What is known to me of Shaykh Naasir (al-Albanee) is; [1]
…his Salafiyyah,
…his knowledge,
…and his understanding of Islaam.
Shaykh Naasir and I were colleagues in our occupation. We lived in the same neighborhood and loved each other for Allaah’s sake. I also know ShaykhNaasir more than anyone, even though I, from time to time, refuted his stance and intensely debated with him in those severe days of fitnah (ie. desert storm, gulf war). That was because he erred; and when I refuted his arguments, I would say what al-‘Allaamah Ibnu-Qayyim said to Shaykh Is’maa’eel al-Harawee in his book Madaarijul-Saalikeen while discussing the errors of the later. Al-Allaamah Ibn Qayyim, the beloved Shaykh-ul-Islaam! said; “And the Truth is more beloved to us.”
At that time, that’s what I would say. Certainly, Shaykh Naasir is beloved, but “the Truth is more beloved to us”. Shaykh Naasir had fallen into an error, a tremendous error against us (ie. The scholars of Saudiyyah on the stance of the gulf war), at a time when even the non-Muslims stood by us to defend us, the Haramayn, the honorable Ka’aba and the Land of Tawheed. During that period, he erred; a major error. Thus, I would refute his stance with some level of harshness. Despite all of that, it did not hinder what I felt towards him – the love I had for him and the respect I had for his status, because he is a ‘Aalim (a scholar), a Muhaddith, a Salafee!
Not every Muhaddith is a Salafee. There are numerous Muhaddithoon in the world who are not upon Salafiyyah. They do not benefit from the knowledge of Hadeeth they have memorized! However, Allah has bestowed upon the man (Shaykh Naasir) the favor of the knowledge of Hadeeth and Salafiyyah. In addition to this we love him for the sake of Allaah. Side by side this affection we have for him, we will refute his error if he errs as we expect him to refute our errors if we err!
This is the way of the people of knowledge; all of us will either refute at one time or have our arguments refuted as Imaam Maalik stated:
“Every person’s statement is to be accepted or rejected.”
And this is the point.[2]
Footnotes
[1] al-Imaam Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee, may Allaah have mercy upon him, illustrated in his refutation against Imaam Muhammad Nasirud-deen al-Albaanee in his famous lecture:
ليس من النصيحة في شيء
In the beginning of his lecture, Imaam Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee addressed the importance of giving advice and rebutting errors, even if they are from Ahlus-Sunnahwal-Jamaa’ah.
[2] Then Imaam Muhammad Ammaan al-Jaami’ proceeded refuting Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee. May Allaah shower His grace and mercy upon both of them. And bless our new generation to follow and benefit from their illustrious examples. Ameen!
“والحق أحب إلينا”
لما اعلم من الشيخ ناصر سلفيته وعلمه وفهمه للإسلام الشيخ ناصر الألباني تزاملنا في العمل وتجاورنا في السكن وتحاببنا في الله وأنا من اعرف الناس للشيخ ناصر على الرغم من أني رددت عليه وناقشته مناقشه قد تكون حادة في تلك الأيام أيام الشدة ذلك لأنه اخطأ علينا ولما رددت على الشيخ ناصر قلت ما قاله العلامة ابن القيم في الشيخ إبراهيم الهروي عندما يناقش كتابه مدارك السالكين ويتتبع أخطاءه.
قال العلامة ابن القيم شيخ الإسلام حبيب “والحق أحب إلينا” في ذلك الوقت قلت هذا الكلام إنا الشيخ ناصر حبيب والحق أحب إلينا الشيخ ناصر اخطأ علينا خطا كبيرا في الوقت الذي وقف معنا حتى غير المسلمين ليدافعوا عنا وعن بلادنا وعن الحرمين والكعبة المشرفة وعن دار التوحيد في ذلك الوقت اخطأ علينا خطا كبيرا فرددت عليه باسلوبا فيه نوع من الشدة كل ذلك لا يزيل ما في نفسي من المحبة والتقدير للشيخ ناصر لأنه عالم محدث سلفي.
ليس كل محدث سلفيه يوجد عدد من المحدثين في العالم وليسوا بسلفيين ولم يستفيدوا من علم الحديث الذي يحفظونه ولكن الرجل من الله عليه بعلم الحديث والسلفية مع ذلك نحبه في الله ومع ذلك نرد عليه إن اخطأ وهو يرد علينا إن أخطانا هكذا أهل العلم كلنا راد ومردود عليه كما قال الإمام مالك.
