A discussion between Shaykh al-Albani and Ali Bilhaj regarding whether to record the discussion or not.

The Shaykh: Welcome, how are you? What do you have for us?

The questioner: In any case, Shaykh, we actually came to visit you.

The Shaykh : Welcome.

The questioner: We also came to raise some issues, but I do not think we have enough time to raise them. So, in any case, we would like to hear your assessment of the current situation in the Gulf, because, by the grace of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His help, we will discuss and raise some issues with the Iraqi authorities, hoping that the Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He) will bring good from them.

The Shaykh: May Allah will it.

The questioner: So we ask within this framework, we request that you clarify these issues. But there are many issues, Shaykh. I do not want, in any case, for this to be recorded, but rather for it to be a genuine discussion. It is not a discussion between [us] because recording has often, in fact, led to misunderstanding among many people. And those who ask questions often phrase them in a specific way to reach a specific answer. I do not know, in any case, what you think of what I am saying?

The Shaykh: I say first, you are not one of those, so the suggestion is not in its place. Second, you know the saying of the first one: "The only defect of news is its narrators." If both the question and the answer are subject to distortion and development, and it is recorded, then it is even more so that it will accept all that and more, compared to what is not recorded, is it not so?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh: If we agree to record, and if you wish.

The questioner: There is no objection, but we are only talking about reality, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The questioner: This is the reality.

The Shaykh: How are the brothers? You have a promise with us, meaning there is no harm.

The questioner: There is no harm.

The Shaykh: Praise be to Allah, yes.

The questioner: So I said, in any case, we must look at the reality. It has now become a custom among many people. I am not objecting to recording, although I myself, in fact, do not allow many people to record my lessons or my sermons or my Friday sermons. Now everyone who comes and goes records.

The Shaykh: But your last statement frightened me.

The questioner: No, no, Shaykh, I have not finished yet.

The Shaykh: But what did you ask me? Why did your last statement frighten me?

The questioner: I mean, now everyone who comes and goes records, I mean.

The Shaykh: No, when you finally said that you do not want your lesson and your words to be recorded, that frightened me.

The questioner : Why?

The Shaykh: This is what I expect, because I feared at that time... the debate, and although a large part of the debate is commanded in the Qur'an, as you know, and we hope that our debate is of the type commanded in the Noble Qur'an. So when we discussed the matter, I felt that you were reassured by my statement that recording is better so that it does not deviate, nor is anything added to it, nor is anything subtracted from the words whose defect is their narrators. Is the reason for the fear clear?

The questioner: It is clear, Shaykh, but I actually said at the beginning of the speech, and we hope that the speech, Shaykh, in any case, is not just about this specific point, whether to record or not.

The Shaykh: No, this will proceed, but we must focus on a point to build upon, because I will tell you: if you are not reassured by the recording, we will instruct our friend not to record. This is a fundamental matter.

The questioner: This is what I see, Shaykh. Why? Because there are things we might discuss that could give us a clearer idea.

The Shaykh: If we understand the point you wanted us not to stop at, it will benefit us now, because previously we understood from you that there is no objection to recording based on the premises we presented. But finally, we understood that you do not wish to record, so we were confused. But now that we have stopped at this point, we say that you do not want to record. So, Abu Ahmad, look at the desire...The Shaykh : And do not record unless you take permission from him. This is a second matter.
Abu Layla: The suggestion of the question that you, I mean, you do not like, so we will stop it. May Allah reward you with good. We take from...The Shaykh : Great benefits, if Allah wills.

The questioner: I think these benefits are scattered in the tapes...The Shaykh : Many,The Shaykh : In any case, the benefits we heard now are abundant in the tapes, and praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. And a thing, when it is repeated, is established, as they say. And it is also present in the books of the scholars. So I think, for this reason, it leaves me [with the feeling that] these issues we heard from...The Shaykh : We, in any case, learned them from...The Shaykh : Through the tapes, as I said, since 1976, when he was explaining...The Shaykh : "Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib." These issues are not new for us, but we are talking, perhaps if there were other questions, we might agree to recording. But I came first and foremost to visit...The Shaykh : This is one thing. And I hope from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) that after we return from Baghdad, if Allah grants us the return, there might be tapes for recording. But now, there are issues that might be a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for people if they come out. And you know that tapes like these were recorded here and spread in Algeria, in any case, and also formed a fitnah and led the Muslims to what is not praiseworthy. In any case, this is something we know and have witnessed. I am not objecting to recording for the sake of recording, but I object only to the possibility that this recording might fall into the hands of some brothers, as happened before...The Shaykh : And it was said that the recording is not distorted, but the question that is raised on...The Shaykh : May also have a specific phrasing and specific tones that suggest a specific answer.
Abu Layla: I have tapes of the Shaykh from years ago that are recorded and stopped, but I keep them for history. Perhaps this is from this category. Is that possible? Of course, I do not distribute them now at all, but perhaps, if Allah (Mighty and Majestic) wills, after many years, because your meeting with...The Shaykh : For us, praise be to Allah, we consider it very important... And perhaps the things that caused some fitnah there, perhaps now here, I mean, are being corrected. This is my opinion. Otherwise, I would turn off the recorder. We will keep it for history, but I do not record it. Praise be to Allah, especially since you say there are things recorded with you.

The Shaykh: In any case, let him keep it on his opinion. Sugar. Please.