Young Ibn Taymiyyah….

Young Ibn Taymiyyah

(رحيمه الله)

Ibn Abdul-Haadi, Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah’s student wrote:

“And it so happened that a Shaikh from Aleppo came to Damascus, saying, “I have heard that in this city there is a boy who goes by the name of Ahmad the son of Taymiyyah and that he is extremely quick in memorising. I have come perchance I may see him.”

So a tailor said to him, “This is his route to school and he has not yet come, so sit with us. Anytime now he will pass us on his way to the school.”

So the Aleppan Shaikh sat down for a short while. Then two young boys walked by, so the tailor said to the Shaikh, “The young boy carrying that large tablet – he is Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah.”

So the Shaikh called him and he (Ibn Taymiyyah) came to him. Then the Shaikh took the tablet and looked at what was written therein. Then he said, “O my son! Wipe this out so that I can dictate something to you which you can write.”

So Ibn Taymiyyah did so. Then the Shaikh dictated eleven or thirteen sayings of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallaam) to him. Then the Shaikh said to him, “Read this.”

So Ibn Taymiyyah looked over it once after he had written it and then gave the tablet back to the Shaikh. So he said, “Read it to me.”

So he read it back to him in the best way possible. Then the Shaikh said to him, “O my son! Wipe this out.”

So he wiped it out and the Shaikh dictated a number of chains of narrations that he had chosen and said, “Read this.”

Ibn Taymiyyah looked at it and he did as he had done the first time. So the Shaikh stood up, saying, “If this young boy lives long he will have a great standing and rank – since the like of this has not been seen before.”

Ibn Naasirud-Deen narrated the saying of Abul-Muzaffar As-Sarmari, “And from the amazing matters regarding memorisation in our time is the Shaikh of Islaam Abul-Abbaas Ahmad bin Abdul-Haleem bin Taymiyyah. Since he would come across a book and would look over it once only after which it would be inscribed in his mind. He would be able to discuss it thereafter, narrating from it in his written works with its precise wording and meaning.

And from the most amazing of what I have heard about him is what some of his companions narrated to me.

They said that in the start of his affair when he was a young boy his father wanted to take his sons for an outing to a garden. So he said to Ibn Taymiyyah, “O Ahmad! Go out with your brothers and relax.”

So he excused himself from that however his father persisted. But the young Ibn Taymiyyah strongly declined, saying, “I would like you to excuse me from going out.”

So his father let him stay and left with his other sons. They spent their day in the garden and returned at the end of the day whereupon his father said to him, “O Ahmad! You deserted your brothers today! And you annoyed them because of your absence from them. So what is this?”

So he replied, “O father! Today I memorised this book.”  Alluding to a book with him. So his father replied, “You memorised it?!”  In denial, shocked and amazed at what his son had just said. So he said to him, “Read it to me.”

So he did.

He had indeed memorised the entire book. Then his father held him and kissed him between his eyes and said, “O my son! Do not tell anyone about what you have done,” fearful lest the the Evil Eye should fall upon him.”

~Ibn Abdul-Haadi’s Al-’Uqood Al-Durriyah min Manaaqib Shaikhil-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, p.7

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The Mujjaddid of this era, Imaam Nasir ud-Deen al Albaani Rahimahullaah

Questioner: Is Shaykh al-Albaani at the head of the ahl-ul-Hadeeth of this time?

The Answer of the ‘Allaama al-Muhadith Rabia’ bin Hadi ‘Umair al-Madhkhalee HafidhAllaah, and May Allaah raise his grade in both worlds, was:

‘I swear by Allaah that this is what Shaykh Ibn Baaz and Ibn ‘Uthaymeen submit to, as do the other scholars who have spent time in his company. They submit to the fact that there is none that can be compared with him in hadeeth, never can any one be compared with him, actually, for many centuries no one has reached to where Shaykh al-Albaani has reached.

I hold the opinion, that in study of books, neither Ibn Taymeeyah, nor Ibn Hajr reached him in the study of books. As for memorization, then they memorized more than him, but as for study and research and working extremely hard in research then there is none in comparison to him.

