Al-‘Allāmah Falāḥ bin Ismā‘īl Mandakār (Ḥafiẓahullāh)
Translated by Abū Rayḥānah ‘Aqīl bin Kenneth IngramSource: www.mandakar.com
His Name and Agnomen:
Abū Muḥammad Falāḥ bin Ismā‘īl bin Aḥmad Mandakār
His Birth:
His honor was born in the year 1950.
His Quest for Knowledge:
The Shaykh began seeking legislative knowledge after having worked as an instructor of the English language. He was twenty six years of age at that time. He then traveled to the people of knowledge so that he could learn from them, and resumed his university studies at the Islamic University of Madīnah an-Nabawiyyah, and this was in the year 1976.
Throughout his university studies as well as his graduate studies, in the Master’s and Doctorate programs, he strongly adhered to the scholars; studying: ‘Aqīdah with them, Ḥadīth, Ḥadīth Terminology, Fiqh, the Fundamentals and Principles of Fiqh, Arabic Grammar, Morphology, Eloquence in Speech, and Tajwīd.
His Qualifications in Knowledge:
The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, has acquired a number of degrees, and they are:
1 – Bachelor’s Degree, and the Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, achieved a grade of excellent.
2 – Master’s Degree, and the Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, achieved a grade of excellent. His dissertation was a verification of three [branches] from Shu‘ab-ul-Īmān (The Branches of Īmān) by al-Hāfiẓ al-Bayhaqī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him.
3 – Doctorate Degree, and the Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, achieved a grade of excellent with honors. His dissertation was entitled: al-‘Alāqah Bayna at-Taṣawwuf wat-Tashayyu‘ (The Relationship between Sufism and Shī‘ism).
His Teachers:
The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, studied with a great number of the scholars. From them:
• His Eminence, the Shaykh, the ‘Allāmah, ‘Abdul-‘Azīz bin ‘Abdullāh bin Bāz, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He attended many of his knowledge based gatherings, and he read to him al-Uṣūl ath-Thalāthah as well as Kitāb at-Tawḥīd.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Muḥaddith, Muḥammad Nāṣir ad-Dīn al-Albānī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He attended many of his knowledge based gatherings. Shaykh al-Albānī resided with Shaykh Falāḥ twice, once in Madīnah and once in Kuwait.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Faqīh, the Uṣūlī, the Mufassir, Muḥammad bin Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He attended many of his knowledge based gatherings. He studied some subjects inFiqh with him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, Doctor Ṣāliḥ bin Fawzān al-Fawzān, may Allāh preserve him. He attended many of his knowledge based gatherings.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Muḥaddith, ‘Abdul-Qādir bin Habībullāh as-Sindī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He is from the senior scholars of Madīnah an-Nabawiyyah. He read Nukhbat-ul-Fikr to him of al-ḤāfiẓIbn Ḥajr al-‘Asqalānī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Muḥaddith of Ḥijāz, Doctor Hammād bin Muḥammad al-Anṣārī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He, may Allāh preserve him, ascertained a great deal knowledge from him since he strongly adhered to him until he obtained an abundance of benefit. He read Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī to him, and he granted him an Ijīzah for it. He also awarded him an Isnād (chain of transmission) that reaches al-Bukhārī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. Furthermore, he read al-Ibānah of Ibn Baṭṭah to him, an-Nubuwwāt ofShaykh-ul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, Kitāb at-Tawḥī of Ibn Khuzaymah, Kitāb at-Tawḥīd of Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Wahhāb, Bulūgh al-Marām of al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajr al-‘Asqalānī. He also read the Tafsīr of the Qur’ān to him. All of this is in addition to his regular studies with him in the graduate studies program at the University of Madīnah.
