The story of Al-Albani with Ahmad Sadiq al-Ghumari and his methodology.

The Shaykh : This is his brother, Ahmad. I may have told this story before; I was present or I don't remember. He came to Damascus and visited the Zahiriyyah Library, and I was... in the midst of a discussion with Abdullah al-Habashi. I was amazed at this al-Habashi, how he speaks words that are not the words of a scholar, meaning he has no connection to the science of hadith terminology. I said to myself... may Allah reward you with good, take advantage of the presence of this man. I had read some of his books, and I had in my heart the intention to testify to his good knowledge in the science of hadith... He took advantage of the opportunity and asked about some of the disagreements existing between me and al-Habashi. And so he answered correctly, as I believe. In truth, it was not decreed for me to accompany or sit in the presence of a scholar of hadith, to whom I would acknowledge his knowledge, except this man.
The student : Ahmad?

The Shaykh : Ahmad, and this is what led me to hold him in some reverence and respect. At that time, I had no means to show this reverence, respect, and honor except that I would accompany him from the Zahiriyyah Library to the hotel. So I walked with him and seized the opportunity to engage him in some discussions. I understood from him that he attacks the supporters of the Sunnah... he has a treatise refuting them, and he permits seeking nearness to Allah through the prophets and the righteous. Then the discussion progressed to the issue of , and lo, he launched a fierce attack on al-Shatibi. We had entered the hotel and sat down talking about me and the problem with the Moroccans. It is truly verified in most of them. For example, they say in our region of Sham that a Syrian and a Moroccan met in a gathering, so the Syrian began to praise the Moroccan highly, saying, "You are such and such, honorable and noble, but you have one thing." Immediately the Moroccan got angry and asked him, "What is it?" He said, "This is it..." "What is it?" He said, "This is it."
The student : Tribalism, you mean?

The Shaykh : Yes, it is unbearable, anger without justification. And glory be to Allah... look at this trait. When we reached the hotel... innovation and al-Shatibi's division of innovation into two categories, a very precise scientific division: true innovation and additional innovation. And lo, he got angry and cursed. This has become a character trait for these people... he curses and abuses. I said to him, "O Shaykh, be calm. I accompanied you to benefit from your knowledge, and knowledge is incompatible with this angry outburst." He said, "I am on a journey," meaning he is justifying what? His outburst. He said, "I am on a journey." If you are on a journey, excuse me. Peace be upon you. I left him and walked away. Then, some of our Moroccan brothers informed me about him that he used to speak well of this Al-Albani and his knowledge, but I did not hear that he hinted at or mocked any of his books, or perhaps I did not look into it. But this one often does that.
The student : Abdullah?

The Shaykh : Abdullah, yes. So the point is, they do not know the meaning of innovation or the danger of adding to the religion at all. And this example I told you about is the greatest proof. Either they show a leaning toward Shi'ism, even regarding the claim that the majority of Muslims erred when they added the prayer upon the Companions in their sermons, and only the Shi'ah were saved from that. Glory be to Allah, do you see?
Even though the issue has no connection to the Shi'ah, because the research he is conducting is related to the Rafidah. The Shi'ah do not pray upon the Companions except rarely, meaning, and they do not seek Allah's pleasure with them, so they... hinted at the Muslims from the people of the Sunnah. The masses of Muslims, he says so, and he raised [the status of] what for? The Shi'ah, that they do not pray except upon the Messenger and his family. And he brought a second narration, and his wives and his descendants, that the Shi'ah do not pray upon the wives of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), especially Aisha among them. Meaning, a man who does not research with knowledge and does not respond to it, but he has a passion, so he revolves around it, and he always tries to support it by all means.
The student : I came across a treatise by his brother Abdul Aziz. The name of this treatise is: "Tajmil al-Ibarah fi Tafsir Surat al-Kawthar bi-Tariq al-Isharah" (Beautifying the Expression in the Exegesis of Surat al-Kawthar by the Path of Allusion). I do not know if it was printed or not, but it contains a clear statement of the unity of existence.

The Shaykh : I seek refuge in Allah.
The student : Abdul Aziz?
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : ...the Salaf of the interpretation of allusion through the path of Sufism.
The student : A very clear path.