Salafus-Saaliheen سلف صالحين

His name and Lineage:
He is the great scholar and Muhaddith, Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin bin Hamad Al ‘Abbaad Aali-Badr. The family of Aali-Badr comes from the family of Jalaas, which originates from the ancient tribe of ‘Anazah, one of the descendant tribes of ‘Adnan (descendant of Prophet Ismaa’eel).

The Shaykh was born on a Tuesday night after ‘Ishaa in the month of Ramadaan, 1353H in the city of Zulfi, Saudi Arabia. This is the city where he grew up and learnt the basics of reading and writing.

His Early Studies:
While in Zulfi, he studied under Shaykh ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmad Al Manee’, Shaykh Zayd bin Mohammad Al Munayfee, Shaykh ‘Abdallaah bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan Al Ghayth; with whom he completed the noble Qur’aan, and Shaykh Faalih bin Mohammad Ar-Roomee.

When the first elementary school opened in Zulfi in 1368H, he joined it in its third year and obtained his primary degree there in 1371H.

After completing his primary studies, he moved to Riyadh and signed up with the Educational Institute there. Amongst the colleagues that he studied with at that time was Shaykh Amaan Al Jaamee(may Allaah have mercy on him).

After graduating from this institute, the Shaykh enrolled with the College of Sharee’ah in the Imaam Mohammad bin Sa’ood Islaamic University of Riyadh. During his last year at the college, he was appointed a teacher in the Educational Institute of Buraidah in 5/13/1379H.

Then towards the end of that final school year, he returned back to Riyadh to take his final examination for the college. Allaah blessed him by granting him the ability to finish first amongst his whole class which consisted of over 80 graduates. They represented the fourth class of graduates from the College of Sharee’ah. He also finished in the first rank amongst his class during the first three years at the college and when receiving his secondary degree from the Education Institute in Riyadh.

While in Riyadh, he was able to study under scholars the likes of Shaykh Mohammad bin Ibraaheem Aali-Shaykh, Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz, Shaykh Mohammad Al Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee, Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Al Ifreeqee and Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq Al ‘Afeefee, both in the University and in local Masaajid.

In 1380H, he transferred to teach in the Educational Institute of Riyadh. But when the Islaamic University of Madeenah opened and the first college to be established there was the College of Sharee’ah, Shaykh Mohammad bin Ibraaheem Aali-Shaykh selected him to work there as a teacher. Prior to this, towards the end of 1379H, Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin had requested Shaykh Mohammad bin Ibraaheem (may Allaah have mercy on him) to put him in the teaching profession program, to which he agreed on the condition that when he completed the program he would teach at the Islaamic University when it opened. Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin replied that he was fully prepared for the task.

Hid Role in the Islaamic University:
So he began teaching at the Islaamic University of Madeenah in 1381H and he was the first person to ever deliver a class there. He accompanied his teacher, Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz, who taught at the University for the next fifteen years.

He served as member of the University’s committee from the time of its inception to 1393H. Then in7/30/1393H, he was appointed vice-president of the Islaamic University behind Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz, the president at that time, who nominated him amongst three candidates for the position, upon which King Faisal selected him for the job.

Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin stayed in this position up to 10/26/1399H when he was relieved of it at his own request. In the first two of these six years, he was the second-in-charge. Then when Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz transferred to become president of the Educational Research and Religious Verdict Administration, he became first-in-charge. During these six years, the Shaykh continued to give two weekly classes for the fourth-year students at the College of Sharee’ah.

Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin says about this: “I would go to him, i.e. Shaykh Ibn Baaz, before going to the University and sit with him for a little while. Shaykh Ibraaheem Al Husayyin would also be with him and would read the (chapters on) Mu’aamlaat (business and social dealings between Muslims) to him from after Fajr till the sun rose. On one of these days, he said to me: ‘I had a dream last night where I saw a beautiful camel, which I was pulling and you were riding. And I led it to the Islaamic University.’ And all praise be to Allaah, this dream came true for I served as vice-president under him for two years, then assumed his role as interim president after him for four years.”

During the time that he served as president of the University, about five-thousand manuscripts were added to its library. Most of these manuscripts were books of Hadeeth and books on the Creed of the Salaf.

Amongst the other milestones reached by the University under Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin’s presidency was that it transferred from being a government facility to a private institution, the advanced studies department for the Master’s and Doctorate’s programs were formed, the faculties of Qur’aan and Islaamic studies, Hadeeth and Arabic language were created, the size of the University’s land increased to accommodate a proposed 20,000 students, and the University’s printing department was also established.

Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin continues to teach at the University until this very day even though he is past the compulsory age of retirement. No one has taught longer at the Islaamic University than him since he taught from its very first day until now. In addition to this, he also continues to hold lessons in the Prophet’s Masjid.

Sufficient as testimony of the great role Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin Al ‘Abbaad has had on the Islaamic University of Madeenah is what Shaykh Hammaad Al Ansaaree said as recorded by his son, ‘Abdul Awwal, in his biography of his father (2/597): “ The Islaamic University (of Madeenah) is the university of Al ‘Abbaad, Az-Zayid and Shaykh Ibn Baaz.” And then he began praising the days they spent together.

