A Statement on the Shaykh’s Birth, His Pursuit of Knowledge, and His Teachers
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
We, our honorable Shaykh, will begin these questions with something resembling a biography of His Eminence the Shaykh, Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz. We ask the Shaykh, or we hope the Shaykh will introduce himself to the dear listener.
The Shaykh:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows, I have written something on this so that readers may know the truth of my detailed biography. It is available with many of the brothers, and it is also found in the first volume of the fatwas and articles that were recently collected and printed, and the first of them has been published, and praise be to Allah.
Among that, first, I was born in the year 1330 AH, in Dhul-Hijjah, on the twelfth of Dhul-Hijjah. I grew up, praise be to Allah, as an orphan in the care of my mother (may Allah have mercy on her). My father passed away in the year 1333 AH, and I was in the last year of my third year of age. I studied the Qur'an and memorized it before reaching puberty. My studies were under the honorable Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him), Abdullah ibn Shurayh. He had a school in the north of the Shaykh Abdullah Mosque (may Allah have mercy on him), which is now called the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Mosque (may Allah have mercy on him). This is in Riyadh, young men. In the city of Riyadh.
Then I occupied myself with seeking knowledge from the Shaykhs in the visitation. Among the first I read from was our renowned Shaykh, Abu Ru'ayd, the Shaykh Salih ibn Abdulaziz ibn Abdulrahman ibn Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on them all). That was around the years 1344 and 1345 AH, until I was appointed a student in the service in the year 1346 AH. I read from him what was customary for a student to read in that era from the books of the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him): the Three Treatises, the Book of Tawhid, and the Book of Doubts. I also read from him in Umdat al-Ahadith, by the Shaykh Abdullah ibn al-Husayn ibn Sa'id al-Maqdisi (may Allah have mercy on him). I do not remember now whether I read from him 'Aqib ibn Wasitiyyah or not. I read from the tribe where the great renowned Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) resided. I stayed with him for about ten years or more, and I read from him all the religious sciences that students read in that time: fiqh, hadith, and grammar. I heard from him many books, the Six Books and others (may Allah have mercy on him). His gatherings were filled with knowledge, in the mosque and in his home. May Allah have mercy on him. He would sit after the Fajr prayer in the mosque until the sun rose, and the brothers would read to him Bulugh al-Maram and Nukhbat al-Mustaqbal, al-Surah al-Maqnua, and sometimes the Book of Tawhid. Then he would rise (may Allah have mercy on him) and sit in his home near the time of Duha, and they would read to him the short and long books (may Allah have mercy on him) until the Duha became intense. Then he would sit after the Zuhr prayer, and they would read to him after Zuhr in the short and long books. This was among those who attended, read, and participated in listening to the lessons. And so after Asr (may Allah have mercy on him) until near sunset. And so after Maghrib, he would sit after Maghrib with the students reading al-Rahabiyyah in knowledge, and I was among those who studied al-Rahabiyyah from him multiple times (may Allah have mercy on him). And its parts. Knowledge of the position. Am. From the lakes. Those who took up the judiciary and others, striving for them. May Allah bless the living among them. His gatherings were full of knowledge and guidance to good, and advice for Allah and His servants, and answering the questions of the students, with attention to evidence and preference of the stronger opinion. So may Allah reward us and the people of knowledge and all the Muslims with the best reward. Yes. Of course, the hadith. May He bless his descendants and make them righteous and successful.
And I also read in the question, I mean, I say that the hadith is connected from the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim now. Yes, every 'Asr Ibrahim. And I read from him, and I also read from him in the principles of jurisprudence, and in the terminology of hadith. I read from him a number of books of the Shaykh Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him), from the Book of Tawhid, the Three Treatises, the Wasitiyyah Creed, the Refutation of Doubts, the Principles of Faith, and the Virtue of Islam. I heard from him much of what the Shaykh also compiled (may Allah have mercy on him) in the Summary of the Prophetic Biography. I also heard from him the Six Books (may Allah have mercy on him). This was a reading for many of the students. I listened to a number of the Majalis al-Sabiqin by the renowned Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) in his commentary on the Stations of the Seekers. I listened to a portion of that as a reading by some of the brothers. I also heard a portion of Ma'alim al-Sunan by al-Khatib on Abu Dawud, as a reading by some of the brothers. I heard from him other books that I do not remember, many of them (may Allah have mercy on him). I also read from the Shaykh Hamad ibn Faris (may Allah have mercy on him, a wide mercy) specifically in grammar in the year 1340 AH. May Allah have mercy on him. I also read from the Shaykh Sa'd ibn Hamad ibn 'Afir, or the judge in Riyadh, al-Badr (may Allah have mercy on him). He used to lead the prayer in the Great Mosque and sit there, and I read from him there chapters from the Book of Tawhid. He was a distinguished, present, and noble scholar. May Allah sanctify his soul and rectify his descendants. I also read from the tribe of the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdulrahman ibn Hasan ibn the Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on them all) in his home (may Allah have mercy on him) in books of creed, such as the Book of Tawhid and other books that I do not remember now. I also read in the science of Tajwid from the Shaykh Sa'd ibn al-Qas al-Bukhari in Makkah in the year 1340 AH, because I fasted Ramadan there in that year. I read from him after Ramadan in Shawwal and in the sitting. Many surahs from the Noble Qur'an, and I received from him the science of Tajwid and some rulings (may Allah have mercy on him) in the year 1340 AH, in the Gulf region. And so in the gathering of the latter part of this hadith, from 1340 to the end of the year 1354 AH, the duration was fourteen and a half years.
