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Author: Shaikh ‘Alee bin Hasan Al-Halabee
Source: His verification of Shaikh Ibn Maani’s book: “Butlaan Qawl-il-Mulhideen” (w/ additions)
His Name and Lineage:
He was Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-‘Azeez bin Muhammad bin ‘Abdillaah bin Muhammad bin Ibraaheem bin Maani’ bin Ibraaheem bin Hamdaan bin Muhammad bin Maani’ bin Shubrumah At-Tameemee. [1]
His student, Shaikh Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdir-Raheem bin Muhammad As-Siddeqqee, wrote a complete biography for him in which he mentioned most of the books that he studied and most of the teachers that he learned from. Shaikh Abul-Khair transmitted this biography in his book “Nashr-un-Noor waz-Zahr.” We have summarized this present biography from that one while adding to it what we knew about him personally.
His Birth and Early Studies:
The Shaikh was born in the city of ‘Unayzah – the well-known city of Qaseem – in 1300H. When he reached the age of seven, his father admitted him into a kuttaab (Quranic School) so that he could learn the Qur’aan. His father was the judge of the city of ‘Unayzah at that time. He was also very sick and a few days later passed away.
Shaikh Ibn Maani’ went through the entire Qur’aan and memorized some of it. He then set his attention to seeking knowledge, so he read and studied at the hands of the scholars of ‘Unayzah and Buraydah the abridged books on Islamic and Arabic sciences, such as Kitaab at-Tawheed, Daleel-ut-Taalib, Buloogh-ul-Maraam, Ash-Shanshooree’s explanation of ar-Rahbiyyah and al-Aajurrumiyyah.
When he reached the age of puberty, he traveled to Baghdad to intensify his studies. While there, he studied under its scholars the subjects of Grammar, Morphology, Jurisprudence, Laws of Inheritance, Accounting and Speech.
He then headed to Egypt and took residency by (the University of) Al-Azhar where he studied the Hanbalee Fiqh, Grammar and other subjects.
Afterward, he traveled to Damascus, got in contact with its scholars and became acquainted with them, studying Hadeeth under them. He then returned to ‘Iraq and attached himself to his former teachers and increased his knowledge of the Arabic Language in all of its facets with them. He also studied various forms of knowledge and disciplines with them.
His Efforts and Educational Accomplishments:
He was very serious and hard-working, laboring day and night in reading, acquiring knowledge, excessively referencing and doing research. He would not waste any of his time – neither a little nor a lot.
He, may Allaah have mercy on him, was also quick at memorizing and slow at forgetting. His mind was always present and attentive. This is why he was able to acquaint himself with that which others weren’t able to and why he was able to memorize that which others were not able to memorize. So he became a symbol (ayah) in his ability to memorize texts, recall issues, and remember what commentators said about those texts.
He was also an exemplary model in the sciences of the Arabic Language, particularly Grammar, in which he surpassed its highest levels. He became well-acquainted with the interpretation of the Qur’aan and with what the scholars of Tafseer said about certain verses as well as those verses they differed on. He was also well-versed and grounded in his memorization of the Sunnah, for he would be able to recall many ahaadeeth from (Saheeh) Al-Bukhaaree along with their chains of narration.
He was an expert in the field of Fiqh as well, being well-aware of the differences of opinion amongst the scholars. He came close to memorizing the entire didactic poem of Ibn ‘Abdil-Qawee on the Fiqh of the Hanbalee madh-hab, which consists of over 14,000 verses. This is apart from the various abridged works, classical texts and scholastic poems that he memorized.
He continued to work hard at acquiring knowledge until he became one of the major scholars who were generally referred to for advice and guidance.
His Teachers:
1. Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Abdillaah bin Saleem,
2. Shaikh ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Aa’id,
3. Shaikh Ibraaheem bin Hamad bin Jaasir,
4. Shaikh Saalih Al-‘Uthmaan Al-Qaadee,
5. Shaikh ‘Abdullaah bin Muhammad bin Dakheel.
These were his teachers while in Qaseem – in the cities of Buraidah, ‘Unayzah and Madhnab.
