Ibn Baaz Calming an Angry Visitor Down
February 20, 2012 § Leave a comment
Abdullaah ibn Muhammad al-Mu’taaz said, “A man who was angry came to Shaikh Ibn Baaz, trembling and foaming [at the mouth out of anger], so the Shaikh calmed him down, rubbing his head saying to him, ‘Say, ‘Subhaanallaah,’ say, ‘Subhaanallaah,’ remember Allaah, seek refuge with Allaah from the Devil,’ until he calmed him down and gave him what he needed.
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 225.
So Ibn Baaz Touched the Youth’s Chin and Supplicated for Him …
February 17, 2012 § 4 Comments
Saalih ibn Rashid al-Huwaymil said, “The person who the following story is about told me himself that one time he left the mosque which Shaikh Ibn Baaz used to pray in and went to him to give him salaam and ask him a question. This individual had some things which were incorrect like shaving and so on.
The point is that when he went to ask him, the Shaikh was in a hurry and postponed the meeting with him till another time. [But then] when the car moved off, the Shaikh said to his driver, ‘Go back.’ So the driver took the car back to where the questioner was, and the Shaikh then listened to his question and answered him.
Then the Shaikh [who was blind] touched the questioner’s chin and advised him to let his beard grow and supplicated for the youth. So that youth said that he never shaved it after that day and that he, by Allaah’s Grace and then through the Shaikh stuck to the path of guidance after that.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 175.
They Recited, Ibn Baaz Explained and Then They Ate
February 16, 2012 § 1 Comment
Shaikh Khaalid ibn Abdur-Rahmaan ash-Shaayi’ said, “And I witnessed a Walimah the Shaikh had been invited to after ishaa. After he had taken his place he asked those present how they were and was introduced to them, he then said, ‘Who will read something from the Quraan to us?’ So it was as though everyone relied on the next person to read, and thus they gave no answer. So the Shaikh said, ‘Subhaanallaah! Why aren’t you desirous of the reward?’ So one of those there read something and after he finished reciting the Shaikh started to explain the excellence of reciting and then he explained the very verses that were recited. He then listened to some questions and answered them. After which he requested a second person to read, then a third, and he kept explaining the aayahs that were recited until the food was brought.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 142.
Ibn Baaz’s Memory
February 12, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Muhammad ibn Abdullaah az-Zain said, “One time I was with Shaikh Saalih an-Nujaidi in Shaikh Ibn Baaz’s office and a discussion took place and I differed with Shaikh Saalih in the issue. So Shaikh Ibn Baaz said, ‘The answer is such and such,’ and he said to me, ‘Shaikh Muhammad, bring such and such a book, and it is in such a place, [bring] the second volume, page such and such [and the answer will be there].’
And it was just as the Shaikh mentioned, which shows his intelligence and the strength of his memory.” [Shaikh Ibn Baaz was blind]
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 145.
Uthaimeen: Orphans, the Poor and Your Heart
February 8, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Uthaimeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Know that being kind to the weak, the orphans and the young places mercy in the heart, and softness, and tenderness and [a feeling of] turning to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic which none except those who have tried this can grasp. So that which is fitting for you is that you have mercy on the young, that you have mercy on the orphans and that you have mercy on the poor so that there will be compassion and affection and mercy in your heart.”
Sharh Riyaadus-Saaliheen, vol. 3, p. 89.
Ibn Baaz and his Walking Stick
February 7, 2012 § Leave a comment
Umar ibn Muhammad Sa’eed said, “Fifteen years ago we used to wake up for Fajr prayer at the sound of his walking stick before [we would hear] the sound of the call to prayer. He, may Allaah have mercy on him, used to be eager to knock the doors of his neighbours who were on his way to the mosque.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 230.
Ibn Baaz: Have a Set Amount You Read From the Quraan Daily
February 6, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Abdul-Aziz ibn Muhammad ibn Dawud said, “I was going with his eminence, may Allaah have mercy on him, from the Imaam Turki ibn Abdullaah mosque to his house when he asked me about reading the Quraan. I told him I read it from time to time but that I did not have a set portion that I read daily. So he said that I should take up an amount to read from the Quraan daily even if it was only a little, explaining that the person who has a set portion which he reads daily from the Quraan will finish it, but he who does not may finish reading it quickly one time but then months may pass and he will not have finished it, and he mentioned the example of a person who reads a juzz a day finishing it in a month and he who reaads two finishing it in fifteen days.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 25.
