 
His Name and Lineage:
He was Muhammad Naasir-ud- Deen bin Nooh bin 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 father was Al-Hajj Nooh, from the major Hanafee scholars of his
land. During the doomed secularist, Ahmad Zogu's reign of Albania there
was severe oppression for the Muslims of that land.[1] Because of this,
Al-Hajj Nooh migrated with all of his children, which included Muhammad
Naasir-ud-Deen, fleeing for the sake of his religion to the land of
Shaam. He traveled to Shaam due to what was reported in the prophetic
ahaadeeth about its virtues and merits. And it is there that he and his
family took residence. Fifty years later, the Shaikh (Al-Albaanee)
migrated from here to 'Amaan, the capital of Jordan. And it is in this
city that he remained for the rest of his life as a scholar and teacher
and a Faqeeh and educator.
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 Shaikh Muhammad
Rasheed Ridaa in the magazine Al-Manaar, in which he would criticize
weak narrations that Abu Haamid Al-Ghazaalee mentioned in his book
Ihyaa 'Uloom-ud-Deen.
Shaikh Muhammad Raaghib At-Tabbaakh, the historian and Muhaddith of
Halab (Aleppo), authorized him with an Ijaazah (certification) to teach
his collection of narrations on trustworthy reporters, called
"Al-Anwaar Al-Jaliyyah fee Mukhtasar Al-Athbaat Al-Halabiyyah."[2] This
happened when he saw the Shaikh's intelligence and extraordinary
abilities and his brightness in comprehending and understanding, as
well as his strong desire to learn the Islamic sciences and the
knowledge of Hadeeth. [3]
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.
The Shaikh was called and invited by many Islamic universities and
Muslim organizations around the world to take high positions with them,
but he turned down most of them by making excuses due to his many
preoccupations with regard to (acquiring and teaching) knowledge.
He was put in charge of teaching the subject of Prophetic Hadeeth in
the Islamic University of Madeenah 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 Shaikh'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 Shaikh 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 Shaikh and great scholar,
'Abd-ul-'Azeez bin 'Abdillaah bin Baaz, for he had great esteem and
profound respect for him. May Allaah have mercy on them both.
Shaikh 'Abdul-'Azeez Al-Hudda said: "The Shaikh, the great scholar, the
ocean (of knowledge), Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee (rahimahullaah)
- 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 Shaikh 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 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 (rahimahullaah) said:
"...the brother, the Salafee, the Scholar, Shaikh Naasir-ud-Deen."
The former Muftee of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Muhammad bin
Ibraheem Aali Shaikh (rahimahullaah) 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 Shaikh, 'Abd-ul-'Azeez bin Baaz
(rahimahullaah) 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 (rahimahullaah) was asked about the hadeeth of the Prophet
(saws): "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:
"Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee. He is the mujaddid in my
opinion and Allaah knows best."
Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said: "From
what I came to know of the Shaikh 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."
Shaikh Muqbil bin Haadee Al-Waadi'ee (rahimahullaah) said: "Indeed,
there cannot be found an equal in terms of the knowledge of Hadeeth
like that of Shaikh 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 organize reformation and revolutionary
movements. And that which I sincerely believe and am convinced about is
that the Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee is from the
mujaddideen (reformers/revivers) whom the Prophet (saws) 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 Abu Dawood and authenticated by Al-'Iraaqee and
others."
The Basis of His Da'wah:
The students of the Shaikh - those who learned from him through the
university or through his private gatherings of knowledge or through
his written works - 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 Shaikh 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 Shaikh, may Allaah have mercy on him, 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 Shaikh 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 Shaikh, rahimahullaah, 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." May Allaah have mercy on him.
No one amongst mankind had a blessing or bounty over him in any of the
worldly affairs. His knowledge was his mediator and his patience was
his guide. He was persistent (in his efforts), perseverant, patient,
always struggling, earnest and hard working.
The Last Part of His Life:
The Shaikh, rahimahullaah, 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 Jumaadaal-Aakhira of the
year 1420H (10/2/1999).
His Death and Its Effect on the Ummah:
The Shaikh'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
Shaikh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdillaah Aali Shaikh, Chief Muftee of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen,
Shaikh 'Abdullaah bin Jibreen, Shaikh Saalih bin 'Abdil-'Azeez bin
Muhammad Aali Shaikh and others.
FOOTNOTES:
[1]
I heard our Shaikh say many times, when mentioning this man's name:
'The one whom Allaah has caused his heart to go astray.' You can find a
biography of Ahmad Zogu in the book Al-Mawsoo'at-ul-'Arabiyyah
Al-Muyassarah (1/733).
[2]This
is a refutation against those who claim that: 'Al-Albaanee had no
teachers (i.e. Shuyookh)' or that 'He studied the knowledge on his own!'
[3]
In spite of this, there are some evil mischievous people today, who are
guided by their desires and say about our Shaikh: 'He was dumb and not
able to understand.' So what transgression do we find from these small
ignoramuses and foolish people!
[4] Translator's Note: This section of the praise of the scholars for Al-Albaanee was added from Al-Asaalah Magazine Issue 23 (pg. 76-77).
[5]
The brother, Dr. Muhammad Lutfee As-Sabaagh, may Allaah grant him
success, related to us that he heard Shaikh Ibn Baaz, rahimahullaah,
say about our Shaikh: 'I don't know of anyone under the surface of the
sky with more knowledge of the Hadeeth of Allaah's Messenger than
Shaikh Naasir.' [See Ad-Dustoor Newspaper of Jordan (10/8/1999)]
[6]
As for what some people relate from him that he, may Allaah have mercy
on him, said: 'I taught and I did not educate (using Tarbiyah)', then
he only said this out of humbleness and to suppress his soul. And even
if this is not so, then I ask, is there anything besides knowledge that
will purify and cultivate (Tarbiyah)? Is it only words and
expressions?! Or is it purely passions and emotions?!
[7]
There is no contradiction between these last two characteristics, as is
made quite clear with the least bit of reflection. By Allaah, how many
times have we seen the humility of our Shaikh while he listened to
those lower than him in his gatherings In fact, he even asked some of
his youngest students and sought explanations from them for aspects of
knowledge that he had trouble with. And he would accept peoples'
arguments with open-mindedness. So he had no pride or haughtiness. We
ask you, O Allaah, to rectify our hearts and to grant us refuge from
the evils of our souls.
[8] The Shaikh handed me his
introduction - written with his own hand - to the book Madaarik
An-Nadhr fis-Siyaasah of the brother, the Shaikh 'Abdul-Malik
Ramadaanee - so that I can give it to him. In this introduction is
found the Shaikh's support for the book, according to the correct
manner, and his aid for what clear truth is found in it. But in spite
of this, we hear from some people that they have doubts about the
Shaikh's introduction (!) or they say that he wrote it before the book
was put in order! So then what was it?! That book was the book itself,
without any doubt about it! As for what was supplemented to it, then
that was only to aid and support its original status - they were not
additions that changed the books main ideas. So based on this, warning
against this book and belittling its status is an injustice that is
contrary to what is correct and it is in opposition to what our senior
scholars and Shaikhs are upon.
[9] So what some people say
to themselves or that which some of them whisper to others - that they
share credit in the Shaikh's fame or that they are responsible for
people knowing him (!), then these are words, which the present
situation and current conditions contradict and oppose.
PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com
Author: Shaikh ‘Alee bin Hasan Al-Halabee
Source: His book: “With our Shaikh, the Upholder of the Sunnah and the Religion,
Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee” (pages 5-11)
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