6. As-Sayyid Mahmood Shukree Al-Aloosee, with whom he spent a large amount of time and took a great amount of knowledge from, studying many of Ibn Taimiyyah’s works under him,
7. Shaikh Jamaal-ud-Deen Al-Qaasimee, under whom he read (and studied) Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree,
8. Shaikh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq Al-Baytaar,
9. Shaikh Badr-ud-Deen Al-Husainee, [2]
10. Shaikh ‘Abdur-Razzaaq Al-A’adhamee Al-Baghdaadee,
11. Shaikh Yahyaa bin Qaasim Al-Atharee,[3] a teacher in the Ahmadee School in Baghdad,
12. Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Ujaan, with whom he studied Fiqh while in the city of Az-Zubair in 1330H when he returned to ‘Iraq from ‘Unayzah.
These were the teachers he studied under while in Damascus, Baghdad, Az-Zubair and Cairo. He also studied under many others besides those listed here.
I examined a long biography of his written by one of his students in an attempt to list the number of books he studied under his teachers, but I found it to be something that was unable to be accounted for due to their vast amount. They include books on Tawheed, Tafseer, Hadeeth, Fiqh, the Principles of these subjects, Grammar, Morphology, Eloquence, and Enunciation – books that are classical texts, others that are explanations of these texts and others that have marginal side-note commentaries to them, some large voluminous works, while others small treatises and abridged works. He was able to study all of these books in the form of research, verification, correcting, and understanding of the issues contained within them.
His Duties:
1. The well-known good-doer, Muqbil bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan, opened an organization in Bahrain to write articles and studies as well as prepare refutations against the Christian missionaries – which spread throughout the regions of the Arab Peninsula and the Arabian Gulf. He then made Shaikh Ibn Maani’ the head of this afore-mentioned organization, a role which he upheld in the best of manners. He resided in Bahrain for four years (from 1330H-1334H) fulfilling this role and at the same time giving lessons explaining the Creed of As-Safaareenee.
2. In 1334H, the ruler of Qatar at that time, Shaikh ‘Abdullaah bin Thaanee,[4] requested his presence, so he traveled to him. There, he assigned him the roles of judging, teaching, and giving Friday sermons in Qatar. He fulfilled these roles for twenty-three (23) years. Students would come to him from Oman and all of the other Gulf countries, seeking to study under him during this long period of time that he spent there.
3. In 1358H, King ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aali Su’ood summoned him and commissioned him to teach in Al-Masjid-ul-Haraam as well as the state schools. When he arrived at Al-Ahsaa, its inhabitants welcomed him with the warmest of greetings and reverence.
4. Afterward, King ‘Abdul-‘Azeez appointed him as head of three committees: The Committee for Discerning Religious Rulings, the Committee for Commanding Good and Forbidding Evil, and the Committee for Admonition and Guidance. He served as head of these three governmental bureaus all at the same time.
5. In 1365, a royal decree was issued appointing him as the general head of awareness (Ma’aarif). He was then put in charge of Dar-ut-Tawheed. However, he continued to serve as the head of awareness (Ma’aarif) until it was restructured into the Ministry of Awareness at which point Ameer Fahd bin ‘Abdil-‘Azeez was put in charge of the Ministry.
6. In 1372H, he embarked on an inspectional tour of the schools in some of the regions of the Kingdom starting from Makkah. He passed by Jeddah and then took the road to Madeenah until he arrived there. From Madeenah he went to Haa’il and then Qaseem. His travels then took him to the cities of Washm and Sudair. Afterward, he went to Riyadh, then Ahsaa and the rest of the eastern provinces.
He then returned to Riyadh and resumed his tour in the south of Najd. He and the members of his travel party would be met with warm salutations and esteem.
As for ‘Unayzah, he was received with a grand reception and an enormous welcome. The people there presented him with wonderful poetic verses as well as sermons expressing their joy at meeting him. Amongst these poems was the written by Professor ‘Abdullaah bin As-Sinaanee in which the following is stated:
“Greetings to your happy arrival and welcome
And peace be upon you from the capital of Qaseem
We salute you, O venerable scholar
Whose virtue has been testified to by the distinguished.”