Ibn Baaz, the Outsider, and the VIP
February 4, 2012 § 2 Comments
Khaalid ibn Hamad as-Sulaimani said, “I remember a gracious stance the Shaikh took towards me one day when I visited him in his office in Riyadh to ask for his opinion about an issue. When I entered his office he started to ask me his usual questions about my name and where I came from, while praising me and my family in a gentle, kind, and plentiful manner, even though he’d never met me personally before that.
While we were talking, one of his aids came and informed him that an important guest from abroad was on his way to give salaam to the Shaikh. So the Shaikh answered him calmly, saying, ‘Okay, when he comes, we are here,’ meaning, ‘I’m not going anywhere [and will be here for the guest inshaa Allaah],’ and what he intended by saying that was to put us questioners [generally and in this instance me] at ease.
After a short while, through the windows of the Shaikh’s office I saw the gates to the outside building opening and the convoy of that important guest arrive.
At that time I had in fact received the complete answer [I needed] from the Shaikh regarding my issue, and I wanted to bid him farewell and thank him and give his eminence the opportunity to prepare to receive his important guest.
But I was surprised when he took hold of my hand and started to ask me, insisting greatly and repeatedly, ‘Have you finished asking about everything concerning your issue?’ Have you got any other questions?’
He wanted to show his concern for me, the questioner who was an outsider, without the arrival of his important guest swaying him–rather the only thing that concerned him was fulfilling the obligation upon him for the Face of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, Who looks at all of mankind as equals with nothing but actions distinguishing between them.
So the important guest entered the office and the Shaikh was still holding my hand and would not let go fearful that I may have wanted to leave without having asked him everything about my issue because of that guest … and it was there that I kissed his forehead, bid him farewell and asked Allaah to make this stance from amongst his righteous deeds.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, pp. 134-135.
Ibn Baaz and Revenge
February 3, 2012 § 1 Comment
Dr. Naasir ibn Misfir al-Zahraani said, “Some students of knowledge came [to Shaikh Ibn Baaz] and complained about someone to him. They explained his mistakes [to the Shaikh] and some of the issues in which that person had opposed the Sunnah. So the Shaikh started to dictate a treatise criticising, advising and directing him; while he was doing so someone said, ‘And he speaks ill of you, O Shaikh, and slanders you.’ So the Shaikh said to the scribe, ‘Stop and leave what you are writing for fear that the people will say that the Shaikh is taking revenge for himself.'”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 204.
So Uthaimeen started laughing …
February 1, 2012 § Leave a comment
Abdul-Kareem ibn Saalih al-Muqrin said, “After each recording of the programme, ‘Questions Over the Phone,’ while we were in the studio, brother Sa’d Khamees would say to Shaikh Uthaimeen, ‘May Allaah reward you with good, O Shaikh. And may He have mercy on your parents.’ So the Shaikh said, ‘Aameen, O Sa’d. And me?’ So Sa’d said, ‘May Allaah have mercy on your parents.’ So the Shaikh said, ‘Aameen, O Sa’d. And me?’ So Sa’d realised what he meant and said, ‘May Allaah have mercy on you, and on your parents, and may He reward you with the best of rewards on our behalf.’
So the Shaikh smiled and laughed and we all laughed too.”
14 Aaman Ma’a Samaahatil-Allaamah, ash-Shaikh, Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Uthaimeen, p. 63.
Ibn Baaz and the Weak
January 31, 2012 § Leave a comment
Wafaa Muhammad al-Baaz said, “I asked that woman from Kosovo who called up to give condolences after Shaikh Ibn Baaz passed away, ‘How do you know Shaikh Ibn Baaz?’ So she said, ‘How can I not know him when my expenditure used to come from him.'”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 183.
A Day in the Life of a Scholar: Imaam Ibn Baaz
January 29, 2012 § 1 Comment
Shaikh Muhammad al-Musaa said, “Once when we were in Makkah, the Shaikh was called to participate in a da’wah gathering in Jeddah by someone dear to him, and he insisted that his eminence be present immediately after maghrib prayer, so the Shaikh said, ‘Good, inshaa Allaah.’
When the Shaikh prayed maghrib he felt it difficult upon himself to leave his established sitting with the people from maghrib to Ishaa, so he said, ‘We won’t go now and leave the people. I have to sit with them up until Ishaa and tend to their needs and their demands,’ so he remained with them [in his house].