He has offered a library for Islaam. The Islaamic Countries and their institutions fall short in offering this amount. Anyone who now writes about hadeeth has to refer back to this man.

This man was oppressed, and the Arabs never knew his reality. Allaah took this man from the heart of Europe and placed him in the Dhahireeyah library, the best library in the east, where he spent sixty years, and he put forward this great work. What did he get in return from us?

With sadness, the virtue of a people is only known by those who posses it. As for the scholars, they knew his virtue and they acknowledged that, such as the likes of Ibn Baaz, Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, and the scholars of Islaam other than them. The scholars of India and Pakistan and the Western Arab Regions and of other places knew the status of this man, from what he placed forward for this Ummah, in ‘Aqeedah, Manhaj and the service to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah – alayhi as-Salaat wa Salaam -, may Allaah have mercy on him, and reward him with goodness for the Deen of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet – alayhi as-Salaat wa Salaam -, the reward for those who do good actions, and for those who gave a service to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah and His Deen. Naaam!

Taken from a gathering in the blessed city of Madina an-Nabaweeyah on the 26/01/1426 A.H.

www.sahab.net

Translated by
Abbas Abu Yahya

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‘Describe Ali to me…’

After Ali died , Mu`awiyah bin Abi Sufyan said to Dirar bin Damrah
“Describe ‘Ali to me.”
“Will you not excuse me from answering you,” said Dirar.
“No, describe him,” insisted Mu`awiyah.
“Please excuse me from doing so,” said Dirar.
“I will not,” said Mu`awiyah.
” I will do so, then” said Dirar with a sigh.

“By Allah, he was (far-sighted) and very strong. He spoke with a truthful finality, so that, through him , truth became distinguished from falsehood. He ruled justly, and knowledge gushed forth from him, as did wisdom. He felt an aversion to the world and its (pleasure). He was comfortable with the night and its darkness ( meaning he prayed a lot). By Allah he would cry profusely ( from fear of Allah); long durations would he spend in contemplation, during which time he would converse with his soul. He showed a liking to coarse garments and lower-quality food. By Allah, it was as if – in his humbleness- he was one of us: when we asked him a question, he would answer us; when we would go to him, he would initiate (the salam); and when we would invite him (to our homes), he would come to us . Yet, in spite of his closeness to us, we would not speak (freely) with him, because of the dignity and honor that he exuded if he smiled, he revealed the likes of straight and regular pearls(his teeth). He honored religious people and loved the poor. The strong person could not hope to gain favors from him through falsehood. And the weak person never lost hope of his justness. I swear, by Allah, that on certain occasions, I saw him in his place of prayer when the night was dark and few stars could be seen; he would be holding his beard and crying the way a very sad person cries; and I would hear him saying,

“O world, O world, are you offering yourself to me? Do you desire me? Never! Never! Deceive someone other than me, I have divorced you for the third time, so that you cannot return to me (metaphorically, of course; he is alluding to the fact that, in islam, the third divorce is final) your life is short, the existence you offer is base, and your danger is great. Alas for the scarcity of sustenance (good deeds), the great distance of the journey, and the loneliness of the road!”

Upon hearing this description, Mu`awiyah’s eyes swelled with tears, and not being able to hold them from gushing forth, he was forced to wipe them with his cuffs; and the same can be said for those who were present. Mu`awiyah then said, “May Allah have mercy on the father of Al-Hasan, for he was, by Allah, just as you described him to be. “
He then said, “O Dirar, describe your sadness at having lost him.”
“My sadness” began Dirar “is like the sadness of a woman who cannot control her tears or allay her grief after her child , while in her lap, has just been slaughtered.”
Dirar then stood up and left.

~Sifatus-Safwah 1/66

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Shaykh Maahir al Qahtaani live @ Masjid as sunnah!

Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem

 

Masjid as-Sunnah presents…

A LIVE Weekend Seminar with our Shaykh

Abu Abdullah

Maher bin

Dhafer al-Qahtani

 

(Hafidahullah)

Live in

Person

@ Masjid

as-Sunnah

 

 

Friday 4th to Sunday 6^th of February

(in sha Allaah)

All Welcome

Books, CD’s, Thobes, Abayah’s, Fragrances, Food on sale and More…

 

Available on Paltalk room: Heathrow Masjid

as-Sunnah salafi Duroos LIVE

 

Nearest Cheap Hotels, Travelodge Heathrow Central, Ibis Heathrow, Premier Inn Heathrow

 

The Shaykh is with us until Friday 12th February and we will confirm the Shaykh’s schedule for the rest of the week later so if you have holidays at work

BOOK THEM NOW!!!

Biography of Our beloved Shaykh:

Shaykh Abu Abdullah Maher Bin Dhafer Al-Qahtani:

One of the shaykh’s students – known as Tariq bin Hasan, stated the following:

 

I (his student – Tariq bin Hasan) say:  And indeed in the books of biographies they used to praise the one who was known for being diligent in seeking (knowledge) so that the one who was taking knowledge from him would feel at ease.

 

As for what has been transmitted to me from some of the trustworthy ones, and they heard it directly, or came across what has been said in terms of praise of Shaykh Abi Abdillah Mahir bin Dhafer Al-Qahtani, from the people of knowledge:

 

Firstly:  Then it is what the Shaykh, the ‘Allamah, the Imam, Abdulaziz bin Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) said when he was called by phone (by Shaykh Mahir) after some time after having a knowledge based discussion and the asking of questions by Shaykh Mahir Al-Qahtani in Shaykh Abdulaziz bin Baz’s house in Taif:  So when (Shaykh Bin Baz) recognised his (Shaykh Mahir’s) voice he said: You are Mahir (meaning you are skilled, proficient) insha-Allah.

 

And Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said about Ibn Muflih you are Muflih (meaning you are successful) insha-Allah.

 

Secondly:  The statement of the Shaykh, the Allamah, Al-Albani:  When he found out from some people about what Shaykh Mahir bin Dhafer Al-Qahtani had put forward for the sunnah and the opposition of those who are against him due to what he transmits and teaches of good, they oppose him in that.  Or other than this of which he heard, he said:  You are ‘Dhafer’ insha-Allah – meaning victor – and this is a good omen, insha-Allah.

 

Thirdly:  The statement of the Shaykh, Dr. Muhammad Bazmool in a sitting in the presence of Shaykh Rabee’ Al-Madkhalee.  Shaykh, Dr. Muhammad said to Shaykh Rabee’:  I have not seen anyone the age of Shaykh Mahir like him.

 

Fourthly:  The statement of the Shaykh Al-Khidr Ash-Shanqeeti – previously a teacher in Umm Al-Qura University, and he was from the shaykhs of Shaykh Mahir Al-Qahtani and he was the one who spent the most time with the author of, Adwaa’ Al-Bayan (the famous tafseer), the Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shanqeeti.  He (Shaykh Al-Khidr) said:  Oh Qahtani, what are the books that you read from?  I have not sat with you except that I have benefited.  (And he has passed away – may Allah the Most High have mercy on him).

Fifthly:  Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin Al-Abbad becoming acquainted with the research paper replying to Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin Al-‘Ubaykan regarding the removing of magic by magic and that not being allowed from a number of aspects.  So Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin Al-Abbad personally called Shaykh Mahir Al-Qahtani and encouraged him to distribute it and he was pleased with what was mentioned in it in terms of knowledge and evidence.

Sixthly:  Shaykh, Dr. Salih Al-Fawzan becoming acquainted and in agreement with some of his research papers, such as his reply to bin Jibreen with regard to allowing the giving of charity with Riba money and also his research paper Kashful-Ghalas Fee Hukmil-Jaras (the ruling regarding bells); about which he said the speech in it is knowledge-based speech.