• The esteemed Shaykh, Doctor Muḥammad Amān bin ‘Alī al-Jāmī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He ascertained an abundance of knowledge from him and benefitted tremendously from him. He read al-Qawā‘id al-Muthlā to him by the ‘Allāmah al-‘Uthaymīn, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, Kitāb al-Tawḥīd ofShaykh-ul-Islām Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Wahhāb, al-‘Aqīdah al-Wasaṭiyyah of Shaykh-ul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, Sharḥ-ul-‘Aqīdah aṭ-Ṭaḥāwiyyah of Ibn Abī al-‘Izz al-Ḥanafī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon all of them. He also studied Jawharat-ut-Tawḥīd with him concerning the creed of the Ashā‘irah. Then, Shaykh Muḥammad gifted Shaykh Falāḥ his personal copy of the book that has his personal notes within it written with his own handwriting. It is a limited edition print that was printed in the year 1306 after the Hijrah. Shaykh Falāḥ continues to safeguard this book and is very proud of this honor. And from another perspective, Shaykh Falāḥ studied with Shaykh Muḥammad Amān al-Jāmī in his regular university studies during his graduate studies. Moreover, he was the director over his dissertation for his Master’s Degree. Shaykh Muḥammad Amān himself, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, lead the debate (for this Master’s level dissertation). He then continued to be his director over his doctoral level studies for two years until he (i.e. Shaykh Muḥammad Amān) retired from the university, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, Doctor ‘Abdul-Karīm bin Murād al-Atharī, may Allāh preserve him. He studied al-Fatwā al-Ḥamawiyyah with him, the treatise of at-Tadmūriyyah, and the explanation of al-‘Aqīdah aṭ-Ṭaḥāwiyyah of Ibn Abī al-‘Izz al-Ḥanafī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He also studied the Science of Logic (‘Ilm al-Mantiq) with him. He used to dictate it to the students, and thereafter he printed it under the title heading, “Tashīl al-Mantiq”, after a request and strong insistence from Shaykh Falāḥ, may Allāh preserve him. Shaykh ‘Abdul-Karīm Murād, may Allāh preserve him, was also one of the professors who debated the Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, on his dissertation for his Master’s Degree. He also studied the subject of‘Aqīdah (Creed) with him in the Collage of Sharī‘ah during his regular university studies.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Muḥaddith, the Doctor, ‘Abdul-Muḥsin bin Ḥamad al-‘Abbād, may Allāh preserve him, and he was the dean of the Islamic University at that time. He read the book, ash-Sharī‘ah of al-Ājurrī, to him as well as Shifā’-ul-‘Alīl of Ibn al-Qayyim. Shaykh ‘Abdul-Muḥsin al-‘Abbād, may Allāh preserve him, was also amongst the professors who debated the Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, on his dissertation for his Master’s Degree. He also studied with him in some courses during his graduate level studies.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Muḥaddith, the Professor, Doctor Rabī‘ bin Hādī al-Madkhalī, may Allāh preserve him, and he has achieved the highest academic university level in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ustaadh Kursee (Head Professor). He (i.e. Shaykh Falāḥ) read some of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim to him, Tadrīb ar-Rāwī of al-Ḥāfiẓ an-Nawawī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, and al-‘Ubūdiyyah of Shaykh-ul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah. He strongly adhered to sitting with him for a long period of time.
• The esteemed Shaykh, Doctor ‘Alī bin Nāṣir al-Faqīhī, may Allāh preserve him. He read Kitāb at-Tawḥīd to him as well as Kitāb al-Eemaan. Both of them are the works of Ibn Mandah, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He also studied with him academically. He covered an abundance of knowledge with him in the field of religions and denominations during his graduate level studies.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Farḍī, ‘Abduṣ-Ṣamad bin Muḥammad al-Kātib, may Allāh preserve him. He readKitāb at-Tawḥīd to him from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī. He also read the science of Inheritance to him through dictation, and then he printed it after strongly being urged by Shaykh Falāḥ, may Allāh preserve him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, ‘Ubayd bin ‘Abdullāh al-Jābirī, may Allāh preserve him, and he is from amongst the senior scholars of Madīnah an-Nabawiyyah. He read Kitāb at-Tawḥīd to him of Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul- Wahhāb, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, al-Qawā‘id al-Muthlā, and al-Qawā‘id al-Fiqhiyyah.
• The esteemed Shaykh, Doctor ‘Abdullāh bin Muḥammad al-Ghunaymān, may Allāh preserve him. He readFatḥ-ul-Majīd to him as well as Kitāb-ul-Īmān of Shaykh-ul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah. Furthermore, Shaykh ‘Abdullāh al-Ghunaymān, may Allāh preserve him, assumed the responsibility of supervising his dissertation for his Doctorate’s Degree after the noble Shaykh Muḥammad Amān al-Jāmī retired, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Mufassir, Muḥammad bin Mukhtār ash-Shinqīṭī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He studied Tafsīr with him in the Islamic University as well as in the Noble and Holy Masjid of Madīnah. He also read the Sunan of an-Nasā’ī to him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, Doctor ‘Alī bin ‘Abdur-Raḥmān al-Hudhayfī, may Allāh preserve him. He read Kitāb at-Tawḥīd from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī to him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Mufassir, the Uṣūlī, the Grammarian, Aḥmad bin Tāwīt aṭ-Ṭanjī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He is from the scholars of Morocco, and he, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, was the Judge of Judges of Ṭanjah during the time period that France had colonized Morocco. The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, studied the science of Tafsīr with him during his studies in the Collage of Sharī‘ah at the Islamic University. In the science of Uṣūl al-Fiqh, he read Rawḍat-un-Nāẓir of Ibn Qudāmah to him in the Holy Masjid of Madīnah. In the science of Arabic Language, he read to him the explanation of Alfiyyah Ibn Mālik by Ibn ‘Aqīl.