Then the mu’adhhin pronounced the call to prayer for ishaa and he went to the mosque, and delivered his regular [short] lesson before ishaa [i.e., between the iqaamah and the adhaan] and answered some questions. Then he prayed ishaa and headed to Jeddah, and he was overjoyed and pleased at having sat with the people and not having left them behind.
[When he got to Jeddah] he listened to a detailed explanation of the da’wah project and its activities and then entered the lecture hall which was teeming with people and listened to all of the speeches and poetry that was read. He then gave a lecture and after that had dinner and returned to Makkah.
On our way to Jeddah and back to Makkah, I, Dr. ash-Shuwai’ir, and the brother Saalih took turns to read to him, with not a single minute wasted.
When we got to his house in Makkah it was midnight and it was from the Shaikh’s habits to stand to pray the night prayer at about three in the morning. He would always wake me and Shaikh Abdul-Aziz ibn Naasir, wake us for the night prayer so that we could have our share of [prayer during] the night. So this time [it having been a long day] we were sure that he would not wake up and would leave us to sleep. Yet the set time for him to stand to pray hadn’t come except that he was there waking us up to stand for the night prayer.
He continued to pray, and supplicate and recite until the call to prayer for fajr and then went to the mosque, the al-Qattaan mosque which was next to us, and this was before the Shaikh’s own mosque was built.
The Imaam was late and so Shaikh Ibn Baaz led us in prayer with a voice more beautiful and more humble than which you will not have heard. When he gave salaam he turned to face the people and thanked Allaah and extolled Him and then gave them a talk. Upon finishing he went home and we said, ‘The Shaikh is exhausted and has been up all night, maybe he will not sit after fajr.’
He went to his sitting room, put his scarf and hat to the side, sat down and said, ‘Bismillaah. What do you have?’ So I started to read the requests/matters he had to deal with to him, and I could see comfort, energy and joy in him that would cause one to wonder in amazement. I carried on reading to him until 7:20 a.m. approximately, and thought that he would thereafter have a long sleep, when instead he said, ‘Set the alarm clock for 8:20.’
So we woke him up at 8:20 a.m. and took him to Raabita al-Aalam al-Islaamiyyah to attend some lengthy symposiums and meetings. He got home at his regular time of 2:30 pm.
We were all about to fall on our faces out of exhaustion and fatigue but we didn’t notice any of that on him. May Allaah, the Most High, have mercy on him.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 149.
Here is a recording of the Shaikh reciting:
Ibn Baaz and His Driver
January 29, 2012 § Leave a comment
The Shaikh’s driver, Shaaheen, said, “There were about three occasions when I was late in getting to the car to take the Shaikh for the morning prayer. Each time he would smile and not say a single word about my lateness even though he would be standing there waiting by the car before me. This was how he was with all of his workers, may Allaah have mercy on him, he would never complain about anyone.”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 199.
Ibn Baaz and the Poor
January 28, 2012 § Leave a comment
Dr. Naasir ibn Misfir al-Zahraani said, ‘Two years ago in 1417ah [1996ce], when the Shaikh travelled to Taif from Makkah, he opened his house [to receive guests] as usual, but no guests, or poor or needy people came during the first few days and this pained the Shaikh.
The reason many of them didn’t come was because they didn’t know he had arrived.
So he said to those working with him, ‘What is wrong with the people, why aren’t they coming? Are you preventing them from coming or closing the doors in their faces? What is the reason?’
They replied, ‘O Shaikh, many of them don’t know that you have arrived, and some of them like that you rest during your first few days.’
So he said, ‘Go and tell the people, and inform the neighbours—tell them the Shaikh invites you to come, and that his house is open for you!’
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 172.
A Scholar’s Open Heartedness: Ibn Baaz and the Bottle of Aloeswood Oil [Oud]
January 27, 2012 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Hamad said, ‘He was once given a bottle of premium aloeswood oil [Oud] as a gift and then someone asked him for it and the Shaikh happily gave it to him—for he would take pleasure in giving more then he would in receiving.’
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 218.
A Scholar’s Humility: ‘My back is halaal for every Muslim.’