These are some of the verses contained in the beautiful poems that were written about him. News of the journey can also be found in the Manhal magazine, issue no. 2, 1373H.
7. In 1374H, the former ruler of Qatar, Shaikh ‘Alee bin Thaanee, requested Shaikh Ibn Maani’ from the government of Saudi Arabia. So he traveled to Qatar where he the development of the education system and revamped its curriculum.
8. He then took residency in Qatar and became the government’s reference point in religious affairs. This trust that was put on him resulted in his being able to have an influence on them such that the Qatari government published numerous beneficial educational books on the subjects of Tafseer, Hadeeth, Tawheed, Fiqh, and Manners and distributed them to the people of knowledge for free. No doubt, he received a share of the reward for his efforts, since the one who directs towards good is the same as the one who performs the good. So as a result, extraordinary books were produced and tremendous benefit was received.
The point I am trying to make here is that the Shaikh spent his entire life in service of the upright knowledge – learning it, teaching it, writing on it, sponsoring it, promoting it, and distributing its sources. This is the virtue of Allaah that he gives to whom He wills.
His Students:
1. Shaikh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Naasir Aali Sa’adee, the scholar of Qaseem and author of numerous well-known books.
2. Shaikh ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Umar bin Duhaish, head of the Supreme Court in Makkah.
3. Shaikh Faisal bin ‘Abdil-‘Azeez Aali Mubaarak, author of many well known books.
4. Shaikh ‘Abdul-Lateef bin Ibraaheem bin ‘Abdil-Lateef, a teacher in the Islamic University of Madeenah.
5. Shaikh ‘Alee bin Muhammad Al-Hindee, Counselor in the Ministry of Awareness.
6. Shaikh ‘Abdullaah bin Zayd bin Mahmood, head of the Courthouse in Qatar.
7. Shaikh ‘Abdullaah Al-Ansaaree, Director of Religious Affairs in the government of Qatar and one of the founding committee members of the World Muslim League.
8. Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Muhammad bin Maani’, his son.
9. Shaikh Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Maani’, Cultural Attaché of Saudi Arabia in Cairo and son of the Shaikh.
10. Shaikh Qaasim bin Darweesh, one of the distinguished scholars of Qatar.
11. Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Abdillaah Aali ‘Abdil-Qaadir Al-Ahsaa’ee, Judge of Mabriz and author of the book “The History of Ahsaa” in which he wrote poems praising Shaikh Ibn Maani’
12. The great poet, Muhammad bin ‘Uthaimeen, who studied under him in Qatar. He too wrote a nice poem in which he praises his teacher, Ibn Maani’
13. Shaikh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Abdil-‘Azeez Aali Shaikh, Imaam and Khateeb of masjid Ibn ‘Abbaas in Taa’if.