• The esteemed Shaykh, ‘Alī bin Sinān, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, and he is from the scholars of Madīnah an-Nabawiyyah. He read Qaṭr-un-Nadā to him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Linguist, Aḥmad bin Ma‘lūm ash-Shinqīṭī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, and he is one of the scholars of the Arabic Language in Madīnah an-Nabawiyyah. He has an explanation ofAlfiyyah Ibn Mālik that he wrote in poetic format in three thousand verses. He read al-Muqaddimah al-Ājurūmiyyah to him and also the explanation of Alfiyyah Ibn Mālik by Ibn ‘Aqīl, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Uṣūlī, Doctor Zayn al-‘Ābidīn, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He readRawḍat-un-Nāẓir to him of Ibn Qudāmah while he was studying in the Islamic University in the Collage ofSharī‘ah.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Faqīh, ‘Abdullāh bin Ḥamad al-Ḥammād, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He read Subul-us-Salām to him during his regular studies in the Collage of Sharī‘ah.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Faqīh, Muḥammad bin Ḥumūd al-Wā’ilī, may Allāh preserve him. He readBidāyat-ul-Mujtahid to him of Ibn Rushd during his regular studies in the Collage of Sharī‘ah.
• The esteemed Shaykh, ‘Abdur-Ra’ūf al-Labdī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, and he is from amongst the scholars of the Arabic Language of Madīnah an-Nabawiyyah. He read to him the explanation of AlfiyyahIbn Mālik of Ibn ‘Aqīl during his regular studies in the Collage of Sharī‘ah.
• The esteemed Shaykh, ‘Umar bin Muḥammad Falātah, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He read Sunan of Abī Dāwūd to him in the Holy Masjid of Madīnah.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Mufassir, Abū Bakr bin Jābir al-Jazā’irī, may Allāh preserve him. He learnedTafsīr from him in the Islamic University in the Collage of Sharī‘ah. He would also attend his lessons in the Holy Masjid of Madīnah.
• The esteemed Shaykh, Aḥmad al-Azraq, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He read Subul-us-Salām to him, the explanation of Bulūgh-ul-Marām, in the Collage of Sharī‘ah. He supervised his graduation term paper in his fourth year of the Collage of Sharī‘ah, and his research topic was a verification and study of the book, “Musnad al-Imām ‘Abdullāh bin al-Mubārak”, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, ‘Alī bin Mushrif al-‘Amrī, may Allāh preserve him. Imām al-Albānī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him, gave him the nickname, “the Little al-Albānī”. Our Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, read theSunan of at-Tirmidhī to him.
• The esteemed Shaykh, the Muqri’, Muḥammad bin Ramaḍān al-Muqrī, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. He learned the science of Tajwīd from him.
And those that we have mentioned from the teachers of Shaykh Falāḥ are only some of the teachers that the Shaykh has taken knowledge from.
His Character and Manners:
The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, is distinguished by his fine character, good manners in dealing with the people, zeal in benefitting himself and others, his humility with his students and his brothers, generosity in fulfilling their needs, his earnest concern for and honor of the Book, the Sunnah, and the ‘Aqīdah (Creed) ofAhl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamā‘ah. He has been favored amongst the scholars and students of knowledge with high station, prestige, and reverence. From amongst the most distinguishing signs of his character is his smile that never leaves his face while speaking to the people and answering their questions.
Those who are far and near, and all praise belongs to Allāh, bear witness to the Shaykh having a lofty level in knowledge, good character, and superb manners. Due to this, he is considered the Father of every Salafī in Kuwait.
His Efforts in Knowledge and Invitation:
The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, has many knowledge based and invitational efforts. He often participates in academic seminars and is active in Da‘wah (invitational) efforts that are based in Kuwait through which many of the students of knowledge benefit from.
The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, is distinguished by being active in knowledge. He teaches a variety of the books of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamā‘ah. From amongst the books and Mutūn that the esteemed Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, has taught and some of which he still teaches:
• Al-Uṣūl ath-Thalāthah.
• Kashf-ush-Shubuhāt.
• Al-Uṣūl as-Sittah.
• Fatḥ-ul-Majīd.
• Sharḥ-ul-‘Aqīdah al-Wāsiṭiyyah of Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān, may Allāh preserve him.
• Al-Fatwā al-Ḥamawiyyah.
• Sharḥ-ul-‘Aqīdah aṭ-Ṭaḥāwiyyah of Ibn Abī al-‘Izz.
