The Shaykh’s remarks on Hamid al-Fiqi (and his method of responding to those who disagree with him).

The Shaykh : The Shaykh : Hamid used to exaggerate greatly in his speech, and this is truly one of the wonders of the freedom that existed in those Egyptian lands. For there is no doubt that the majority of Egyptians are characterized by honoring Sufism and loving Sufism, and by exaggerating in honoring the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous: Tantawi, Badi, al-Sha'rani, and so on. So when he mentioned these people, he referred to them with very ugly titles. As they say, if I forget anything, I will not forget that when he would mention al-Sha'rani and the stories he relates in his book, *Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra*, which contain great calamities, instead of saying "al-Sha'rani said," he would say "al-Ba'rani said." Yes. And the first time I met him, I met him in Makkah during the first Hajj I ever performed. I visited him at the hotel. The leader of the group I was with at the time was with me, his name was Fahd al-Malik. He introduced him to me. When he heard my name, and I was of course a young man at the time, this was approximately thirty-five years ago.
Al-Halabi : Forty years, Shaykh. Forty years ago was the first Hajj you performed.

The Shaykh : Forty years, that is it. The important thing is, he stood up and embraced me: "Welcome, welcome," and so on. And how are the brothers? How is the da'wah there in Syria, and so on. Then an occasion arose to mention the Muslim Brotherhood. What did he say to me? "These Khawans..."
Al-Halabi : And I also heard that he used to call them al-Hassanibah.

The Shaykh : Yes. So, glory to Allah, meaning, they have these words among them that are not approved for da'wah workers. It appears that this style was transferred to 'Abd al-Rahman al-Wakil and others.
Our need regarding Abu 'Abdullah is that he be patient with us. May Allah reward him with good.

The questioner : The Shaykh : The spotlight is on you, Abu 'Abdullah.

The Shaykh : Welcome, but bring the chair a little closer to us. Welcome...