 

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asking permission…

 

Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Madeenee al-Bazzaar said:

“I went to Basrah while Ahmad bin Hanbal was still living and I asked him concerning the most knowledgeable in fiqh of them. He replied that there was no one in Basrah who was a greater faqeeh than Ahmad bin `Amr bin Abee Aasim.Abu ash-Shaykh said: I heard my son narrate from Abu Abdullaah al-Kasaa`ee , I heard ibn Abee Aasim say: When the affair of al-Alawee occurred in Basrah all of my books were lost, so I re-wrote fifty thousand ahaadeeth from memory. I used to go to the greengrocers’ shop and write using the light of his lamp. Then I …realised that I had not asked the permission of the owner of the lamp [to sit in its light] so I went to the sea and washed away all I had written and wrote it again.”

• [Ibn Katheer, ‘al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah’ (11/96); adh-Dhahabee, ‘Siyar’ (13/430-439); Ibn Hajr, ‘Lisaan al-Meezaan’ (7/298)]

 

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“If you had seen what I have seen, you would not have rejected…”

 

REMEMBERING THE GUIDANCE

Al-Qaadee ‘Iyaadh (d.591H) – (rahimahullaah) – relates: “Mu’sab ibn ‘Abdullaah said:

 

When Imaam Maalik (d.179H) would mention the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), his colour would change and he would have to lean down, and those in his gathering would feel disturbed. So one day, on being asked about this, he said: If you had seen what I have seen, you would not have rejected what you had seen. I have seen Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir (d.130H) – and he was the leader of the Reciters – that he would never be asked about a hadeeth (Prophetic narration), except that he would weep, until we had mercy upon him. And I have seen Ja’far ibn Muhammad (d.148H) who used to smile alot. Yet whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was mentioned to him, he would turn pale. I have never seen him narrating the hadeeth of the Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), except in a state of purification. And when times deteriorated, I never saw him except in one of three conditions: Either Praying, observing silence, or reciting the Qur’aan. He never uttered a word having no significance, and he was one of the Scholars and worshippers who had great fear of Allaah. Whenever ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn al-Qaasim (d.126H) mentioned the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), he turned pale, as if the blood had been drained from his face, and his tongue dried-up due to reverence for Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). I went to ‘Aamir ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn az-Zubayr (d.123H), and whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was mentioned to him, he would weep so much, until he was unable to weep any longer. I saw az-Zuhree (d.124H) – and he was from the kindest of people, and closest to them – that when the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was mentioned to him, he would not be able to recognise you, nor would you be able to recognise him. I came to Safwaan ibn Sulaym (d.132H) – and he was one of the (mujtahid) Scholars and worshippers – that whenever he mentioned the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) he would weep, and he would not stop weeping, to the extent that the people would have to get up and leave him.”

 

 

• Related by Ibn Taymiyyah in Kitaabul-Waseelah (p.92)

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Al-Albani: The great reviver of our era

Sh. Al-Albani Rahimahullaah

 

EVERY hundred years Allah sends someone in this Ummah to revive His religion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ýIndeed Allah raises up from this ummah at the beginning of every century someone who will revive it for them (i.e. a mujaddid ).ý

Among several exemplary scholars Islamic history has seen, there have always been some scholars who have strode extra miles to revive Islam. Scholars like Ibn Taimiyyah and Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab are two such examples.

In more recent times scholars like Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, Muhammad Bin Al-Uthaymeen and Sheikh Badi-ud-deen Shah As-Sindi have all exerted great efforts for the cause of Islam, and indeed Allah aided them and brought glory and success to Islam through them.

However, there is one name that really stands out. His contribution to Islam, especially in the science of Hadith, is second to none in our times. Born and raised in Shkodra, the then capital of Albania, Muhammad Nasriddeen Al-Albani, started his life without knowing that one day he would become one of the leading scholars 20th century has seen. His family was poor. His father, Nuh Najati Al-Albani, was a leading scholar in Hanafi Fiqh. Since his countryýs government was slowly becoming more and more western, he left with his family and went to Damascus, where Nasiruddeen Al-Albani began his studies. It wasnýt long before he finished learning the Quýran, the Arabic language and Fiqh. Sheikh Albani also learnt repairing watches and clocks from his father. It wasnýt long before he mastered the trade.