January 15, 2012 § 1 Comment
Abdur-Rahmaan al-Hirfi said, ‘And it is not known that the Shaikh [i.e., Ibn Baaz] ever sought revenge for himself. In fact, I heard a man say to him, ‘O Shaikh! I’ve backbitten you, so free me from it [i.e., forgive me].’ So the Shaikh, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, ‘My back is halaal for every Muslim.’ Indeed, in one of his general talks it was said to him, ‘Shaikh so and so says you are an innovator. What do you say?’ So he said, ‘He is a mujtahid scholar!’
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 116.
A Scholar’s Humility: Ibn Baaz and His Guest
January 14, 2012 § 2 Comments
Shaikh Abdullaah ibn Ibrahim al-Fantukh said, ‘From that which is relevant to mention is that a guest, one of the Shaikh’s noble students, from Africa but who had acquired Saudi nationality, spent the night in the Shaikh’s house.
His eminence, the Shaikh, got up during the last part of the night to pray the night prayer. The guest’s room was far from the place where the water was, and at that hour it was rare for anyone to be awake and the Shaikh disliked disturbing anyone [by asking them to get water for the guest].
So he went himself to where the water was with a jug, even though he was blind, filled it and brought it to the door of the guest’s room, then woke him gently [from outside] because he knew the guest wanted that.
Then he went away from the door so that the guest would not feel embarrassed, who came out quickly and saw that the Shaikh had turned away and left the jug outside his door. And this guest is trustworthy, from the people of knowledge.’
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 232.
The Youth Who Prayed Next to Ibn Baaz and what The Shaikh Advised Him With
January 13, 2012 § 1 Comment
Khaalid ibn Abdur-Rahmaan ash-Shaayi’ said, ‘In 1405ah/1984ce, approximately, when I was at secondary school, I prayed next to the Shaikh in a mosque close to his house. So I recited some Quraan while the Shaikh was praying the two rak’ahs one must pray when entering the mosque [tahayyatul-masjid]. After he finished praying he gave me salaam and said, ‘Who are you?’ So I introduced myself to him and what I was studying so he said to me:
‘O my son! Devote your attention to the Quraan. Your voice is pleasant and your recitation is good. Aspire to memorise the Quraan. Set aside for yourself a portion to memorise and revise daily. And see which of your friends can aid you in that.’
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 214.
Ibn Baaz when Sayyid Qutb and Others Were Going to Be Executed
January 12, 2012 § 2 Comments
Muhammad al-Majdhoob said, ‘When the tyrannical court issued its verdict on the execution of Sayyid Qutb and his brothers, the same grief afflicted Shaikh Ibn Baaz that befell all believers at [the news of] such calamities, [calamities] which do not target the lives of innocent people who have been convicted as much as they target the weakening of Islaam and its very status, by terrorising those who cling to it and by making them forsake it.
The Shaikh charged me with drafting a telegraph suitable for this situation. So I wrote it with a pen full of fire, disgust and a sense of honour [for Islaam] and then brought it to him. I did so while being full of certainty that he would alter its tone to make it closer to that of [the style of] people in authority than to the tone of someone admonishing/warning.
But he shattered all my expectations when he agreed with all of it, and he didn’t only suffice with that but added the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, to it, from Surah an-Nisaa, “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.” [An-Nisaa 4:93]
The telegraph was sent that day, and it was, as far as I know, the only one to be sent from all of the corners of the Islamic world regarding this situation, inclusive of the phrases it contained which were more severe on the transgressors than the lashes of a whip.”
Ulemaa wa Mufakkiroon Araftuhum, p. 91.
How much Did Ibn Baaz Earn?
January 11, 2012 § 2 Comments
Dr. Naasir ibn Misfir al-Zahraani said, “Shaikh Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Atiq, who was in charge of the Shaikh’s finances, was asked, ‘Did the Shaikh ever ask you when his wage comes? Which day it arrives? Or any such question? And did he ever ask you about the amount of his wage, how much it was?’ So he replied, ‘Wallaahi! He never once asked about that.
He only used to ask about other people’s wages–encouraging that their wages not be delayed.’”
Mawaaqif Mudee’ah, p. 223.
“Say, ‘Laa ilaaha Illallaah …’’’ so he said … | Part Two
December 31, 2011 § 1 Comment
You can find the first part here.
Salaam ibn Sulaimaan al-Muzani
Hammaad ibn Zaid said, “I visited Salaam Abul-Mundhir while he was going through the agonies of death. So someone started to remind him to say, ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah.’ But he didn’t say it and that grieved me. Then the muadhin started to pronounce the call to prayer on the minarets of the Jaami’ Mosque, saying, ‘Ashhadu an Laa ilaaha illallaah!’ So Salaam said, ‘I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, nothing except what He wills takes place in the Heavens or the earth!’
