A talk by one of Shaykh Al-Albani’s students regarding the following of Shaykh Al-Albani and other people of the Sunnah, and the clarification of examples.
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The questioner : Our Shaykh, peace and mercy of Allah be upon you:
In addition to what our brotherThe Shaykh : Rabee’ (may Allah preserve him) mentioned, I also affirm what he said. I have been in the company ofThe Shaykh : him for thirty years, praise be to Allah. We used to listen to him in Damascus when we were approximately of adolescent age. After that, we grew up in his company and studied under him, may Allah reward him with good. We listened to him and to the scholars of Damascus and others. We listened to everyone; we do not close our minds to a single scholar. Rather, we listen to all of them, to every scholar of knowledge from all parts of the Islamic world who is accessible to us. We listen to them and we discussThe Shaykh : every issue we hear. We may see another perspective different from what he says, and on many occasions we may disagree withThe Shaykh : him and insist on this disagreement. This does not spoil the affection between us and him. Because if we flee from following the four imams—Abu Hanifa, al-Shafi’i, Ahmad, and Malik (may Allah have mercy on them all)—or other renowned imams, that does not mean we flee from following these people only to fall into following Al-Albani. We know that these Salaf are better in the sight of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) than Al-Albani, and Allah knows best. We do not prefer one person over another, but generally it is established that the Salaf are better than the Khalaf; this is generally the case. As for knowledge, we do not know where it may be. A man from the Khalaf may have knowledge that those before him from the common people do not have. But the criterion is the methodology, and the methodology is following the Book and following the Sunnah. We disavow to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) this lie they fabricate about us. Rather, this is the habit of their followers, who do not want to be discussed on any of the issues. When we were in Damascus and we would come to one of the shaykhs and ask him for evidence, he would say: “You are from the people of evidence,” and “You are such and such.” They used to be aggressive toward the students of knowledge who asked for evidence. This is our problem with them, and it continues to this day. They have nothing but fabrications. To Allah we belong and to Him we return!
This is sufficient for now.
In addition to what our brotherThe Shaykh : Rabee’ (may Allah preserve him) mentioned, I also affirm what he said. I have been in the company ofThe Shaykh : him for thirty years, praise be to Allah. We used to listen to him in Damascus when we were approximately of adolescent age. After that, we grew up in his company and studied under him, may Allah reward him with good. We listened to him and to the scholars of Damascus and others. We listened to everyone; we do not close our minds to a single scholar. Rather, we listen to all of them, to every scholar of knowledge from all parts of the Islamic world who is accessible to us. We listen to them and we discussThe Shaykh : every issue we hear. We may see another perspective different from what he says, and on many occasions we may disagree withThe Shaykh : him and insist on this disagreement. This does not spoil the affection between us and him. Because if we flee from following the four imams—Abu Hanifa, al-Shafi’i, Ahmad, and Malik (may Allah have mercy on them all)—or other renowned imams, that does not mean we flee from following these people only to fall into following Al-Albani. We know that these Salaf are better in the sight of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) than Al-Albani, and Allah knows best. We do not prefer one person over another, but generally it is established that the Salaf are better than the Khalaf; this is generally the case. As for knowledge, we do not know where it may be. A man from the Khalaf may have knowledge that those before him from the common people do not have. But the criterion is the methodology, and the methodology is following the Book and following the Sunnah. We disavow to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) this lie they fabricate about us. Rather, this is the habit of their followers, who do not want to be discussed on any of the issues. When we were in Damascus and we would come to one of the shaykhs and ask him for evidence, he would say: “You are from the people of evidence,” and “You are such and such.” They used to be aggressive toward the students of knowledge who asked for evidence. This is our problem with them, and it continues to this day. They have nothing but fabrications. To Allah we belong and to Him we return!
This is sufficient for now.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.