He began specializing in the field of Hadith and its related sciences by the tender age of 20 and his first assignment was to start transcribing Hafiz Al-Iraqiýs great piece ýAl-Mughnee ýan-Hamlil-Asfar fil-Asfar fee Takhrej maa fil-lhyaa min Al-Akhbarý. It was here where his fascination into the science of Hadith intensified and even though his father discouraged him, Al-Albaniýs love for Hadith just kept growing.

The Sheikh would spend much of his time, sometimes more than 12 hours a day, in Damascusýs Az-Zahiriyah library. He would be so engrossed in research that he would have no time for food. As weeks and months flew by, the Sheikh was given his own room and a set of keys to the library to pursue his study.

Once the Sheikh was up on the ladder to get some books from the top shelf. While looking out, he began to read a book for some information and he ended up standing on the ladder for hours till he finished that book. However, his reading and research did not neglect him from his religious obligations like offering prayer five times a day.

After being regularly invited to give lectures in prestigious Islamic universities and having several of his works published, the Sheikh was invited to teach Hadith at the Islamic University of Madina. The Sheikh called people to worship Allah alone and spared no efforts to revive the Prophetýs Sunnah.

The Sheikh did face several hardships and lived in several countries like Syria, the UAE, Lebanon and Jordan.

Great scholars of our time have praised him extensively. The late Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Ibraheem Aal Sheikh said, ýAnd he is the upholder of the Sunnah, a supporter of the truth and in opposition to the people of falsehood.ý

The late former Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz said, ýI have not seen anyone under the surface of the sky with more knowledge of Hadith in our current times than the likes of the great scholar, Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen Al-Albani.ý


Sheikh Bin Baz, in fact, was of the opinion that Al-Albani was the Mujaddid of our era. All great scholars including Sheikh Uthaymeen have praised him extensively.

After a life full of seeking knowledge and propagating Islam, the reviver of Sunnah, Sheikh Al-Albani died in 1420 AH/1999 CE when he was 87.  He left his will advising his relatives not to wail over his death and hurry his burial. He donated his entire library that included valuable manuscripts to the library of the Islamic University of Madina because of his ýfond memoriesý of the years he spent teaching there. ý SG

source: Saudi Gazette newspaper of 19 Rabi Al-Awaal 1430 H

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excellence of shaykh al Albaani Rahimahullaah

The praise of Shaykh Rabee’ al-Madhkhalee for the Muhaddith,
the ‘Allaamah, Shaykh of Hadeeth Muhammad Naasir ud-Deen
al-Albaanee

Questioner: Is Shaykh
al-Albaanee at the head of the ahl-ul-Hadeeth of this time?

The Answer of the ‘Allaamah
al-Muhaddith Rabee’ bin Haadee ‘Umayr al-Madhkhalee HafidhAllaah,
and May Allaah raise his grade in both worlds, was:

‘I swear by Allaah that
this is what Shaykh Ibn Baaz and Ibn ‘Uthaymeen submit to, as do the
other scholars who have spent time in his company. They submit to the
fact that there is none that can be compared with him in hadeeth, never
can any one be compared with him, actually, for many centuries no one
has reached to where Shaykh al-Albaani has reached.

I hold the opinion, that
in study of books, neither Ibn Taymeeyah, nor Ibn Hajr reached him in
the study of books.  As for memorization, then they
memorized more than him, but as for study and research and working
extremely hard in research then there is none in comparison to him.

He has offered a library
for Islaam.  The Islaamic Countries and their institutions
fall short in offering this amount. Anyone who now writes about hadeeth
has to refer back to this man.

This man was oppressed,
and the Arabs never knew his reality.  Allaah took this man
from the heart of Europe and placed him in the Dhahireeyah library, the
best library in the east, where he spent sixty years, and he put
forward this great work. What did he get in return from us?

