Salafus-Saaliheen سلف صالحين

….before we go on to that, as we mentioned in the introduction of today’s lesson about the death of Shaykh Mohammad Al Banna (1) (rahimahu Allahu ta’ala); a mountain of knowledge. And it should be known that I myself ‘mathalan’ (for example), I came to Riyadh in 2007. And when I came to Riyadh in 2007 you had a mountain, tremendous mountain of knowledge present and he was sick in Riyadh at that time; Shaykh Ahmed An-Najmi (2). Shaykh Ahmed bin Yahya An-Najmi (rahimahu Allahu ta’ala) he was sick in Riyadh at that time. And he was coming for eye surgery, something you know he felt and the doctors themselves felt was simple… simple surgery… and the Shaykh would return to good health and Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi (hafidhahu Allahu Ta’ala) went to the hospital; King Fahad Medical City. He received his operation. Then after that he was in a hotel, we visited him in the hotel. That was the time that I got the chance to ask about what people say about Shaykh Rabee’ (3) and Shaykh ‘Ubayd Al Jabiree (4) which is still the ‘kalam’ (speech) of some of the people. And I mentioned to the Shaykh I said: ‘Shaykh I see you.. you know… your health situation but I just have an important question’. He said: ‘tafadalu’, he said: ‘ask’. I said: ‘Ya Shaykh! People say that Shaykh Rabee’ and Shaykh ‘Ubayd Al Jabiree are not from the Kibaar Al ‘Ulama (Senior Scholars) but rather Luhaydan (5) and Fawzan(6) and Ghudayan (7) and the likes’. He said: ‘no doubt. Yes. Luhaydan, Ghudayan and Fawzan they are from amoungst our Shuyookh and they are from Kibaar Al ‘Ulama but that does not exclude Shaykh Rabee’ and Shaykh ‘Ubaid and others’. So Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi responded. He said: ‘this will not… this will not harm Rabee’ and it will not harm ‘Ubayd. The statement of these people will not harm Rabee’ and it will not harm ‘Ubayd. We hold them to be Ahl Al ‘Ulama… we hold them to be from the Kibaar Al ‘Ulama. We hold them to be…’ look at this mountain of knowledge, Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi said, ‘we hold them to be from the Kibaar Al ‘Ulama and that statement from the people is from themselves.. it is from themselves’. That was in 2007. Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi (rahimahu Allahu ta’ala) after that time.. he returned to Al Jizaan and he came a week later for another operation. Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi went into a coma, during the second operation. It would be a few days before he comes out of the coma. Something went wrong. ’qadar Allahu ma sha’a fa’l’(Allah decrees what he wants). Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi lost the ability to speak. Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi went in and out of the coma. Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi stayed in Riyadh for close to a year.. for close to a year in the same hospital, in the same bed. We could no longer benefit from him, we could no longer ask him questions, we could no longer take from his… extended knowledge and understanding and wisdom. Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi died. Rahimahu Allahu ta’ala.

Thereafter we got the ‘khabar’ (news) and.. keep in mind.. when Shaykh Ahmed An-Najmi was in the hospital.. Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Al Ghudayan was hit by a car. Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Ghudayan after Salat Al Maghrib, on a Friday, after Salat Al Maghrib or after Salat Al ‘Isha on a Friday was on his way to teach the English speaking community and that particular day his son.. one of his sons did not pick him up..and there is only one street between the Shaykh’s house and the masjid that we have our lesson.. and AlhamduliLLAH that lesson is continuous.. there’s only one street in between.

And the Shaykh said; he looked, he came outside, he did not see his son, he said; ‘let me cross the street’. He tried to cross the street and he was hit by a car. Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Al Ghudayan is a very fragile man. He is a very soft, small fragile man. Stitches in his head..stitches.. jawbone broken.. visited him in the hospital..we were.. we weren’t allowed to attend classes… the normal classes with Ghudayan for the rest of the year… for the rest of the year. But Allah brought him back to good health.. Allah brought him back to good health. And it was mentioned by some of the ‘Salaf’. One of the ‘Salaf’ fell into a hole… fell into a hole, he wasn’t harmed, except a scratch or two.. and it was a deep hole..and the people approached him and said, ‘subhan Allah.. Allah preserved you, Allah protected you’. He said, ‘yes because I used to protect Allah.. I used to protect the orders of Allah when I was young.. when I was younger so Allah protected me when I am older’. Wallahi! I say that with Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Al Ghudayan. A car hitting him and the Shaykh recovered in a few months. And he is in his 70s.. in his late 70s.. mid to late 70s.. and he recovered ‘wa li-llahi al hamd’(and the praise is for Allah), not a broken arm, not a broken leg, not a broken tooth and now the Shaykh is teaching us once again. But he was in the hospital the same time Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi was in the hospital.