Then he passed away, may Allaah have mercy on him.”
Zuhd of Imaam Ahmad, p. 369.
Aamir ibn Abdullaah ibn az-Zubair
Az-Zubair said, “My uncle, Mus’ab said, ‘Aamir ibn Abdullaah az-Zubair heard the muadhin [making the call to prayer] whilst he was on his deathbed, and his house was close to the mosque. So he said, ‘Take me by my hand.’ So it was said to him, ‘You are ill.’ So he said, ‘I hear the Caller of Allaah [i.e., the muadhin] and I don’t respond?!’ So they took him by the hand and he entered [the mosque] while they were praying maghrib. He prayed a rak’ah with the Imaam and then passed away. May Allaah have mercy on him.’”
At-Tamheed, Ibn Abdul-Barr, (20/93).
Ibrahim ibn Haani
Abu Zakariyyaa ibn Ziyaad said, “I was present at the death of Ibrahim ibn Haani. He said, ‘I’m thirsty.’ So his son brought some water, so [Ibrahim ibn Haani] said, ‘Has the sun set?’ He replied, ‘No,’ so he refused the water and said, ‘For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work.’ [Saafaat 37:61] Then he passed away, may Allaah have mercy on him.”
Taarikh al-Islaam of adh-Dhahabi, 20/63.
Ismaa’il ibn Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ismaa’ili
He passed away half way through the month of Rabee’ul-Aakhir, on Friday night … so he passed away, as an honour for him from Allaah, during maghrib prayer whilst he was reciting, ‘It is You we worship and You we ask for help.’ [Faatihah 1:5]. May Allaah have mercy on him.
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa of adh-Dhahabi, 17/88.
Humaid at-Taweel
He passed away while he was standing, praying, in 142ah.
Hilyatul-Awliyaa, 7/329.
Abu Bakr al-Naqqaash
Abul-Hussein ibn al-Fadl al-Qattaan said, “I was with Abu Bakr al-Naqqaash whilst he was on his deathbed, on a Tuesday with three nights remaining in the month of Shawwaal in the year 351ah. So he started to move his lips and [say something] which I did not understand. Then he called out at the top of his voice:
‘For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work!’
‘For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work!’
‘For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work!’ [Saafaat 37:61]
Three times, then his soul left him.”
Taarikh Baghdaad of al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, 2/205.
Zurarah ibn Abi Awfaa
He was the head judge of Basrah and he passed away whilst he was in sajdah.
Tahdheeb al-Kamaal, 9/340.
Abdul-Aziz ibn Abu Haazim
He passed away while he was in sajdah in 180ah, and he was eighty-two years old.
Mashaahir Ulemaa al-Amsaar of Ibn Hibbaan, p. 142.
Umar ibn Aamir as-Sulami, al-Basri, al-Qaadi
Abu Zur’ah said, ‘He passed away whilst he was in sajdah.’
Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, 7/410.
Ya’qub ibn Ibrahim al-Bazzaaz
He passed away in the year 323ah on Friday night and was buried on Friday, and it was in sajdah that he passed away.
Taarikh Baghdaad of al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, 14/293.
Mujaahid ibn Jabr
From Fadl who said, ‘Mujaahid passed away whilst he was in sajdah.’
Athibaat indal-Mawt, p. 138.
Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Jumu’ah al-Hanbali
Musa ibn Mamluk mentioned, and he was from the righteous, that he was present at the time of his death. So he [i.e., Ahmad ibn Muhammad] began to recite Surah Ra’d. When he got to, ‘Its fruit is lasting and its shade …’ [Ra’d 13:35] his soul left him.
Taarikh Baghdaad of al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, 14/293.
Abdullaah ibn al-Akram al-Misri al-Nu’maani
Some of our Shaikhs reported from Atiq al-Umari that he visited Abdullaah ibn al-Akram with a group of people on the night he passed away. So they said to him, ‘Won’t you say the shahaadah?’ So he said it and then said, ‘For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work!’ [Saafaat 37:61] and then he passed away.
And Ibn Sayyidin-Naas mentioned from someone who told him that at the time of his death he was saying both shahaadah’s and then he said, ‘I have succeeded by the Lord of the Ka’bah!’ and then he passed away.