With sadness, the virtue
of a people is only known by those who posses it.  As for
the scholars, they knew his virtue and they acknowledged that, such as
the likes of Ibn Baaz, Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, and the scholars of Islaam other
than them.  The scholars of India and Pakistan and the
Western Arab Regions and of other places knew the status of this man,
from what he placed forward for this Ummah, in ‘Aqeedah,
Manhaj and the service to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah – alayhi as-Salaat wa
Salaam –,
may Allaah have mercy on him, and reward him with goodness for the Deen
of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet – alayhi as-Salaat wa
Salaam –,
the reward for those who do good actions, and for those who gave a
service to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah and His Deen. Naaam!

Taken from a gathering in
the blessed city of Madina an-Nabaweeyah on the 26/01/1426 A.H.

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My journey to Islam by Rasheed Barbee

My journey to Islam by Rasheed Barbee

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem

I recall meeting a Muslim for the first time in 1989 when I left my home town of Raleigh North Carolina and joined the United States Army as a Military Policeman. I would continue to encounter several Muslims while stationed near Hagerstown Maryland, but I can not recall anyone calling me to Islam. Although there was a sergeant in my unit who had previously been stationed in Turkey and he was married to a Turkish woman; he said his wife was making him read the Koran and he was reading a chapter entitled ‘the cow’. I remember him saying to me, ‘you have to read this, this book is amazing’. He was Caucasian, and this was significant because it would aid me in understanding that Islam was not a ‘black’ or ‘Arab’ religion.

During a tour in South Korea from 1992 to 1993 I became very interested in religion but I didn’t know which religion to follow. I remember one night while returning from the movies I began to pray, ‘oh God, I am calling upon You and only You, please guide me to the religion You love the most, Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.’ When I returned to my room and looked out the window I saw what I thought to be a crescent moon and at the time I mistakenly believed it to be an Islamic symbol so I said, I am going to be a Muslim. Although I was determined to be a Muslim I had no idea what Islam was, and I had no idea I was soon to encounter a belief that was further from Islam than the east is from the west.

While still in South Korea, a new soldier coming from New York was assigned to our unit. He had with him several books written by Dwight York, leader of the Ansar Cult. He said he did not follow the Ansar Community himself, but he found their teachings interesting. I read each and every one of the books he loaned me and I even went to the catalog in the back of the book and ordered several books of my own; but to my dismay the books never came.

In 1993 I was reassigned to Herlong, California (70 miles north of Reno, Nevada) to complete my final tour in the military. At this time I had not read much literature about Islam and for some reason I had never even thought of getting a copy of the Koran; but I still wanted desperately to be a Muslim.

While in California I heard about a book that was going to ‘unveil’ the ‘truth’ about Islam; a novel entitled ‘the satanic verses’ written by a devil named Salman Rushdie. I made my way to the store, purchased the book and read it cover to cover. After reading the book I was furious at how this man could insult the angel Jibreel, and the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings are upon them both. So for the first time in my life I decided to buy a copy of the Koran to read it for myself.

Upon reading the verse where Allah says, (what can be translated as) “this is the book in which there is no doubt”; (Chapter 2 verse 2) I paused in amazement. I thought, ‘how could someone write in the beginning of a book that this book has no doubts in it, this must be from my Creator. So I read the Koran from cover to cover, and I began to pray using a ‘guide to prayer’ book and I fasted the month of Ramadan; although I still had not taken my testimony of faith and I had no idea what the pillars of Islam were and I still had traces of the Ansar Cult within.

I received an honorable discharge from the military in 1994 and upon my return to Raleigh, North Carolina I began looking in the phone book for anyone with a Muslim name and I starting calling brothers asking someone to tell me how to become a Muslim. I was directed to the Masjid at Shaw University.

One Friday after the Jumah service at Shaw University, a young brother introduced himself. He said his name was Umar (Brown) Bryant, may Allah have mercy upon him. Perhaps it was apparent that I was new to the Masjid so he began making small talk and causal conversation. But I was intent on sharing with him some of my views on Islam. And at the time I was a young confident (arrogant) man who loved to debate, just for the sake of debating and I was still greatly affected by the Ansar beliefs. So I was preparing to tell Umar how all the of Prophets were black (an erroneous belief I learned from the Ansar cult) And I was prepared to argue with him from any angle that he could come, and I was confident I was going to defeat him in this debate, I had verses, I had proofs, I had pictures, I was ready for whatever answer he had; or so I thought.

