
The Last Part of His Life:
The Shaykh (رَحِمَهُ اللهُ), 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 Jumaadaa al-Aakhira of the year 1420H (10/2/1999).
His Death and Its Effect on the Ummah:
The Shaykh’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 Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn ‘Abdillaah Aali Shaykh, Chief Muftee of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaimeen, Shaykh ‘Abdullaah Ibn Jibreen, Shaykh Saalih Ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azeez Ibn Muhammad Aali Shaykh and others.