I would like to offer a reminder to myself and then to those who want to benefit from it, and that is:
We must keep in mind the context of the speech when using titles for the 'ulamaa'. Let us look at something one might say without keeping this in mind:
[1] "Imaam Muqbil quoted a hadeeth collected by Bukhaaree and Muslim..."
or
[2] "The hadeeth was collected by Aboo Daawood, and Imaam al-Albaanee called it hasan..."
In the first example, al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, and Muqbil ibn Haadee have all been mentioned. The only one given a title was Muqbil(*), who was called an imaam, in the same breath with mention of the two imaams of hadeeth, while they were mentioned with no title at all.
(*) Whoever says, "How can you say 'Muqbil' just like that? Have some respect! At least call him: 'Shaykh Muqbil'! The reply: "Who is more deserving of that: Shaykh Muqbil or Imaam al-Bukhaaree? So then why did you not have a problem with me mentioning al-Bukhaaree with no title!?"
In the second example, Aboo Daawood has been mentioned in the same breath as al-Albaanee. Aboo Daawood, who gathered over 500,000 hadeeth, has been mentioned with no title along with "Imaam al-Albaanee." The problem here is obvious.
The point here is not to take away from the status of any of our scholars, past or present, as we affirm that indeed Shaykh Muqbil was an imaam of guidance and knowledge, as was [Shaykh] al-Albaanee, may Allaah have Mercy on them, but to keep in mind the context of our speech, use titles with wisdom, and keep the people in their proper places.
And Allaah knows best.
Moosaa ibn John Richardson
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سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك
أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت
أستغفرك وأتوب إليك
This message was edited by Moosaa on 8-5-04 @ 10:53 PM
quote:
indeed Shaykh Muqbil was an imaam of guidance and knowledge, as was al-Albaanee
and suggested that it should read "...as was Shaykh al-Albaanee."
May Allaah reward him well for his correction! Al-hamdulillaah, I am glad I began the thread by saying: "I would like to offer a reminder to myself..."
Moosaa ibn John Richardson
********************
سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك
أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت
أستغفرك وأتوب إليك
Moosaa ibn John Richardson
********************