By Abu Khadeejah ‘Abdul Wāḥid
Introduction
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, we seek His help, we seek His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and our evil deeds. Whoever Allah guides, there is none to misguide him. Whoever Allah leads astray, there is none to guide him. I testify there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is His servant and His Messenger.
Verily, the truest word is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The most evil matters are those that are newly invented, for every newly invented matter is an innovation. Every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.[1]
The Passing Away of Al-‘Allāmah Rabee’ Ibn Hādī رحمه الله
The great scholar and Imām, the Muhaddith and faqīh, Sheikh Rabee’ Ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī, died recently, in this year, 1447 AH, may Allah have mercy upon him. This great Imām was one of the great scholars of the Ummah in his time.
The Teachers of this Great Scholar
He studied under:
Sheikh ‘Abdul-‘Azīz bin ‘Abdillāh Ibn Bāz (رحمه الله), the former Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Imām and Muḥaddith of the age, the greatest scholar of ḥadīth in this era, Sheikh Muḥammad Nāṣirud-Deen al-Albānī (رحمه الله).
The Imām and mufassir Muḥammad Amīn ash-Shanqeetī (رحمه الله).
And other scholars of this era, may Allah have mercy on them all. So he studied hadīth, fiqh and ‘aqeedah under the great scholars of this age and era, and was extolled and mentioned with praise by them. Sheikh Ibn Bāz (رحمه الله) would praise him immensely and would not allow others to criticise him unless they had proof. He would tell the people to take from him, for indeed he was an Imām of Sunnah.[2]
The Praise of the Scholars for Imām Rabee’ رحمه الله
He studied hadīth, fiqh and ‘aqeedah under the great scholars of this age and era, and was extolled and mentioned with praise by them. Sheikh Ibn Bāz (رحمه الله) would praise him immensely and would not allow others to criticize him unless they had proof. He would tell the people to take from him, for indeed he was an Imām of Sunnah. [3]
The Statement of al-‘Allāmah Ibn ‘Uthaymīn
When asked about Sheikh Rabee’, Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn (رحمه الله) said: “The likes of me are asked about Sheikh Rabee’? Rather, I say to you what Imām Aḥmad said when asked about Ishāq ibn Ibrāhīm ar-Rahawayh: Rather it is Ishāq who is to be asked about me.” [4]
The Statement of the Muḥaddith al-Albānī رحمه الله
Sheikh al-Albānī (رحمه الله) said: “In truth, in this age, the carrier of the banner of al-Jarḥ wa at-Ta’deel (the science of ḥadīth regarding the disparagement and praise of narrators), in this age is the Sheikh, Doctor Rabee’ bin Hādī Umayr al-Madkhalī.” [5]
The Knowledge that Imām Rabee’ Left Behind for this Ummah
He (رحمه الله) was, as the scholars are, from the inheritors of the Prophets. They inherit their knowledge and then convey it to the people. [6]
Alhamdulillah, we can benefit from the knowledge of the Sheikh, as expressed in his works, his clarification of the Sunnah, and his refutation of the opposers.
Uplifting Words from Shaykh Rabee’
When he was asked for advice after the death of Shaykh Ibn Bāz, Shaykh al-Albānī, Shaykh al-‘Uthaymīn and Shaykh Muqbil (رحمهم الله):
After the calamity of the deaths of the above four great Imāms within a short space of each other, Sheikh Rabee’ was asked what the people should do.
He answered, saying that there are scholars who are still alive and present, and Allah the Most High will not allow the dīn to be lost. The best and final one of the messengers and their seal died (صلى الله عليه وسلم), but the Ṣaḥābah remained and carried the dīn of Allah to the next generation, the Tābi‘īn. Likewise, the Tābi‘īn also died and then left their knowledge to their students from the Atbā‘ at-Tābi‘īn.
Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal (رحمه الله) died, and after him were his companions and students who carried the knowledge to those after them. And such is the case with all of the scholars: their knowledge is carried by the trustworthy ones from the ‘Ulamā, although their death is a calamity for the Ummah.
“There Will Never Cease to Remain Within My Ummah Manifest Upon the Truth”
When these four scholars died, Sheikh Rabee’ reminded the people of the ḥadīth of Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), reported by Ibn Mājah and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albānī (رحمه الله): Mu‘āwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān (رضي الله عنه) stood amongst the people giving a sermon, and he said to them: “Where are your scholars? For indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say:
“There will never cease to remain from my Ummah a group that is manifestly upon the truth, aided by Allah. They are not harmed by those who forsake them, nor by those who oppose them — until the Hour is established.” [7]
Who Are the “Aided Group”?
