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SHEIKH NASIRUDDIN ALBANI
Sheikh Muhammad Nasiruddin, al-Albani as he was most famously known, was
born in the city of Ashkodera, then the capital of Albania in the year
1332H (1914 AD) into a poor family. His father al-Haaj Nooh Najjaatee
al-Albani had completed Sharee'ah studies in Istanbul and returned a
scholar to Albania. After Albania was taken over by atheism the family
made Hijrah to Damascus. In Damascus, al-Albani completed his initial
education and was then taught the Qur'an, Tajweed, sciences of Arabic
language, fiqh of the Hanafee madhab and further branches of the Deen by
various Sheikhs and friends of his father.
He also learnt from his father the art of clock and watch repair - and
became highly skilled in that and famous for it and derived his earnings
through it.
He began to specialise in the field of Hadeeth and its related sciences
by the age of 20, being influenced by articles in 'al-Manaar' magazine.
He began to work in this field by transcribing al-Haafiz al-Iraaqee's
monumental 'alMughnee an-hamlil-Asfaar fil-Asfaar fee takhreej maa
fil-lhyaa minal-Akhbaar' and adding notes to it. He delved further into
the field of Hadeeth and its various sciences despite discouragement
from his father. Furthermore, the books he needed were not to be found
in his father's library which was composed mainly of various works of
Hanafee Fiqh - and since he could not afford many of the books he
required he would borrow them from the famous library of Damascus - "al-Maktabah
at-Thaahiriyyah", or sometimes from book sellers.
He became engrossed with the science of Hadeeth to the extent that he
would sometimes close up his shop and remain in the library for up to
twelve hours - breaking off his work only for prayer - he would not even
leave to eat, but would take two light snacks with him. Eventually the
library authorities granted him a special room to himself for his study
and his own key for access to the library before normal opening time.
Often he would remain at work from early morning until after 'Ishaa.
During this time he produced many useful works - many of which are still
waiting to be printed.
The Sheikh's studies of Hadeeth of Allah's Messenger (PBUH) had a great
effect on him and resulted in his turning away from blind-following of
his former madhab and instead to accept and act upon the Book and the
Sunnah - with the understanding of the pious predecessors (i.e, As-Salafu
Saaleh) of the Ummah. This naturally meant he was sometimes at variance
with some of the local Sheikhs who blindly followed their Madhab, and
likewise with the local Sufi Imaams and innovators who began to oppose
him and incite the common people against him by calling him a 'Wahhaabi
deviant'. He was, however, encouraged by some of the noble Sheikhs of
Damascus who urged him to continue, amongst them Sheikh Bahjatul Baijaar,
Sheikh Abdul-Fattah, the Imaam, and Tawfeeq al-Barzah, Rahimahum Allah.
The Sheikh faced much opposition in his efforts to promote Tawheed and
the Sunnah but he bore this with patient perseverance. After some time
he started giving two weekly classes attended by students of knowledge
and university teachers - in which he taught various books of 'Aqeedah,
Fiqh, Usool and Hadeeth sciences.
He also began organised monthly journeys for Da'wah to the various
cities of Syria and then Jordan. After a number of his works appeared in
print the Sheikh was chosen to teach Hadeeth in the new University in
Madeenah, Saudi Arabia, for three years from 1381 to 1383 Hijrah, where
he was also a member of the University board.
After this he returned to his former studies and work in "al-Maktabatu
at-Thaahiriyyah" leaving his shop in the hands of one of his brothers.
He visited various countries for Da'wah and lectures - amongst them
Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, the Emirates, Spain and England. He was forced to
emigrate a number of times moving from Syria to Jordan, then Syria
again, then Beirut, then the Emirates, then again to 'Ammaan, Jordan.
Sheikh Nasiruddin Albani became the pre-eminent scholar of Hadeeth (Al-Muhaddith)
in recent era. His works - mainly in the field of Hadeeth and its
sciences - number over 100. Among his gems beneficial for the whole
Ummah include:
- Sifatu Salaatu Nabi mina takbiri ila taslimi ka annaka taraaha, the
most widely distributed and printed book on 'How to' in Salaah according
to the Sunnah of our Prophet (PBUH);
- Silsilah Saheehah, and Silsilah Dhaeefah wa Maudhucah, on Ahadith;
- Saheeh wa Dhaeef Jaami Sagheer, authenticated works originally
compiled by Suyuti;
- Al Irwa' Ghaleel;
- Saheehs of Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasaa'i, and Ibn Maajah.
- Saheeh wa Dhaeef Adabul Mufrad of Bukhari.
- Mishkaat Masaabih, the authenticated version of the original hadeeth
collection.
His students are many and include many prominent Sheikhs of the present
day amongst them: Shaykh Hamdi Abdul-Majeed, Shaykh Muhammad 'Eed
Abbaasi, Dr. Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar, Shaykh Muhammad lbrahim Shaqrah,
Shaykh Muqbil ibn Haadi al-Waadi'i, Shaykh Ali Khushshaan, Shaykh
Muhammad Bin Jameel Zainoo, Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan Abdus-Samad, Shaykh Ali
Hassan Abdul-Hameed al-Halabi, Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaali, and Sheikh
Abdur-Rahman Abdul-Khaaliq.
The Sheikh passed away on Saturday 22 Jumaada Thaaniyah 1420 H (2
October 1999), may Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'aala) have Mercy upon his
soul, Aameen!
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