IntroductionAll praise is due
to Allaah, and prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allaah.To
proceed:
Part 1: Verifying the Statements of
Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen
Stated [name removed - due to his becoming an Innovator and enemy of Ahl us-Sunnah ]:
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and
peace be upon the Noblest of the Prophets and Messengers.
To proceed:
On Wednesday, 28th
Jumaadah al-Aakhirah 1421H, after Dhuhr prayer, I came across the fatwa of the
father, the Shaikh and Allaamah, Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaimeen - may Allaah
protect him and bring about benefit through him - and this verdict was in
response to two questions that had been put to his respected self. I had come
across the fatwa in written format, taken from two
cassettes:
The first: From the meeting between
the Ministry of Islamic Affairs of Qatar and the Shaikh, dated
7/5/2000H.
The second: From the cassette
"Makaalamaat Haatifiyyah Ma'a Mashayikh ad-Da'wah as-Salafiyyah" (no. 4),
released by Majaalis al-Hudaa Lil-Intaaj wat-Tawzee' of Algeria, dated
12/6/2000H, quoted from the book 'at-Ta'reef wat-Tanbi'ah bi Ta'seelaat
al-Allaamah al-Albaani Fee Masaa'il il-Imaan war-Radd alal-Murji'ah'.
(p.105-106) of the noble brother and Shaikh, Ali Hasan bn Abdul-Hamid al-Halabi
- may Allaah protect him.
So I wished to verify
the authenticity of the fatwa of the respected Shaikh - may Allaah take care of
him - and so I contacted him by phone on the very same day and informed him of
these two verdicts. Then he gave me permission to read out the text of the two
answers he gave and so I did that, and read out to him what occurs in the text
of the question:
"Some people say that Shaikh
al-Albani - rahimahullaah - his position on the issues of Imaan is that of the
Murji'ah. What is your view on this?"
And the
reply of the Shaikh [included] "...Al-Albani is a scholar, a muhaddith, a jurist
- even if he is greater in being a muhaddith than a jurist - and I do not know
of any of his statements which indicate Irjaa, ever. However, it is those who
want to perform takfir of people, they are the ones who accuse him and those
like him of being Murji'ah, and this action of theirs is by way of ascribing
evil names [to him]. I testify for Shaikh al-Albani - may Allaah have mercy
upon him - with uprightness, (istiqaamah), a sound creed, and good intention..."
This is from the first cassette.
And the Shaikh
also said, in refutation of the one who described the Shaikh as being
Murji':
"Whoever accused Shaikh al-Albaanee of
Irjaa' has erred. Either he is one who does not know al-Albaanee or he is one
who does not know Irjaa'. Al-Albaanee is a man from Ahl us-Sunnah - may Allaah
have mercy upon him -, a defender of it, an Imaam in Hadeeth. We do not know of
anyone who has surpassed him in our time. However, some people - and we ask
Allaah's pardon - have jealousy in their hearts. For when [one of them] sees
that a person has been met with acceptance [by the people], he begins to find
fault with him on account of something, just like the hypocrites, those who used
to defame those believers who would give freely in charity - and those [i.e.
hypocrites] who would find nothing but the striving of [the believers]. So they
would defame the one who would give charity in abundance, and also the poor
person who would give charity!
We know the man
from his books - may Allaah have mercy upon him - and I know him from sitting
with him on occasions. He is Salafi in aqeedah, of sound manhaj. However some
people desire to perform takfeer of the servants of Allaah on account of
something that Allaah did not perform takfeer of them. Then they claim that
whoever opposes them in this takfeer is a Murji' - a lie, slander, and mighty
fabrication. Therefore, do not listen to this
saying regardless of whomever it comes from!"
I say: Then after completing the reading of the two questions and the
answers I said to the Shaikh - may Allaah bless him -: Is the ascription of this
fatwa to you correct?
He replied - may Allaah
bring benefit and satisfaction through him -, "This is correct, the first and
the second, both of them are correct."
But
since the answer was not clear to me due to the low voice on the phone I
repeated the question to him again, and he replied - may Allaah keep him safe -
"Correct, correct...correct (saheehah)".
Then the Shaikh said - may Allaah preserve him -: "This is what we
hold as our religion with Allaah and we call Allaah to witness over our love for
him (al-Albani)".
Then he said, "I request you
also to spread this fatwaa."
And all of this
reply is recorded on cassette in our possession and all praise is due to Allaah
and to him belongs the favour.
And this reply
needs no further comment, for it cuts off the saying of every khateeb and from
Allaah is all aid and assistance and there is no might and no power save that of
Allaah.Muhammad at-Tamimi.
Part 2:
Concerning the verdict of the Permanent Committee on the books of Shaikh Ali
Hasan
Some of the students of knowledge from
Yemen, phoned Shaikh Muhammad bin
Salih al-Uthaimeen - may Allaah cure him - on 28th Jumaada al-Aakhirah 1421H and
asked him, "What is your view concerning the fatwaa issued by the Permanent
Committee concerning the two books of Shaikh Ali al-Halabi, "At-Tahdhir Min
Fitnah of Takfir" and "Saihatu Nadheer" and what is your view concerning
it?
The Shaikh replied, "I have not read the two books, and this fatwaa,
I do not like the fact that it was issued, because there is within it what
creates turmoil amongst the people - and my advice to the students of knowledge
is they should not give any care for the fatwaa of fulaan or fulaan ("laa
ya'ba'oo bi..." lit. should not give consideration to it)..."
This
narration has been confirmed by both Shaikh Ali Hasan and also [name omitted] to the brothers in Makkah and exists recorded on
cassette.
Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen Affirms His Defence of Al-Albaani