Then I was appointed from the region of al-Khud to the judiciary for teaching at the Scientific Institute when it opened in the lands. It opened in the year 1371 AH, and my teaching in it was in the year 1372 AH, the Institute of the Imam of Da'wah. Then at the College of Sharia after it opened until the year 1380 AH. After that, I moved to Madinah and was appointed Vice President of the University, and he was our renowned Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him). Where did Your Eminence serve as his deputy in this university with the approval of the honorable King Saud ibn Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on him)? I traveled to it on a Wednesday in the year 1381 AH. And I began working there at the Islamic University until the end of the year 1394 AH. My share.
Then I was appointed on the fourteenth of Shawwal as the General Director of the Department of Islamic Affairs, Guidance, and Da'wah. I am in this work, and I ask Allah for help, success, guidance, and rectification of intention and work. And I was in this period that I spent in Madinah delivering some lessons in the Prophet's Mosque between Maghrib and Isha. I arranged some lessons in my mosque after Asr for some time, then I left that due to the annoyance of the aunts. And I wrote, as Allah wills, writings on the interests of the Muslims and refuting some of those who deviated from the path. They are published among the people. And they will be published, if Allah wills, also in my new book, which is a collection of my articles and fatwas in volumes to be published among the people, if Allah wills. The first volume has been issued and much of it has been printed as individual questions. We ask Allah to make it beneficial for the Muslims and to make us and you successful and guided among the guided.
The presenter:
Yes, they have another question. May Allah reward you with good, if Allah wills. Until. Thank you, our honorable Shaykh, for this information you provided to the dear listener.
We, our honorable Shaykh, will begin these questions with something resembling a biography of His Eminence the Shaykh, Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz. We ask the Shaykh, or we hope the Shaykh will introduce himself to the dear listener.
The Shaykh:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows, I have written something on this so that readers may know the truth of my detailed biography. It is available with many of the brothers, and it is also found in the first volume of the fatwas and articles that were recently collected and printed, and the first of them has been published, and praise be to Allah.
Among that, first, I was born in the year 1330 AH, in Dhul-Hijjah, on the twelfth of Dhul-Hijjah. I grew up, praise be to Allah, as an orphan in the care of my mother (may Allah have mercy on her). My father passed away in the year 1333 AH, and I was in the last year of my third year of age. I studied the Qur'an and memorized it before reaching puberty. My studies were under the honorable Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him), Abdullah ibn Shurayh. He had a school in the north of the Shaykh Abdullah Mosque (may Allah have mercy on him), which is now called the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Mosque (may Allah have mercy on him). This is in Riyadh, young men. In the city of Riyadh.
Then I occupied myself with seeking knowledge from the Shaykhs in the visitation. Among the first I read from was our renowned Shaykh, Abu Ru'ayd, the Shaykh Salih ibn Abdulaziz ibn Abdulrahman ibn Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on them all). That was around the years 1344 and 1345 AH, until I was appointed a student in the service in the year 1346 AH. I read from him what was customary for a student to read in that era from the books of the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him): the Three Treatises, the Book of Tawhid, and the Book of Doubts. I also read from him in Umdat al-Ahadith, by the Shaykh Abdullah ibn al-Husayn ibn Sa'id al-Maqdisi (may Allah have mercy on him). I do not remember now whether I read from him 'Aqib ibn Wasitiyyah or not. I read from the tribe where the great renowned Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) resided. I stayed with him for about ten years or more, and I read from him all the religious sciences that students read in that time: fiqh, hadith, and grammar. I heard from him many books, the Six Books and others (may Allah have mercy on him). His gatherings were filled with knowledge, in the mosque and in his home. May Allah have mercy on him. He would sit after the Fajr prayer in the mosque until the sun rose, and the brothers would read to him Bulugh al-Maram and Nukhbat al-Mustaqbal, al-Surah al-Maqnua, and sometimes the Book of Tawhid. Then he would rise (may Allah have mercy on him) and sit in his home near the time of Duha, and they would read to him the short and long books (may Allah have mercy on him) until the Duha became intense. Then he would sit after the Zuhr prayer, and they would read to him after Zuhr in the short and long books. This was among those who attended, read, and participated in listening to the lessons. And so after Asr (may Allah have mercy on him) until near sunset. And so after Maghrib, he would sit after Maghrib with the students reading al-Rahabiyyah in knowledge, and I was among those who studied al-Rahabiyyah from him multiple times (may Allah have mercy on him). And its parts. Knowledge of the position. Am. From the lakes. Those who took up the judiciary and others, striving for them. May Allah bless the living among them. His gatherings were full of knowledge and guidance to good, and advice for Allah and His servants, and answering the questions of the students, with attention to evidence and preference of the stronger opinion. So may Allah reward us and the people of knowledge and all the Muslims with the best reward. Yes. Of course, the hadith. May He bless his descendants and make them righteous and successful.