So in the middle of the conversation I said to Umar, ‘Did you know that all the Prophets were black? He quickly replied, ‘so what’. “What’s your point?” I stood silenced; all I could do was smile. I replied, I guess I don’t have a point. He said, ‘come with me, and we began to walk through the city to get to his car. On the way he told me to roll my pants up, and take off my gold ring. He took me inside his home, a stranger whom he had never met, and he began to teach me Islam.

Shorty after, he introduced me to his close friend, a brother I had actually known since middle school by the name of (Abu Zanib) Mikael Chavis. They gave me my shahada and we became like family.

I swear by Allah, shortly after this, the books from the Ansar Cult that I had ordered in 1992 while in South Korea were delivered to my parents’ mail box in Raleigh. I remember opening the mail box, seeing the books, laughing, walking to the garbage can and flinging the books to their rightful destination.

Written 7Rajab 1431/ 19 June 2010

The one in need of Allah’s mercy
Abu Qayla Rasheed Barbee
Durham, NC

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about sh. Abdus-Salaam Burjis rahimahullaah

Maa shaa Allaah, a really beautiful piece about sh. Abdus salaam Burjis by br. Abu Khadeejah Abdul Wahhid at the onset of hearing about the sh.’s death rahimahullaah. We ask Allaah that He gives the ulamah of Ahlus sunnah a lofty place in Jannah. ameen.

“The eyes shed tears and the heart feels sadness, but we only say that which pleases our Lord”- Bukhari & Muslim “Inna lillaahi maa akhadhaa, wa lillaahi maa a’taa, wa kullu shay’in ‘indahu li ‘ajalin musammaa” “To Allaah belongs what He took, and to Him belongs what He gave. And everything He has given an appointed term”  -Bukhari & Muslim.Shaykh ‘Abdus-Salaam (rahimahullaah) was a Qaadee (judge) in Riyaadh  where he was also Imaam of a masjid where he delivered the Friday sermon  and held circles of knowledge. He was a student of Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn  Baaz (d.1420H). Indeed we can say that we knew the Shaykh and wish to relate some matters concerning him, rahimahullaah. He visited us in Birmingham on several occasions and I grew to love the Shaykh and we developed a relationship that I will cherish. Though I have not met him for a couple of years now, I can say that I remember his visits and our sittings together very well as if it were yesterday. I remember on an occasion, Shaykh Muhammad bin Haadee (hafidhahullaah) and Shaykh Abdus-Salaam Burjiss Aal Abdil-Kareem (rahmatullaah ‘alayhi) visited my home and honored me with their attendance. After the sitting, Shaykh Abdus-Salaam passed me two small envelopes and said (in meaning), “I feel shy that I visited Birmingham and visited Abu Talhah Daawood and you on a few occasions, yet I haven’t brought for you any gifts, please accept this as a small gift on my behalf, one for you and one for Daawood”. Thereafter the Shaykh would not accept no for an answer and insisted on us accepting the gift. On another occasion, when the Shaykh came in mid-summer along with Shaykh Muhammad Bin Haadee and Abu Naif, we decided to get some food late at night and go somewhere quiet in an open grass area and sit, eat and talk – it was a beautiful evening with the two Shaykhs that I hope never to forget – May Allaah shower Shaykh Abdus-Salaam with His Mercy. We spent hours with the Shaykh on his visits to the United Kingdom. His advices were excellent and precise. There was neither haughtiness nor pride in his character. He used sit with us and impart beneficial knowledge to us. Likewise in his moments of relaxation, he would make us laugh with his anecdotes and experiences. I found him always humble, generous and accommodating. I could continue, but that will suffice as a small insight into the noble character of the Shaykh, rahimahullaahu ta’aala. Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Waahid As-Salafee. Salafi Publications. Birmingham. http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=6&Topic=3458

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