Then a few months later we got the ‘khabar’(news) of the death of Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd. And although Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd (rahimahu Allahu ta’ala) later on.. there were some issues with regards to manhaj and the likes of that (8), there is no doubt that Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd was considered from people of Ahlul ‘Ilm. Specially with regards to his old books… specially with regards to his old books. Specially in issues of manhaj and issues of Salafiyyah and Ahl As-Sunnah and the likes of that. Although later on he changed in some issues but before we benefited from him greatly. And he was also from the original members of the ‘Lajnah’ or the ‘hay’atu kibar al ‘Ulama’(The Committee of the Major Scholars), if you look at the old ‘Fataawah’ (verdicts) you see Shaykh bin Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Al Manee’, Shaykh ‘Abd Ar-Razzaq Al ‘Afifi, Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Al Ghudayan and Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd. Five.. before Fawzan.. before ‘Abd Al ‘Aziz Aal Ash-Shaykh, before all of them was Bin Baaz, ‘Abd Allah Al Manee’, ‘Abd Ar-Razzaq Al ‘Afifi, ‘Abd Allah Al Ghudayan, Bakr Abu Zayd. Bakr Abu Zayd, dead (rahimahu Allah). Bin Baaz, dead (rahimahu Allah). ‘Abd Ar-Razzaq Al ‘Afifi, dead (rahimahu Allah). ‘Abd Allah Al Manee’, dead (rahimahu Allah). The only standing person from the original group: Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Al Ghudayan.

Then later on we got news of the death.. recently.. the death of Ibn Jibreen (9) (rahimahu Allahu ta’ala). And although we know Jibreen was.. you know.. had issues with regards to manhaj and was an Ikwanee and he praised Ikhwaan Al Muslimeen (10) and the likes of that but in terms of knowledge.. in terms of knowledge and understand I am not saying that this is just the case of Ibn Jibreen, but understand you have from amongst the ‘Ulama that said you might have and individual who is considered an ‘Alim but he is from Ahl Al Bid’ah. And this was mentioned to me by Shaykh Abdul ‘Aziz Al Bur’ee (11). Shaykh Abdul ‘Aziz Al Bur’ee, from the students of Shaykh Muqbil (Rahimahu Allahu Ta’ala).. when he visited us in Madeenah a few years ago and he said ya shaykh, he said.. ‘afwan’ (excuse me)..Shaykh ‘Abd Al ‘Aziz Al Bur’ee said: I said to Shaykh… I said to Shaykh Muqbil: “do you have a person from Ahl Al Bid’ah (Innovators) and he is an ‘Alim?” Shaykh Muqbil said: “yes. Abu Ghuddah” (12). There is an individual by the name of Abu Ghuddah, he has many books in Hadeeth. And the reason why Shaykh ‘Abd Al ‘Aziz Al Bur’ee was mentioning that to us is because he was encouraging us to read a book called ‘Qeematu Az-Zamn ‘Ind Al ‘Ulama’, ‘The worth of time with the scholars’. And it was a book written by Abu Ghuddah. And Shaykh Muqbil considered him to be an ‘Alim from amongst the Ahl Al Bid’ah. So we got the news of the death of Ibn Jibreen. And now we get the news of the death of Shaykh Mohammad Al Banna (rahimahu Allahu ta’ala).

So the reality, four ‘Ulama in two years..four from amongst the ‘Ulama in two years. I say that to say Ya Ikhwaan!...that which is happening of the scholars passing away is happening in front of our eyes. Bin Baaz..then Al Albani (13)..then ibn ‘Uthaymeen then Shaykh Muqbil (rahimahum Allahu ta’ala) in a period of two years.. or three years (14). Mountains of knowledge removed from the face of the earth in terms of benefits… removed from the face of the earth… was in a period of two and a half years. And now once again.. mountains of knowledge.. ‘yani’ .. with regards to.. Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmi.. with regard to Shaykh Mohammad Al Banna.. with regards to the old books of Bakr Abu Zayd and the likes removed from the earth. And Shaykh Salih Al Fawzan last year.. last year.. six months.. Shaykh Salih Al Fawan was sick. We could not benefit from him anymore. He was in a hospital, we don’t know was it diabetes.. was it.. because Shaykh Salih Al Fawzan is very private. Six months.. not able to benefit from the Shaykh. The year before.. like we mentioned.. six months not able to benefit from Ghudayan. And it should also be known that ..many people don’t know .. that Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Al ‘Aqeel.. Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Al ‘Aqeel (15); the last living student of Shaykh ‘Abd Ar-Rahman As-Sa’di.. last year was sick for four or five months..in the hospital. We could not benefit from him. He is.. this year he turns 98.