Ad-Durur al-Kaaminah, 2/250.
Muhammad ibn Amr ibn Yunis as-Susi
He passed away in Muharram in the year 259ah on the Makkah road coming back after having performed Hajj. He passed away whilst he was in sajdah. And he was one hundred years old.
Mawlid al-Ulemaa wa wafayaatihim, of Rib’i, 2/570.
Muhammad ibn al-Hussain al-Mazrafi
He passed away whilst in sajdah on the first day of the year.
Al-Ibar fee Khabar min Ghair of adh-Dhahabi, 4/72.
Abdullaah ibn Ali al-Kaazruni
It is authentically reported from someone who was present at the time of his death that he heard him, while in the pangs of death, saying, ‘I don’t know you, O Devil!’ or, ‘You are the devil. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.’ Then he passed away.
Ad-Daw al-Laami, of as-Sakhaawi, 5/34.
Musa ibn Ali ibn Musa az-Zarzaari
He passed away whilst in sajdah on the eleventh of Rajab in the year 730ah.
Ad-Durur al-Kaaminah, 4/739.
Musarrah ibn Muslim ibn Rabee’ah al-Hadrami
When he was on his deathbed, may Allaah have mercy on him, he started reciting the Quraan. So when he read the Saying of Allaah in Surah Taa Haa [the twentieth surah], ‘… and I hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased,’ [Taa Haa 20:84] he passed away.’
Tarteeb al-Madaarik wa Taqrib al-Masaalik, of al-Qaadi Iyaad, 6/270.
Ali ibn Hasan as-Sairafi
This Shaikh passed away whilst he was praying witr. He recited, ‘Say, ‘He is Allaah, [who is] One!’ [al-Ikhlaas 112:1] then when he got to, ‘Nor is there to Him any equivalent,’ [al-Ikhlaas 112:4] he passed away.
Dhail Tarikh Baghdaad, 18/329.
Shu’aib ibn Hussain al-Andalusi
The last thing he said was, ‘Allaah is the Ever-Living!’ Then he passed away.
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa of adh-Dhahabi, 21/219.
All taken from, Akhbaar Mawt as-Su’adaa of Abdur-Rahmaan al-Jumaizi.
Ibn Baaz’s Sincerity and the Number of Times He Performed Hajj
December 29, 2011 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Abdul-Muhsin ibn Hamad al-Abbaad al-Badr said about Shaikh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him:
“And I also remember that when he went to Qasim in 1385ah to get married there, I was with the Shaikhs who went along with him. On the way there we were passing through a valley [and I recall it was one] which had trees and half way through the day a solar eclipse occurred. So he led us in the eclipse prayer in that valley, may Allaah have mercy on him.”
“And I remember one year when I was at the Islamic University of Medinah I entered the Prophet’s Mosque with him after they had called the adhaan for the midday prayer, and I was next to him.
So he prayed four rak’ahs and I prayed two.
And it is known that the supererogatory prayers [Sunan ar-Raatibah] are ten in number and that praying twelve is more complete. So when I gave salaam he turned towards me and said, “You only prayed two rak’ahs.” I said, “Yes.” So he said, “Praying twelve is more complete and greater in excellence.”
“… and he performed Hajj forty-seven times, may Allaah have mercy on him …”
Ash-Shaikh Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz, Numudhij minar-Ra’iyyil-Awal, pp. 20-22.
Allaah تعالى gave Salaam to Khadijah, Jibreel عليه السلام gave Salaam to Aishah, may Allaah be pleased with them both
December 24, 2011 § 1 Comment
Ibn al-Qayyim said, “Khadijah bint Khuwailid ibn Asad ibn Abdul-Uzza ibn Qusai ibn Kilaab, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم married her in Makkah when he was twenty-five years old and he remained with her until Allaah honoured him with His Message. She believed in him and aided him, and so was a truthful vizier to him. She died three years before the [Prophet’s] hijrah according to the most correct opinion, and it is said four years [before] and it is [also] said five years [before].
And she has special characteristics, may Allaah be pleased with her, from them being the fact that: the Prophet did not marry anyone else while he was with her; that all of his children were from her, except Ibrahim عليه السلام for he was from Maariyah; that she is the best of the women of this ummah.
And there is a difference of opinion regarding her superiority over Aishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, there being three opinions concerning that, the third of which is abstaining [from saying who is better].