When Imām at-Tirmidhī mentioned this narration, he mentioned the statement of Imām al-Bukhārī, who said that ‘Alī al-Madīnī (his teacher) said:
“They (the aided group mentioned in the above ḥadīth) are the people of knowledge and the people of narration.”
Meaning: the people of hadīth and Sunnah. And there will not be an age except that they are present. [8]
The Reality of Death and Questioning in the Grave
The death of the scholars is a reality; everyone will die, and then we shall all be entered into our graves. We will be sat up, and the two angels, Munkar and Nakīr, who are black and blue, severe and harsh, will come and ask every single one of us: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet? [9]
We ask Allah for thabāt (firmness and steadfastness) in this world and the Hereafter.
The Greatest Legacy Sheikh Rabee’ Left Behind
It was Sheikh Rabee’s knowledge that was his true legacy — and the people can still benefit from his works, writings, and books.
Shaykh Rabee’s Frequent Encouragement
He would encourage love and brotherhood between the ranks of the Salafīs, and he would warn against differing and splitting. This is also found in his writings.
In one of his works, he said: “It is wājib upon us that we follow the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and that we hold onto them both and bite onto them with our molar teeth as the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) commanded us when he gave a sermon. It was an immense and tremendous admonition that caused the eyes of the Companions to shed tears and their hearts to tremble. So they said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), it is as though you are giving us a farewell sermon — so what do you advise us with?’
He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: ‘I advise you with the taqwā of Allah, and to hear and obey. Whoever among you lives long will see great controversy and differing, so hold fast to what you know of my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Hold onto that with your molar teeth. And beware of the newly invented matters, for every newly introduced matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.’
(Abū Dāwūd, at-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah. Declared sahīh by Sheikh al-Albānī). [10]
This was a comprehensive admonition from Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم): that a person should have taqwā of Allah by keeping away from His prohibitions. True taqwā is manifested in the hearts and souls of the truthful scholars.
Allah the Most High said:
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ
“Indeed, it is only the ‘Ulamā among His servants who truly fear Allah.” [11]
Striving to Reach the Station of Those Who Truly Fear Allah
So fear Allah and be obedient to Him in order to reach that station mentioned in the above verse. Seek knowledge to attain that level — for only those who know the true ‘aqeedah, manners, and character from the Book and Sunnah can reach it.
Perfection in Worship and Striving Towards Iḥsān
When a person fulfils these affairs, it elevates him to the level of taqwā, fearing Allah and having murāqabah — knowing that Allah is watching him.
This is the station of iḥsān. When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was asked by Jibrīl (‘alayhi as-salām): “Inform me about iḥsān,” he said:
“That you worship Allah as though you can see Him, and though you cannot see Him, know that He can see you.” [12]
Allah knows everything and has appointed angels, Kirāman Kātibīn, who record every deed. When this is present in the believer’s soul, he attains the blessing of taqwā, with which he protects himself from shirk, sins, and bid‘ah, and he attains ihsān.
The Trials that the Scholars Encountered
The scholars who adhere to the truth face much opposition. Shaykh Rabee’ was reviled, warned against, and belittled — as were the scholars before him. Yet this did not deter them.
Therefore, we must strive to be like them: to acquire beneficial knowledge and perform righteous deeds. As Allah said:
وَالْعَصْرِ. إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ. إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
“By time. Indeed mankind is in loss — except those who believe, do righteous deeds, and enjoin the truth upon one another, and enjoin patience upon one another.” [13]
Therefore, true īmān is established upon knowledge of tawḥīd and worship. So read the books of this Imām and teach them to your families.
Conclusion
May Allah make us from the righteous and the pious who truly benefit from the scholars of ḥadīth, Sunnah, and Salafiyyah.
والحمد لله رب العالمين وصلى الله على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين.
References
[1]: Muslim (867), from the sermon of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
[2]: Fatāwā Ibn Bāz and his letters of recommendation for Shaykh Rabee’.
[4]: Reported from Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn; see al-Ijmā‘ wal-Ittifāq, p. 83.
[5]: Al-Albānī’s statement in al-Fatāwā al-Imārātīyah, p. 23.
[6]: Abū Dāwūd (3641), authenticated by al-Albānī: “The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.”
[7]: Ibn Mājah (8), authenticated by al-Albānī in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi‘ (7468).
[8]: At-Tirmidhī (2229)
[9]: Muslim (2870) on the questioning in the grave.
[10]: Abū Dāwūd (4607), at-Tirmidhī (2676), Ibn Mājah (42); sahīh according to al-Albānī.
[11]: Qur’an, Sūrah Fātir 35:28.
[12]: Muslim (8), hadīth of Jibrīl.
[13]: Qur’an, Sūrah al-‘Asr 103.
