The Albaani Site

There was a post I translated over a year ago with the title as mentioned above.  I happened to be going over it again yesterday and when I referred back to the source mentioned in it, all I could find was a mention of the hadith but the Shaikh’s explanation that followed it was not there.  I tried searching for it in all of his books and have not come across it.

Then I came across a post on the Multaqa Ahlul-Hadith forum where someone had already asked the same question about the source and there they said that this quote was also found on the Arabic Shaikh al-Albaani website and that once they were informed and couldn’t find the source they too removed it.

So following on from that, could all those of you who may have forwarded it kindly let people know that we haven’t been able to find a source for it and that I’m removing it from the blog.

I’ve already taken the link down so you won’t be able to find it on the blog, so just to let you know which post it was, its text was as follows:

“The Imaam, the Muhaddith, the Shaikh Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al-Albani, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in As-Silsilah As-Saheehah (hadith no. 1173), explaining the hadith which Abu Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami narrated from Uthman ibn Affaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, in marfoo’ form, “The best of you are those who learn the Quraan and teach it …”:

“In this hadith is an encouragement to learn the Quran, that the best of the teachers are the teachers of the Quran and that the best thing a man can learn is the Quran. So would that the students of knowledge know this since there is great benefit in it.  And indeed a calamity which has become widespread in this time of ours is that you will find many of the callers or beginners in studying knowledge putting themselves forward in calling [to Allaah] and passing religious verdicts and answering questions from the people when they do not even know how to recite Surah Fatihah well and nor with the correct articulation points for each letter [makharijal-huroof].

So you will see him pronouncing the letter ‘seen [س]’ as a ‘daad [ض]’ and the letter ‘Taa [ط]’ as a ‘taa [ت]’ , the ‘dhaal [ذ]’ as a ‘zayy [ز]’ and the ‘thaa [ث]’ as a ‘seen [س]’ . You will see him fall into a clear error [al-lahn al-jali][1] in recitation let alone the hidden error [al-lahn al-khafi].[2]

It is befitting–naturally–that he should make his recitation from memory good, so that he can cite with ease the relevant aayaat and use them as proofs in his admonitions, his lectures and his da’wah. [Instead] you will see him become preoccupied with declaring [ahadith to be] authentic and weak, and refuting the scholars and preferring some over others [from among them]. You will always hear words from him which are higher than the level he is at–so you will see him saying, “I think … I say … my saying in this affair is … and the strongest opinion in my view is …”

The strange thing about this affair is that you will not find one of them talking about a matter that is agreed upon [muttafaqun alaih] amongst the scholars. Rather, he will always–except for those upon whom Allaah has mercy–talk concerning matters in which there is a difference of opinion so that he puts forward his [own] opinion regarding it; and if that is difficult for him then you will see him [going through the sayings] giving precedence to one over the other–I seek refuge with Allaah from showing off and from the love of being heard and known.

I advise myself first and then these people secondly that the best thing a student of knowledge can start with is memorisation of the Quran, due to His, the Most High’s, saying:

“But warn with the Quran he who fears My Threat.” [Qaaf:45]

And may Allaah’s prayers and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his Companions.”

With apologies for the inconvenience.