So the reality is Ya Ikhwaan! The reality is; knowledge being removed. And we have to make a sacrifice in terms of learning Arabic, in terms of traveling to meet the ‘Ulama, in terms of… sitting with them, in terms of.. we have to make a sacrifice because we cannot guarantee that Shaykh Salih Al Fawzan will live for another ten years nor another five years. We cannot guarantee that Shaykh ‘Abd Al Muhsin Al ‘Abbad will live for another ten years nor another five years. Shaykh ‘Ubayd Al Jabiree (hafidhahu Allahu ta’ala) now he is sick, he had an accident and he really hurt himself. And the people of Madeenah cannot benefit from him presently. So reality is Ya Ikhwaan! Do you think that the ‘Ulama will live for another ten years? Do you think that the ‘Ulama will live for another five years? These individuals are old. And the promise of Allah is true. The Prophet (salla Allahu wa salam) said it. Allah is going to remove them (16). What makes you think you have another five years to learn Arabic? And I say what makes you think you have another five or ten years before you travel and sit with the ‘Ulama? There is no guarantee. So there is no doubt you want to benefit from them while they are still alive. If you have to make a sacrifice, you make it. If you have to do… that what you have to do, you make that sacrifice because they will not be present for eternity.

This is some advice we have for the believers and now time is short, Insha Allah ta’ala next week we will do Sharh As-Sunnah and after that we will do some Ahadeeth on acting upon knowledge and the likes, we will also try and read from Riyaad As-Saliheen. May be not because Hajj is coming. We will see. Allah knows best. Wa salla Allahu wa sallama wa barak ‘Ala Nabiyyinaa Mohammad was ‘Ala Aalihee wa Sahbihee wa Sallam tasleeman katheera.

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Taken from the Friday lesson on Paltalk.

‘Sharh As-Sunnah’ of Imam Barbaharee.
Explanation of various scholars.

By Mustafa George.
24th Dhul Qa’dah 1430H 6th November 2009.

Transcription and footnotes by Zubayr Abbasi.

01) Biography by ‘Abd Al illah Lahmami: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlIcP7VAHfc (Audio)
02) Biography: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=6&Topic=6340&CFID=14606094&CFTOKEN=49798867
03) Biography By ‘Abul-Hasan Maalik Aadam al-Akhdar: http://www.troid.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=206&Itemid=415 (Audio)
04) Biography by ‘Abd Al illah Lahmami: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=19&Topic=2388
05) He is Shaykh Al ‘Allamah Salih bin Mohammad Al Luhaydan. The former Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia.
06) Brief Biography (English): http://salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=19&Topic=9412&CFID=14606094&CFTOKEN=49798867
07) Brief Biography (English): http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=14&Topic=5571&CFID=14606094&CFTOKEN=49798867
08) This is in reference to the so called “Golden Advice” which was spread by Qutubis and their ilk from the Hizbis. Shaykh Rabee’ has a knowledge based refutation
of this “Golden Advice" called ‘Hadd Al Faasil Bayn Al Haqq Wal Baatil’. So refer to it.
09) A brief account of his: http://www.spubs.com/sps/ (punch in Article ID: NDV020002)
10) http://www.sahihalbukhari.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&subsecID=MNJ18&loadpage=displaysubsection.cfm
11) He is Shaykh ‘Abd Al ‘Aziz bin Yahya Al Bura’ee. One amongst many brilliant students of Imam Muqbil and from the ‘Ulama of Yemen; teaching
at Dar Al Hadeeth in Mafraq Al Habeesh.
12) A brief account of his: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=19&Topic=2984
13) A brief glimpse: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=19&Topic=8251
14) Bin Baaz d.1420H, Al Albani d.1420H, Bin Uthaymeen d.1421H and Muqbil 1422H. Between Muharram 1420H to Jumada Al Oula 1422H. Rahimahum Allah.
15) Brief Biography (English): http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=11&Topic=6716
16) Refer to Hadeeth no: 86, Chapter no: 24, the Book of Knowledge, Sahih Al Bukhari. Also refer to narration 121 in ‘The Book of Knowledge’ by Imam Nasaa’I verified by Al Albani.

Taken from : http://islaam.ae/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53:mountains-of-knowledge&catid=41:frontpage