The Shaykh’s remarks on the dire reality of poverty and hardship in Albania
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : I received very disturbing news two or three days ago. A brother-in-law of ours in the UAE called us and said that one of them went to Albania. You have surely heard, through the general news, that the situation regarding destitution and poverty in Albania is terrible.
The phone is ringing.
Yes
The phone line was cut.
Because of the extreme poverty, the Italians began sending companies there for work, but they do not accept the Albanian Muslim worker unless he hangs a cross around his neck. With this communism, they have lost both this world and the Hereafter. There is no longer anything among them called religion, halal, or haram. As we see, even in Arab countries, their only concern is their worldly life: their food, drink, and money. What can be said about that country where there may no longer be a scholar to remind them, advise them, and teach them? So my point is also that the country of Albania needs preachers who go there and explain their religion and their Islam, and so on.
The questioner : One of the brothers told me... a man from among the preachers like these gave an old man a paper, or a set of papers bound together and wrapped in a cloth or something.
The Shaykh : He claimed it was the Qur'an.
The questioner : No, it was not just a claim that it was the Qur'an; he gave it to him, and it contained a picture in it. The man kept it with him, believing that this picture was a picture of our Master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It remained with him until I went there about two years ago, and he showed me this picture. It is a picture of a man, and I do not know who he is. This man believed it was [the Prophet] and tells everyone present with him, the old and the young, and the women, that this picture is a picture of our Master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It remained with him until we tore it up and said that this matter is undoubtedly not permissible. Many such things happen among them.
The Shaykh : Islam is in a state of extreme alienation.
The questioner : ... So he answered that he would become the Shaykh al-Islam.
The Shaykh : Yes, by Allah.
The questioner : Now it seems the answer has changed.
The Shaykh : No, it has not changed.
The questioner : Brother Shawkat.
The Shaykh : Why did it change?
The questioner : That you should go.
The Shaykh : I do not know the man, but you know him.
The questioner : You are being cautious if you are able.
Please go ahead.
The phone is ringing.
Yes
The phone line was cut.
Because of the extreme poverty, the Italians began sending companies there for work, but they do not accept the Albanian Muslim worker unless he hangs a cross around his neck. With this communism, they have lost both this world and the Hereafter. There is no longer anything among them called religion, halal, or haram. As we see, even in Arab countries, their only concern is their worldly life: their food, drink, and money. What can be said about that country where there may no longer be a scholar to remind them, advise them, and teach them? So my point is also that the country of Albania needs preachers who go there and explain their religion and their Islam, and so on.
The questioner : One of the brothers told me... a man from among the preachers like these gave an old man a paper, or a set of papers bound together and wrapped in a cloth or something.
The Shaykh : He claimed it was the Qur'an.
The questioner : No, it was not just a claim that it was the Qur'an; he gave it to him, and it contained a picture in it. The man kept it with him, believing that this picture was a picture of our Master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It remained with him until I went there about two years ago, and he showed me this picture. It is a picture of a man, and I do not know who he is. This man believed it was [the Prophet] and tells everyone present with him, the old and the young, and the women, that this picture is a picture of our Master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It remained with him until we tore it up and said that this matter is undoubtedly not permissible. Many such things happen among them.
The Shaykh : Islam is in a state of extreme alienation.
The questioner : ... So he answered that he would become the Shaykh al-Islam.
The Shaykh : Yes, by Allah.
The questioner : Now it seems the answer has changed.
The Shaykh : No, it has not changed.
The questioner : Brother Shawkat.
The Shaykh : Why did it change?
The questioner : That you should go.
The Shaykh : I do not know the man, but you know him.
The questioner : You are being cautious if you are able.
Please go ahead.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.