And I also read in the question, I mean, I say that the hadith is connected from the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim now. Yes, every 'Asr Ibrahim. And I read from him, and I also read from him in the principles of jurisprudence, and in the terminology of hadith. I read from him a number of books of the Shaykh Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him), from the Book of Tawhid, the Three Treatises, the Wasitiyyah Creed, the Refutation of Doubts, the Principles of Faith, and the Virtue of Islam. I heard from him much of what the Shaykh also compiled (may Allah have mercy on him) in the Summary of the Prophetic Biography. I also heard from him the Six Books (may Allah have mercy on him). This was a reading for many of the students. I listened to a number of the Majalis al-Sabiqin by the renowned Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) in his commentary on the Stations of the Seekers. I listened to a portion of that as a reading by some of the brothers. I also heard a portion of Ma'alim al-Sunan by al-Khatib on Abu Dawud, as a reading by some of the brothers. I heard from him other books that I do not remember, many of them (may Allah have mercy on him). I also read from the Shaykh Hamad ibn Faris (may Allah have mercy on him, a wide mercy) specifically in grammar in the year 1340 AH. May Allah have mercy on him. I also read from the Shaykh Sa'd ibn Hamad ibn 'Afir, or the judge in Riyadh, al-Badr (may Allah have mercy on him). He used to lead the prayer in the Great Mosque and sit there, and I read from him there chapters from the Book of Tawhid. He was a distinguished, present, and noble scholar. May Allah sanctify his soul and rectify his descendants. I also read from the tribe of the Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdulrahman ibn Hasan ibn the Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on them all) in his home (may Allah have mercy on him) in books of creed, such as the Book of Tawhid and other books that I do not remember now. I also read in the science of Tajwid from the Shaykh Sa'd ibn al-Qas al-Bukhari in Makkah in the year 1340 AH, because I fasted Ramadan there in that year. I read from him after Ramadan in Shawwal and in the sitting. Many surahs from the Noble Qur'an, and I received from him the science of Tajwid and some rulings (may Allah have mercy on him) in the year 1340 AH, in the Gulf region. And so in the gathering of the latter part of this hadith, from 1340 to the end of the year 1354 AH, the duration was fourteen and a half years.
Then I was appointed from the region of al-Khud to the judiciary for teaching at the Scientific Institute when it opened in the lands. It opened in the year 1371 AH, and my teaching in it was in the year 1372 AH, the Institute of the Imam of Da'wah. Then at the College of Sharia after it opened until the year 1380 AH. After that, I moved to Madinah and was appointed Vice President of the University, and he was our renowned Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him). Where did Your Eminence serve as his deputy in this university with the approval of the honorable King Saud ibn Abdulaziz (may Allah have mercy on him)? I traveled to it on a Wednesday in the year 1381 AH. And I began working there at the Islamic University until the end of the year 1394 AH. My share.
Then I was appointed on the fourteenth of Shawwal as the General Director of the Department of Islamic Affairs, Guidance, and Da'wah. I am in this work, and I ask Allah for help, success, guidance, and rectification of intention and work. And I was in this period that I spent in Madinah delivering some lessons in the Prophet's Mosque between Maghrib and Isha. I arranged some lessons in my mosque after Asr for some time, then I left that due to the annoyance of the aunts. And I wrote, as Allah wills, writings on the interests of the Muslims and refuting some of those who deviated from the path. They are published among the people. And they will be published, if Allah wills, also in my new book, which is a collection of my articles and fatwas in volumes to be published among the people, if Allah wills. The first volume has been issued and much of it has been printed as individual questions. We ask Allah to make it beneficial for the Muslims and to make us and you successful and guided among the guided.
The presenter:
Yes, they have another question. May Allah reward you with good, if Allah wills. Until. Thank you, our honorable Shaykh, for this information you provided to the dear listener.
Source
صفحات من رحلتي العلمية [ صفحات من حياة الشيخ ابن باز ]، صفحات من حياة الشيخ عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز — islamhouse.com (6:03)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.