Book Review: Shuroot Laa Ilaha Illa Allah

I picked up this little gem when I visited Shaykh Rislaan’s village of Subk Ahad in Manoofiyyah. I used to attend his Friday sermons when I lived in nearby Shibeen al-Kowm. I bought it from the Maktabah that his sons run called Maktabah Daar-ul-Furqaan next to the Masjid where the Shaykh gives his study circles. They have many good books from the Scholars at very good prices. They also print the Shaykh’s books and sell them.

This small treatise is about 45 pages and explains the meaning and conditions of Laa Ilaha Illa Allah along with the ten nullifiers or Nawaaqidh. It contains the same eloquent style that the Shaykh is known for.

I think I may have paid one Egyptian pound for this book. This is an excellent text to use for study circles for both new Muslims and Muslims not familiar with their religion. May Allah reward the Shaykh for this well written treatise.

Book Review: Sharh Hisn-il-Muslim

This is an explanation of the well known Duaa’ book Hisn-il- Muslim authored by Majdy bin Abdil-Wahhaab Ahmad. The book was written by Dr. Sa’eed bin Alee bin Wahf al-Qahtaanee who also writes the introduction and verified the explanation to his book along with adding other benefical notes.

The book is 238 pages and only sells for 8 Saudi Riyals here in the Kingdom. The text of the Duaa’ is placed first and then a brief explanation of the Duaa’ is given.

I also was able to get a larger version of the Hisn which I posted here for reference. You can compare it to the pocket sized booklet that is sold all over the world.

Book Review: Mukhtasar al-‘Uloow

This is an abridged version of al-Haafith Shams-ud-Deen adh-Dhahabee’s Kitaab-ul-‘Arsh verified by ash-Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee. It was published by al-Maktab al-Islaamee and was the third printing of the text printed in 1993. There is an introduction by both Ustadh Zuhayr ash-Shaawayish and Shaykh al-Albaanee. This book corrects the belief held since the time of the Mu’tazilah regarding the ‘Uloow of Allah above His creation using evidences from the Book and the Sunnah. There is also a section within Shaykh al-Albaanee’s intro that covers three most misunderstood issues concerning Allah the Almighty: at-Tashbeeh (Likening Him to creation), al-Jihaah (His direction), and al-Makaan (His position).

It starts with the statements of the Prophet- peace be upon him- then goes on to the statements of the Companions, then their students, and then those who followed them. One area in particular that caught my eye was the section of the statement of Aboo Haneefah: It was related by us from Aboo Mutee’ al-Hakam bin ‘Abdillah al-Balkhee, author of al-Fiqh al-Akbar who said: I asked Aboo Haneefah about the one who says, ‘I don’t affirm that my Lord is in the heavens or upon the earth.’ He (Aboo Haneefah) said: “He has disbelieved because Allah the Most High has said {ar-Rahmaan (the Most Merciful) established Himself above the throne} and His throne is above the heavens.” I said to him, “He also says that I affirm that He established Himself upon the throne but I don’t know if the throne is in the heavens or upon the earth!” He said: “If he denies that He is upon the heavens then he has disbelieved.”

Shaykh al-Albaanee goes on to mention that in this Athar there are many benefits and from them is the proof that the well known text al-Fiqh al-Akbar was not actually written by Imaam Aboo Haneefah but rather by Aboo Mutee’ who was one of the major students of Aboo Haneefah as he was mentioned in al-Meezaan and it was attributed to Aboo Mutee’ and not Aboo Haneefah as we find the later blind followers of Aboo Haneefah claiming today.

All of the quotes are referenced along with their chains of transmission proving their authenticity and soundness amongst the scholars of Islam.

Book Review: Risaalah fee Ithbaat al-Istiwaa wal-Fawqiyyah

This is a treatise written by al-‘Allaamah Aboo Muhammad ‘Abdullah bin Yusoof al-Juwaynee may Allah have mercy upon him. His Nisbah is attributed to Juwayn which was a large suburb in Neesaaboor. He was the Shaykh of the Shaafi’i scholars of his time. He was praised by many scholars such as Shaykh-ul-Islaam Aboo Uthmaan as-Saaboonee, al-Haafith Ibn Assaakir, Ibn al-Jawzee, and Imaam adh-Dhahabee. The Shaykh died on Dhul-Qa’dah in the year 438 A.H. Others have said he died in 434 A.H. in Neesaaboor.

Shaykh Aboo Saalih al-Mua’dhin said, “Shaykh Aboo Muhammad al-Juwaynee fell terribly ill for 28 days. He advised me to be in charge of washing his body and preparing the funeral so when he died I washed him. When he was being wrapped in his funeral garments I saw his right hand all the way up to his armpit glowing with an immense light without any defect. It was shining as the moon shines. I pondered for a moment and then I said to myself this was due to the blessings of the rulings that he gave.” Wafayaat-ul-A’ayaan 3/47-48 and Tabaqaat-ash-Shaafi’iyyah al-Kubraa 5/75

This is an old printing published by Daar Tareeq in Riyaadh in 1419 A.H. I found it in one of the used bookstores here in Riyaadh.

The treatise is very brief with a verification by Dr. Ahmad Mu’aadh Haqqi who references the sources for the prophetic narrations used as well as explaining some difficult words or expressions. Here al-‘Allaamah al-Juwaynee (rahimahullah) brings the evidences from the Book and the Sunnah to establish the proof for three major issues; the ‘Uloww of Allah, His Fawqiyyah, and His Istiwaa. He goes over each issue in detail and brings evidences against those Shaafi’iyyah in his time who did not affirm these three issues or who explained them in a way that went against the explanation of the Salaf.

Book Reviews: Two Books about Shaykh al-Albaanee

Juhood ash-Shaykh al-Albaanee fee al-Hadeeth Riwayatan wa Diraayatan


This book was written by ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Ayzaree who authored this work as the dissertation for his masters at the University of Sanaa’, Yemen. It is a pretty big book at 250 pages not including the index and source references. It was published by Maktabah Rushd.

The author did an excellent job and he includes a very comprehensive biography of the Shaykh. He lists the Shaykh’s works and then goes into detail about how the Shaykh used to grade the various levels of narrations. He also goes into the various rulings that he gave that conflicted with other mainstream rulings regarding women wearing gold and covering the face and other important issues.

This second book is the first that I have seen available in the English language. It is DarusSalam’s compilation of the Shaykh’s life. For 15 Saudi Riyaals its not that bad and was a good read. I have several other biographies of the Shaykh and found the translators referencing them in this work. Some of the English words are not the easiest to understand but for the English speaker it is a must have book. I found the link for the book at their online store which includes a sneak preview of the book.

On a finally note reference my old post on another Shaykh al-Albaanee biography book that I did some years back, I hope it will be of benefit.