The Albaani Site

As-Sadhaan said, “In one of the lessons of our Shaikh, Abdullah ibn Humayyid, a person brought a book in which there was some repugnant slander concerning the status of Shaikh al-Albaani. So while the person was reading the book out aloud–and I was present in the lesson–his eminence, Shaikh Ibn Humayyid cut him off and signs of annoyance and displeasure were visible on him, then he said words to the effect of, “This is disgraceful speech and its like is not permissible–and refuting the people of knowledge should be done with manners.”

Then Shaikh Ibn Humayyid mentioned the status of Shaikh al-Albaani and his aid and service to the Sunnah and then said, “Shaikh al-Albaani had [certain] opinions that we do not agree with him on, but slandering him is not allowed.”

And at that very time news reached me that a short while before, Shaikh Ibn Baaz had summoned the author of that book which was being read out aloud and advised him and [admonished him by] reminding him of Allaah, but when the author insisted on [his views of] his book, Shaikh Ibn Baaz spoke to King Faisal, may Allaah have mercy on him, or Khaalid, may Allaah have mercy on him, to ban the book, and so the King issued a directive for it to be banned.

And His Eminence Shaikh Ibn Baaz was asked in his tent in Minaa [during Hajj] after fajr on Friday 13/12/1418ah [April 1998ce] about some speech about Al-Albaani which slandered him, so part of his answer was, “Al-Albaani is well-known to be from Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah and from the helpers of the Sunnah, and those who speak against him have erred and are mistaken. He is from our good brothers and from the helpers of the Sunnah, and he has blessed efforts in regards to the Sunnah–and he is not infallible. Everyone makes mistakes and errs.

Imaam Maalik, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “There is none among us except that he rejects and has his speech rejected, except for the person of this grave, i.e., the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).”

Every scholar has mistakes: ash-Shaafi’ee, Maalik, Abu Hanifah, Ahmad, ath-Thawri, al-Awzaa’ee, and those after them right up to this day of ours–not a single one is safe from making mistakes. All of the children of Aadam err.

But what is important is that he is well-known as being from the helpers of the Sunnah [Ansaarus-Sunnah], and from the callers to the Sunnah, and from the preservers of the Sunnah, and from the mujaahids striving to preserve the Sunnah. May Allaah grant him success and increase his good.””

Al-Imaam al-Albaani, Duroos, wa Mawaaqif, wa Ibar, of Abdul-Aziz ibn Muhammad Abdullaah as-Sadhaan, pp. 243-244.