And I asked our Shaikh, Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him [about this issue] and he said, “Each one of the two has a special characteristic specific to her. So Khadijah’s impact was in the beginning of Islaam, she used to console Allaah’s Prophet and make him firm and soothe him, and would spend her wealth for him, so she met the dawn of Islaam, and bore harm for Allaah’s Sake and the sake of His Messenger, and the help she gave to the Prophet was at the time he was in the most dire need of it. So the [merit] she has for her aid and her sacrifice is something which others do not have.
And Aishah’s impact, may Allaah be pleased with her, was at the final stage of Islaam, so the [merit] she has for her understanding of the religion and for conveying it to the ummah and benefitting her children [i.e., the Muslims] with the knowledge she imparted to them is something others do not have.” This is the meaning of what he said.
I [i.e., Ibn al-Qayyim] say: and from her special qualities is that Allaah, the One free of all defects, sent [His Own Greeting of] Salaam to her through Jibreel عليه السلام so the Prophet of Allaah informed her [of that]. In his Sahih, Al-Bukhaari said, “Qutaibah ibn Sa’eed narrated to us [saying]: Muhammad ibn Fudail narrated to us from Ummarah from Abu Zur’ah from Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that he said, “Jibreel came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! This is Khadijah coming to you with a dish having meat soup (or some food or drink). When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Lord and on my behalf and give her the glad tidings of having a palace made of Qasab in Paradise, wherein there will be neither any noise nor any toil.’” [Bukhaari, no. 3820 and Muslim, no. 2432]. And by the everlasting existence of Allaah! This was a special quality that was for none other than her.
And as for Aishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, then verily Jibreel عليه السلام gave her salaam on the tongue of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. Al-Bukhaari said: Yahya ibn Bukair narrated to us [saying]: al-Layth narrated to us from Yunus from Ibn Shihaab that Abu Salamah said, “Once Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘O Aa’ish [i.e., Aishah]! This is Jibreel greeting you.’ So she said, ‘Wa alaihis-salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. You see what I do not see.’ She was addressing Allaah’s Messenger [with the last sentence].” [Bukhaari, no. 3768 and Muslim, no. 2447]
And from Khadijah’s special qualities, may Allaah be pleased with her, is that she never hurt him—ever, and she never made him angry, and he never swore not to have sexual relations with her [الإيلاء, cf. Surah Baqarah, aayah, 226], nor did he give her a gentle reprimand, ever, nor boycott her—and sufficient is that as a virtue and merit. And from her distinguishing qualities is that she was the first woman from this Ummah to believe in Allaah and His Messenger.”
Jilaa’ul-Afhaam fis-Salaati was-Salaam alaa Khairil-Anaam, pp. 236.
And We Want to Become Scholars Overnight …
December 20, 2011 § 5 Comments
In the biography of the Imaam Ghaalib ibn Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Ghaalib ibn Tamaam ibn Atiyyah al-Muhaaribi (d. 517) [which is mentioned] in the book Al-Ghunyah of al-Qaadi Iyaad, and in As-Silah of Ibn Bashkuwaal there occurs that he said:
“I read what one of my companions had written in his own handwriting [where he said] that he heard Abu Bakr [Ghaalib ibn Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Ghaalib ibn Tamaam] ibn Atiyyah mention that he had read Sahih Bukhaari seven hundred times.”
And in [the book] Inbaa’ul-Ghamr in the biography of Sulaimaan ibn Ibrahim ibn Umar Nafeesud-Deen al-Alawi (d. 825) [there occurs]:
“So he mentioned to me that he went over Sahih Bukhaari one hundred and fifty times, [whether that was] by reading it himself, listening to his Shaikh read it, reading it himself to his Shaikh [or someone else] or comparing it against a manuscript.”
And in Fahrisul-Fahaaris quoting from Tabaqaatul-Khawaas of as-Sharji that he went over The Sahih [of Bukhaari] two hundred and eighty times, reading it himself, listening to others read it to him or reading it himself to his Shaikh [or someone else].”
And in the biography of Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullaah ibn Muqbil al-Qaahiri al-Hanafi, well-known as ‘At-Taajir [The Trader]’ (d. 805) [which is mentioned] in [the book] Ad-Daw al-Laami’, [there occurs]:
“Al-Burhaan al-Halabi, his student, said that he [i.e., his teacher Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad] informed him that up until the year 780ah he had read Sahih Bukhaari ninety-five times, and he read it after that many times [too].”
