The Questions of Ali al-Halabi to his Shaykh, Imam Muhammad Nasir ad-Din al-Albani

[Abu_Urwah]

The Questions of `Ali al-Halabi to his Teacher, Imam al-Albani

Regarding the Book, “As-Su’alat” (The Questions)

The books of, “Questions”, have been known – with this name – from an early time of Islamic Knowledge History, and in specific, Hadith Sciences.
The Books of “Fatawa” are also included in this type of writing, except that the name, “Su’alat” is closer to the methodology of the People of Hadith, and the People of the Athar, including those of the Jurists, and the majority of the Muftis.
Some of the oldest Su’alat are (1) :
1. The Questions of `Uthman bin Talut (D. 234) to Imam Ibn Ma`in.
2. The Questions of Abu Dawud as-Sijistani (D. 257) to Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal.
3. The Questions of Abu Is-haq Ibrahim bin al-Junaid (D. 260) to Yahya bin Ma`in.
4. The Questions of Abu Bakr al-Athram (D. 273) to Ahmad bin Hanbal
5. The Questions of Abu al-Hasan al-Maymuni, `Abd al-Malik bin `Abd al-Hamid (D. 274) to Ahmad bin Hanbal.
6. The Questions of Abu Bakr Ahmad al-Maruthi (D. 275) to Ahmad bin Hanbal.
7. The Questions of Ibn Hani’ Is-haq bin Ibrahim (D. 275) to Ahmad bin Hanbal
8. The Questions of Abdullah bin Ahmad (D. 290) to Yahya bin Ma`in.
9. The Questions of Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Hanbal to his Father.
10. The Questions of Sa`id bin `Amr al-Bartha`i (D. 292) to Abu Zur`ah ar-Razi.
11. The Questions of Muhammad bin `Uthman bin Abi Shaiba (D. 297) to Imam bin al-Madini.
12. The Questions of Abu `Ubaid al-Ajurri (D. 382) to Abu Dawud as-Sijistani.
13. The Questions of Abu Abdullah al-Husain bin Bukair al-Baghdadi (D. 388) to ad-Daraqutni
14. The Questions of al-Hakim an-Naisaburi (D. 405) to ad-Daraqutni.
15. The Questions of Abu Abd ar-Rahman Muhammad bin al-Husain as-Sulami (D. 412) to ad-Daraqutni.
16. The Questions of Abu Bakr al-Barqani (D. 425) to ad-Daraqutni.
17. The Questions of Abu al-Qasim Hamza bin Yusuf as-Sahmi (D. 427) to Imam ad-Daraqutni.
18. The Questions of Mas`ud bin `Ali as-Sijzi (D. 439) to al-Hakim an-Naisaburi.
19. The Questions of Abu Tahir as-Silafi (D. 571) to Abu al-Karam Khumayyis al-Jawzi (D. 510).
Amongst others...
As the poet said:
If you cannot be like them then be similar, for acting like the nobles is success.
This book, and others like it, revives the circle of studentship, and scholarship, and it shows how much the student benefited from the teacher, and the students acknowledgment of the teachers virtue, and his acknowledgment of his excellence in his work in knowledge.
As for those who negate all benefit they acquired from their teachers, those that have do not keep promises, and who are not concerned excpet with personalities and “Me”, and money, and being known, and showing off, then I remind you of the statement of Allah, “Do not forget the favors amongst yourselves.” (Surat al-Baqarah, 237), and I say, “How about if he is your Shaykh!?”

1. As for the oldest, it is possibly the book, “The Questions of Nafi` bin al-Azraq to Ibn `Abbas.” Look to, “Minhaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah, 5/247, of Ibn Taimiyyah.