A student of Shaykh Al-Albani speaking on following Shaykh Al-Albani and other people of the Sunnah, and providing examples.

The student: In addition to what our brother Shaykh Rabee' al-Madkhali (may Allah preserve him) mentioned, I affirm what he said. I have been in the company of the Shaykh for thirty years, praise be to Allah. We used to listen to him in Damascus when we were approximately of adolescent age, and afterwards 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, and we listened to everyone. We do not close our minds to one scholar, but we listen to all of them. We listen to whoever from the people of knowledge is available to us from all parts of the Islamic world. We discuss with the Shaykh every issue we hear, and we may see another aspect different from what he says. On many occasions, we may disagree with the Shaykh and insist on this disagreement, and this does not spoil the affection between us and him. Because when we are done with 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 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 it is an established fact that the Salaf are better than the Khalaf in general. As for knowledge, we do not know where it lies; a man from the Khalaf may have knowledge that is not with those who preceded him from the common people. 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 against us. This is the habit of their followers, who do not want to discuss any of the issues. And when we were in Damascus, if we went to one of the sheikhs and asked him for evidence, he would say, "You are from the people of evidence, and you are such-and-such." They used to be harsh with 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.