• Sharḥ-us-Sunnah of al-Barbahārī.
• Ash-Sharī‘ah of al-Ājurrī.
• Al-‘Uddah Sharḥ-ul-‘Umdah.
• Al-Arba‘ūn an-Nawawiyyah.
• Kitāb at-Tawḥīd of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī.
• The book al-Irshād ilā Ṣaḥīḥ al-I‘tiqād by the ‘Allāmah, Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān, may Allāh preserve him, since he has introduced it into the official curriculum of all the male and female students during their studies in the Collage of Sharī‘ah.
• Al-Qawā‘id al-Muthlā fī al-Asmā’ waṣ-Ṣifāt of the ‘Allāmah, Muḥammad bin Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn, may Allāh bestow mercy upon him. The Shaykh also teaches it to his students in the Collage of Sharī‘ah.
• Likewise, the book Minhāj al-Muslim of Shaykh Abū Bakr al-Jazā’irī, may Allāh preserve him, since he has also introduced it into the official curriculum of all the male and female students during their studies in the Collage of Sharī‘ah.
The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, continues to teach the students in and outside of Kuwait just as he also continues to teach the Islamic ‘Aqīdah (Creed) in the University of Kuwait. The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, is also involved in setting the methodology of ‘Aqīdah (Creed) for the curriculum of Islamic Cultivation on behalf of the Ministry of Cultivation of Kuwait.
His Methodology of Teaching:
The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, is distinguished with a unique style of teaching. From amongst the most significant of those distinguishing characteristics of the Shaykh in teaching:
• Verifying the knowledge based issues in affairs of ‘Aqīdah (Creed) by mentioning the statements of the Salafon the topic as well as the statements of the Muḥaqqiqīn (Scholars of Verification).
• Setting knowledge based principles concerning the affairs of ‘Aqīdah (Creed) by citing universal principles from the methodology of the Salaf, may Allāh bestow mercy upon them.
• Mentioning the statements of the sects that are opposed to Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamā‘ah in affairs of creed along with the refutations against them from the Book, the Sunnah, the language of the ‘Arab, and the statements of the Salaf.
• The Shaykh, may Allāh preserve him, often quotes his teachers that he studied with. In issues that he is explaining, he will mention their statements and the views that they chose as being most correct.
• Correcting the text of the book being explained.
• Mentioning the statements of the Fuqahā’ (i.e. the Scholars of Fiqh), the Muḥaddithīn (i.e. the Scholars ofḤadīth), and the Muhaqqiqeen (i.e. the Scholars of Verification) from amongst the people of knowledge as well as their schools of thought when explaining issues of Fiqh. He will mention the evidences from theirMadhhab from the Book and the Sunnah as well as the remainder of the evidences of the religious verdicts. He will then compare that with the other schools of thought in a like fashion and finally mention the most correct view from amongst the statements of the Fuqahā’ (i.e. the Scholars of Fiqh).
As for His Authored Works, then they are:
1. Al-‘Alāqah bayna at-Taṣawwuf wat-Tashayyu‘ (The Relationship between Sufism and Shī‘ism). (Doctoral Dissertation).
2. A Verification of Three [branches] of Shu‘ab-ul-Īmān (The Branches of Īmān). (Master’s Dissertation).
3. Nuz‘at-ut-Takfīr, Khuṭūratuhā wa-‘Ilājuhā (The Inclination Towards Tafkīr, its Dangers and Solutions).
4. Ar-Ruqā ash-Shar‘iyyah bayn-at-Tanzīl wat-Taṭbīq (The Legislative Ruqyā between Revelation and Application).
5. Al-I‘tiqād al-Wājib Naḥw-aṣ-Ṣaḥābah (The Obligatory Creed Concerning the Companions).
6. Al-I‘tiqād al-Wājib Naḥw-al-Qadar (The Obligatory Creed Concerning the Divine Decree).
7. Al-Ashā‘irah Laysū min Ahl-is-Sunnah wal-Jamā‘ah (The Ashā‘irah are not from Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamā‘ah). It is comprised of four articles that were published in the Kuwaiti newspaper “al-Waṭan”.
8. Al-‘Aqīdah Awwalan (The Creed is First). An article published in the Sharī‘ah Magazine.
9. Al-Akhlāq al-Islāmiyyah (Islamic Character). (A university memorandum).
10. Al-Milal wan-Niḥal (Religions and Denominations). (A university memorandum).
11. Al-‘Aqīdah (2) (Creed). (A university memorandum).
We ask Allāh to preserve our Shaykh, to bring about benefit through his knowledge, to bless his efforts, and grant him the greatest reward of Islām and the Muslims.
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