His Students:
Many of today’s scholars and well-known students of knowledge have studied under the Shaykh either through his classes in the University or the lessons he delivers in the Prophet’s Masjid. Amongst the most famous of them are:

1.Shaykh Ihsaan Ilaahee Dhaheer (may Allaah have mercy on him);
2.Shaykh Dr. Rabee’ bin Hadee ‘Umayr Al Madkhalee;
3.Shaykh Dr. ‘Alee bin Naasir Al Faqeehee;
4.Shaykh Dr. Saalih bin Sa’ad As-Suhaymee;
5.Shaykh Dr. Wasee’ullaah ‘Abbaas;
6.Shaykh Dr. ‘Aasim bin ‘Abdillaah Al Qaryootee;
7.Shaykh Dr. Ibraaheem bin ‘Aamir Ar-Ruhaylee;
8.Shaykh Dr. Baasim Al Jawaabirah;
9.Shaykh Dr. ‘Abdur-Razzaaq Al ‘Abbaad, his son.

His Writings:
Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin Al ‘Abbaad has authored numerous books, some of which were either originally lectures or lessons he gave throughout the course of his life. Below are some of his well-known published books and treatises:

1.‘Ishroona Hadeethan min Saheeh-il-Bukhaaree [20 Hadeeth from the Narrations of Al Bukhaaree].
2.‘Ishroona Hadeethan min Saheeh-il-Imaan Muslim [20 Hadeeth from the Narrations of Imaam Muslim].
3.Min Akhlaaq-ir-Rasool-il-Kareem [From the Manners of the Noble Messenger].
4.‘Aqeedatu Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah fis-Sahaabat-il-Kiraam [The Creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah concerning the Noble Companions]. This book is available on Al Ibaanah.com as free e-book.
5.‘Aqeedatu Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Athar fil-Mahdee-il-Muntadhar [The Creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Athar concerning the Awaited Mahdee]. This book was originally a lecture he gave, which Shaykh Ibn Baaz was present for, praised, and announced he would publish.
6.Fadlul-Madeenah wa Adaab Suknaahaa wa Ziyaaratihaa [The Virtue of Madeenah and the Etiquettes in it and Visiting it].
7.Sharh ‘Aqeeda Ibn Abee Zayd Al Qayrawaanee [An Explanation of the Creed of Ibn Abee Zayd Al Qayrawaanee]. This explanation is based on various lessons he would give in the Masjid.
8.Fat’h-ul-Qawee-il-Mateen bi-Sharh-il-Arba’een [Allaah’s Assistance in Explaining An-Nawawee’s 40 Hadeeth]. An excellent book in which the Shaykh explains An-Nawawee’s 42 Hadeeth and Ibn Rajab’s additional 8 Hadeeth - 50 in total.

The Scholar’s Praise for him:
The great scholar, Hammaad Al Ansaaree said about him: “Verily, my eyes did not see the likes of Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin Al ‘Abbaad in terms of piety.” [Tarjamah Hammaad Al Ansaaree (2/621).

It is important to note that Shaykh Hammaad said this even though he had met and accompanied great scholars the likes of Mohammad bin Ibraaheem Aali-Shaykh, Al Mu’allimee, Ibn Baaz and Al Albaanee. So this is a significant testimony.

Since Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin Al ‘Abbaad was well-versed in the field of Hadeeth, the scholar, Imaam Al Albaanee, would rely on some of his verifications, as can be seen in his as-Saheehah(5/276). While authenticating a Hadeeth about the Mahdee and quoting Ibn Al Qayyim as saying it was good, he said: “Shaykh Al ‘Abbaad concurred with it in his treatise on the Mahdee.”

He had a very strong relationship with his teacher, Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz. Whenever someone would come from Madeenah(to Riyadh), he would ask them about Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin Al ‘Abbaad, Shaykh Hammaad Al Ansaaree and Shaykh ‘Umar Fullaata [Jawaanib min Seerah Ibn Baaz (pg.261)]

Shaykh Al Albaanee (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “I do not know of anyone equal to him in this era with devotion to the Hadeeth and vast research of it. I cannot do without nor do I see that anyone else can do without his books and benefiting from them.”

His Lessons:
As mentioned before, Shaykh ‘Abdul Muhsin holds regular lessons at the Prophet’s Masjid in addition to teaching in the University. Some of the classical works he explains in the Haram during his lessons there and which can be found in the tape library at the Haram are:

1. An explanation of the abridgement of al Alfiyyah (57 tapes).
2. An explanation of Saheeh Bukharee, which is incomplete (623 tapes).
3. An explanation of Sunan An-Nasaa’ee (414 tapes).
4. An explanation of Adaab-ul-Mashee ilaas-Salaah (14 tapes).

[Taken from the book ‘An Explanation of The Conditions, Pillars and Requirements of Prayer’ by Al Ibaanah Publishing]