And in the biography of Al-Burhaan al-Halabi [d. 840] [which is mentioned] in Ad-Daw al-Laami’, [it is stated that]:
“He read [Sahih] Bukhaari more than sixty times and [Sahih] Muslim about twenty times, this is not including the times he read it when he was a student [of knowledge and not yet a Shaikh] or the times other people read the two collections to him as he listened on.”
ِAnd Abul-Arab at-Tamimi mentioned in Tabaqaat Ulemaa Ifriqiyyah wa Tunis in the biography of Abbaad ibn al-Walid al-Faarisi [d. 218] that at the end of one of his books [there was written]:
“I studied it a thousand times.”
Al-Mushawwiq ilaa Qiraa’ah wa Talabil-Ilm, pp. 90-95.
“Who am I? And What am I?!” said Imaam Ahmad
December 16, 2011 § 2 Comments
“A man said, ‘I saw signs of grief on Abu Abdullah’s face [i.e., Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal] because someone had praised him.’ And [another time] it was said to him, ‘May Allaah reward you with good on behalf of Islaam.’ So he said, ‘Rather, may Allaah reward Islaam well on behalf of me. Who am I? And what am I?!’”
Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa, v. 11, p. 225.
The Young Ibn Taymiyyah
December 14, 2011 § 1 Comment
Ibn Abdul-Haadi, Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah’s student wrote:
“And it so happened that a Shaikh from Aleppo came to Damascus,
saying, “I have heard that in this city there is a boy who goes by the
name of Ahmad the son of Taymiyyah and that he is extremely quick in
memorising. I have come perchance I may see him.”
So a tailor said to him, “This is his route to school and he has not
yet come, so sit with us. Anytime now he will pass us on his way to the
school.”
So the Aleppan Shaikh sat down for a short while. Then two young boys
walked by, so the tailor said to the Shaikh, “The young boy carrying
that large tablet—he is Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah.”
So the Shaikh called him and he came to him. Then the
Shaikh took the tablet and looked at what was written therein. Then he
said, “O my son! Wipe this out so that I can dictate something to you
which you can write.”
So Ibn Taymiyyah did so. Then the Shaikh dictated eleven or thirteen sayings of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallaam) to him. Then the Shaikh said to him, “Read this.”
So Ibn Taymiyyah looked over it once after he had written it and then
gave the tablet back to the Shaikh. So he said, “Read it to me.”
So he read it back to him in the best way possible. Then the Shaikh said to him, “O my son! Wipe this out.”
So he wiped it out and the Shaikh dictated a number of chains of narrations that he had chosen and said, “Read this.”
Ibn Taymiyyah looked at it and he did as he had done the first time.
So the Shaikh stood up, saying, “If this young boy lives long he will
have a great standing and rank—since the like of this has not been seen
before.”
Ibn Naasirud-Deen narrated the saying of Abul-Muzaffar As-Sarmari,
“And from the amazing matters regarding memorisation in our time is the
Shaikh of Islaam Abul-Abbaas Ahmad bin Abdul-Haleem bin Taymiyyah. Since
he would come across a book and would look over it once only after
which it would be inscribed in his mind. He would be able to discuss it
thereafter, narrating from it in his written works with its precise
wording and meaning.
And from the most amazing of what I have heard about him is what some of his companions narrated to me.
They said that in the start of his affair when he was a young boy his
father wanted to take his sons for an outing to a garden. So he said to
Ibn Taymiyyah, “O Ahmad! Go out with your brothers and relax.”
So he excused himself from that however his father persisted. But the
young Ibn Taymiyyah strongly declined, saying, “I would like you to
excuse me from going out.”
So his father let him stay and left with his other sons. They spent
their day in the garden and returned at the end of the day whereupon his
father said to him, “O Ahmad! You deserted your brothers today! And you
annoyed them because of your absence from them. So what is this?”
So he replied, “O father! Today I memorised this book,” alluding to a
book with him. So his father replied, “You memorised it?!” In denial,
shocked and amazed at what his son had just said. So he said to him,
“Read it to me.”
So he did.
He had indeed memorised the entire book. Then his father held him and
kissed him between his eyes and said, “O my son! Do not tell anyone
about what you have done,” fearful lest the Evil Eye should befall him.”
Taken from Ibn Abdul-Haadi’s Al-‘Uqood Al-Durriyah min Manaaqib Shaikhil-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, p. 7
Gifts of Knowledge 