There are many others who studied under him whose names I cannot recall. [5]
His Written Works:
1. Mukhtasar Sharh ‘Aqeedah As-Safaareenee [An Abridged Explanation of the Creed of Imaam As-Safaareenee],
2. Haashiyah ‘alaa ‘Umdat-il-Fiqh [Marginal Notes to ‘Umdat-ul-Fiqh of Ibn Qudaamah],
3. Haashiyah ‘alaa Daleel-it-Taalib [Marginal Notes to Daleel-ut-Taalib of Al-Karmee], published,
4. Risaalah fee Adaab-il-Bah’th wal-Munaadharah [The Etiquettes of Researching and Debating],
5. Tahdeeq-un-Nadhar fee Akhbaar-il-Mahdee-il-Muntadhar [Setting the Sights on the Reports of the Awaited Mahdee],
6. Kash’f-ul-Ghitaa ‘amaa fee I’laam al-Waraa min Al-Akhtaa [Removing the Screen on the Errors found in I’laam al-Waraa],
7. Irshaad-ut-Tulaab ilaa Fadeelat-il-‘Ilmi wal-Adaab [Directing the Students to the Virtue of Knowledge and Manners], published,[6]
8. Iqaamat-ul-Burhaan ‘alaa Tahreem Akh’dh-il-Ajar Li-Tilaawat-il-Qur’aan [Establishing the Proof for the Prohibition of Charging a Fee for Reciting the Qur’aan], published,
9. Al-Ajwibat-ul-Hameedah ‘alaal-As’ilat-il-Mufeedah [Praiseworthy Replies to Beneficial Questions] of Shaikh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Hasan,
10. Sabeel-ul-Hudaa fee Sharh Shawaahid Qatr-in-Nadaa [The Path to Guidance in Explaining the Evidences of Qatr-un-Nadaa (a book on Grammar)],
11. Al-Kawaakib-ud-Duriyyah Li-Sharh ad-Durrat-il-Madiyyah, published by Maktabah Adwaa-us-Salaf,
12. Mukhtasar ‘Unwaan-ul-Majd fee Taareekh Najd,
13. Al-I’laam feeman wuliya ‘Unayzah minal-Umaraa wal-Qudaat al-A’laam,
14. Ta’leeqaat ‘alaa Matan At-Tahaawiyyah [Notes to the Creed of At-Tahaawee], published with Al-Albaanee’s notes by Al-Maktab-ul-Islaamee.
Some of these books have been published while others continue to be in manuscript form.[7] Some trustworthy people have informed me that Shaikh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Sa’adee would prefer him in knowledge of the Arabic Language – particularly in Grammar – over Shaikh Ash-Shanqeetee,[8] founder of the Najaat school.
His Death:
He was stricken with prostate cancer and underwent surgery for that in one of the hospitals of Beirut. However, his health continued to deteriorate until he eventually passed away shortly before Fajr on a Saturday, the 12th day in the month of Rajab, 1385H in Beirut. His body was then transported to Qatar where the Qatari government officials and the country’s inhabitants prayed over him. He was buried in Doha, Qatar along with an abounding ocean of knowledge and understanding, may Allaah have mercy on him.
Footnotes:
[1] This biography was abridged – with some alterations – from the book ‘Ulamaa Najd khilaala Sittati Quroon(6/100-113) of Shaikh ‘Abdullaah Al-Bassaam, may Allaah have mercy on him. Also refer to Mashaaheer 'Ulamaa Najd (pg. 267-272) and al-A'laam (6/209) of Az-Ziriklee.
[2] This is how it was recorded, whereas he is really Al-Hasanee, who was well-known. Refer to his biography inal-A’laam (7/157) of Az-Ziriklee
[3] This shows you how the people of knowledge – generation after generation – have passed down the ascription to al-athar (narrations). Refer to my book Saihat-un-Nadheer bi-Khatar-it-Takfeer (pg. 108).
[4] Recently, one of his noble offspring came to visit me, may Allaah have mercy on him, and I found him to be a good student of Hadeeth, diligent at acquiring knowledge. I ask Allaah to grant him an increase in success.
[5] Translator’s Note: There is also Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Abdillaah As-Sumaalee who would attend his lessons in the Haram of Makkah in the 1360H’s as occurs in his biography, and Allaah knows best.
[6] I have provided verification for it and it was published and distributed a few years ago.
[7] In the book “Mu’jam Musannafaat-il-Hanaabilah” (7/74-75), Dr. ‘Abdullaah At-Tareeqee presents a good list of the names of his books, but he doesn’t mention this treatise!
[8] He is Muhammad Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee (Died 1351H) whose biography can be found in Al-Manaarmagazine (Issue 33, pgs. 130-133), which is a tremendous unique source for his biography. Naturally, he is not the well-known Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee, author of the tafseer Adwaa-ul-Bayaan (Died 1393H) whose biography can be found in al-A’laam (6/45). Brother Ahmad Al-‘Alawanah mixed them both up in his book Dhail-ul-A’laam (pg. 170), so it should be corrected!!
Published on: November 24, 2006 |
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