Abdur-Razzaaq Ibn ‘Afeefee

Author: Al-Asaalah Editorial Staff
Source: Al-Asalaah Magazine Issues 13-14 (pg. 32-34)
Translator: isma’eel alarcon [section headers added by translator]

www.al-manhaj.com


His Name, Lineage and Place of Birth:


His name was: ‘Abdur-Razzaaq Ibn ‘Afeefee Ibn ‘Atiyyah An-Noobee. He was born in Shanshoor, a town in Egypt in the year 1323H.

His Studies and Quest for Knowledge:

He underwent his advanced studies in Al-Azhar University and graduated from it in 1351H, obtaining the highest degree. After this, he studied in the branch of Fiqh and Usool al-Fiqh, seeking to specialize in that field. Thereafter, he continued his studies and obtaining of knowledge by taking from the books of the scholars and studying and examining them.


Those who lived and interacted with him described him as having knowledge like that of an encyclopedia, with diverse intellectual capacities and being versatile in all of the sciences of Islaam.


His Positions and Religious Duties:

He worked as a teacher in the educational institutes of Al-Azhar in Egypt and he served as the President of Jamaa’at Ansaar as-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah.


Then he decided to make Hijrah to the lands of the Haramayn and so he taught at different districts there, such as Taa’if, where he taught at Daar at-Tawheed. And he taught at Riyaad and other places. He was given a teaching position in the College of Sharee’ah in Riyadh during its inception. Then he was appointed as the principle for the Highest Institute of the Judiciary in the year 1385H.

In 1391, he transferred to Daar al-Iftaa and served as a member in the Council of Senior Scholars as well as in the Permanent Committee of Religious Verdicts, such that he became the Vice-President of that Committee. He served in this position until he passed away, may Allaah have mercy on him. [1]

He was put in charge of supervising a number of knowledge-based treatises, such as Doctorate dissertations and theses for obtaining the Masters Degree.


He would give many study circles in which he taught the Tafseer of the Qur’aan. These classes were held in the Masjid of Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Ibraaheem in Riyadh. Afterward, his classes were moved to his home.


He would lead the people in prayer in the masjid that was adjacent to his home. He would also give knowledge classes and religious admonitions from time to time in that masjid.


His Characteristics:

He was extremely patient in times of affliction and he would constantly devote himself to praising and extolling Allaah. This is since three of his children died during his lifetime. And he was afflicted by hemi-plegia[2] for about twenty years but he was patient and hopeful and afterward Allaah cured him from it.


He had eight children – five of which were male and three of which were female. Three of his sons preceded him in dying, as has been mentioned.


His Role in Da’wah:

The most beloved of the scholarly books to the Shaikh was: “al-Mustasfaa” of Al-Ghazaalee, “al-Muwaafiqaat” of Ash-Shaatibee and “al-Qaamoos al-Muheet” of Al-Fayrooz Abaadee.


His main concern was geared towards teaching, educating, instructing and giving fatwa, all which lead to his not having time to write books and treatises [3]


In spite of this, several of his books were printed, such as “Mudhikkirah at-Tawheed”, which is a beneficial treatise based on dictations that were taken from him in his classes at the University. He also wrote beneficial notes to the book “al-Ihkaam fee Usool-il-Ahkaam” of Al-Aamadee. What indicates the vastness of his knowledge and the precision of his insight and the comprehensiveness of his intellect are those notes, which are small in size but great in value, which he placed in the margins of “Sharh Al-‘Aqeedah At-Tahaawiyyah” of Ibn Abeel-’Izz Al-Hanafee in which he mentions references to his explanation of the books of Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah and his student Ibn Al-Qayyim.


The Scholar’s Praise for Him:

Our Shaikh, Al-‘Allaamah Al-Albaanee, described him as: “One of the distinguished scholars and one of the few amongst them whom we saw possessing the character, manners, gentleness and understanding of the scholars.”

He also said: “I met him on several occasions during the time of Hajj. Sometimes, I would listen to his knowledge-based answers to questions posed to him by Hajj participants seeking a fatwa from him, on various subjects. His responses were precise, all indicating his in-depth understanding and apparent following of the methodology of the Salaf As-Saalih.”


His Death:

His death occurred on a Thursday morning, with only five days remaining for the end of Rabee’-ul-Awwal 1415H. (1/9/1994). He was buried in Riyadh after Jumu’ah. May Allaah have mercy on him.




Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s Note: He served in this Committee of Senior Scholars along with Shaikh Ibn Baaz, who acted as President of the Committee, Shaikh ‘Abdullaah Ibn Qu’ood and Shaikh Abdullaah Ibn Ghudayaan.

[2] Translator’s Note: This is a total or partial paralysis of one side of the body that results from disease of or injury to the motor centers of the brain. [Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary]

[3] Translator’s Note: Amongst his well-known students was the late Shaikh, Muhammad Amaan Al-Jaamee, may Allaah have mercy on him.

*Please appropriately reference this biography to: www.fatwa-online.com, thankyou!*

He was born in the year 1323 A.H./1902 C.E.

He studied his primary education, then secondary education and then further studies. In completing his studies he was examined and awarded with an international (recognised) certificate in 1351 A.H./1930 C.E. He then undertook specialised studies in fiqh and usool al-fiqh, and after being examined, was awarded a certificate. All these studies were in al-Azhar University (Egypt).

He was appointed a teacher at the Educational Institute, which was a branch of al-Azhar University, and taught there for many years. He was then transferred to Saudi Arabia for teaching in the year 1368 A.H./1947 C.E. So he was appointed a teacher at the Daar at-Tawheed in Taif, then after two years was transferred to the Educational Institute in 'Unayzah in the region of Qaseem in Muharram of the year 1370 A.H./1949 C.E.

He was then transferred to Riyadh towards the end of Shawwaal in 1370 A.H./1949 C.E. for teaching at the Educational Institute, which was a branch of (the efforts of) Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ibraaheem Aal ash-Shaykh. He was then transferred for teaching at the faculties of Sharee'ah and Language, later being appointed the principal of the Higher Institute of the Judiciary in 1385 A.H./1964 C.E.

He was then transferred to the General Presidency of the Departments of Islaamic Research, Fataawa, Da'wah and Irshaad in 1391 A.H./1970 C.E. and was appointed Deputy Head of the Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Fataawa, as well as being made a member of the Council of Senior Scholars of Saudi Arabia.

Indeed, Allaah had endowed him with the gift of strong memory and observation and understanding of oneself
He paid special attention to studying the conditions of the (many different) sects. These matters made the students of knowledge approaching him all the time and listening to him, such that any people benefitted from his knowledge.

He also used to supervise some students in the preparation of their theses at the Masters degree and Doctorate levels, whilst also taking part in the (university) committee discussing theses.

He gave lessons to the students of knowledge in the masaajid according to that which was possible and used to give lectures and take part in the work of the da'wah centres at the time of Hajj.