Umm Abdullah Al Wade'iyyah Speaks of Her Father's Rearing of His Daughters
Taken from the book: Nubthatun Mukhtesiratun Min Nasaaeh...(Brief
summarized excerpt of my father's, Shiekh Muqbil bin Hadee Al Wade'iee
life)
The following two questions were posed to me (Umm Abdullah):
1- (What was) the extent of his (Shiekh Muqbil bin Hadee Al Wad'ee)
focus on us while we were young?
2- (What was) his manner of teaching his family?
As for the first question:
Our father did not neglect us, even though he was extremely busy. An
example of this is his major concern for us with regards to learning
the Quran. He would recite the Quran to us in order for us to
memorize it and (he) would record (his) recitation on a (audio) tape
in order (for us) to perfect the recitation. One time while my sister
was memorizing, she went to him in order for him to record his
recitation, but he was in the library. She called him and he left his
research, came and recorded the recitation, and then returned to his
library.
(translator' s note: In another place it was mentioned that the Shiekh
stood under a tree and recorded the recitation for his daughter and
then returned to his research)
When we began to understand the recitation he purchased a Quranic
(audio) album by Shiekh (Mahmoud Khaleel) Al Housrey. He purchased
one for each of us without a radio in order to protect us from
listening to music. Once we became more mature, he purchased a
recorder with a radio, but strongly warned us against music. By the
praise of Allah we accepted that. We have never heard music, and we
strongly detest it. Verily the Messenger -sallahu alahi wa salem-
spoke the truth when he said:
'Every newborn is born upon the fitrah, then his/her parents make
him/her a jew, a christian or a pagan'
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Huraira)
He (Shiekh Muqbil) listened to what we memorized and we read to him
much good. He would order us to memorize from one specific print of
The Quran. This is because memorizing from one specific print assists
(the individual) in memorizing with accuracy. If he saw us carrying a
different print he would become upset and admonish us. May Allah have
abundant mercy on him.
Amongst the students of knowledge, there were some students from Egypt
and Sudan that had their wives accompanying them (in Yemen). Some of
these women would teach us and our father would pay them a salary.
This was done due to his specific focus and concern of our rearing and
his general focus of the rearing of the other girls. This (manner of
study) continued till (we reached) the fourth grade according to
school standards. When he brought the books (curriculum/ syllabus)
that we were going to study with the female teachers, he would order
us to erase all pictures of living things. We did so with hate for
pictures.
After that, we were taught Islamic education. Knowledge of the Quran
and Sunnah. We would memorize with our teachers and also memorize
ahadeeth, all praise belonging to Allah.
Our father would entertain and joke with us with that which Allah made
permissible, contrary to what many people do today, except for those
whom Allah has mercy upon. They (aforementioned people) entertain
their children with television, music and crazy toys, and other than
that from wrong and evil. (This is done) while our Prophet Muhammed
-sallahu alahi wa salam- said, as it comes in Sahih Al Bukhari and
Muslim on the authority of Ibn Umar, the Messenger said:
'All of you are shepherds, and all will be held responsible over his
flock'
He (The Messenger) also said:
'There is no servant that Allah gives a responsibility and he is not
sincere in it's regard, except that he will not smell the fragrance of
paradise'
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Ma'kal bin Yasar)
Our father would forbid us from constantly leaving the home. He would
order us to never leave except with his permission.
This was a summary of his care for us while we were children.
As for the second question:
Firstly, he was very concerned with our learning the religion of Allah
and with our increase in Islamic knowledge. Due to this, he went
through great means to provide everything that would assist the
seeking of knowledge and free our time for it. May Allah give him a
generous reward and enter him into His highest part of paradise.
He would designate a time to teach us, and on the following day he
would question us concerning the previous lesson. If the previous
lesson was difficult, he would lighten (the questioning) contrary to
if it was easy.
From the private lessons that he taught in our home: 'Qatru Nada'
(Arabic grammar), this was taught (completed) twice, 'Sharh ibn
Aqeel' (Arabic grammar), also taught twice, and Tadreeb ar Rawee
(Sciences of Hadeeth). We were studying: 'Musil at Tallab ila Qawed
al 'Irab' authored by Shiekh Khaleed al Azharee, but we were prevented
from completing it due to his final illness. May Allah cover him with
His mercy.
He also promised us a lesson in Balagha (Eloquence of Arabic), but his
final illness also prevented the fullfilling of this. Allah is The
Helper.
He would teach us in a cheerful manner, as was his norm during his
lessons. This (characteristic) would allow the student(s) to inquire
about any misunderstanding in the class. Our sittings with him were
filled with good, review of knowledge and guidance, even during meal
times and over the phone. Even during his illness while we were
concerned for him, he continued to question us and bring joy to us.
All praise is for Allah.
Note: She mentions a footnote during this paragraph, it reads:
That time while he was in Saudi Arabia before traveling to Germany, he
telephoned me and said:
Assalam u alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.
(She said) I responded without mentioning: wa barakatuhu.
He then said to me: Why didn't you respond with what is better?!
He was referring to the statement of Allah in the Quran:
`And if you are greeted with a greeting, then return a greeting which
is better or the same'.
He was very concerned with our statements and if we made a mistake, he
would admonish us with gentleness and said: Don't be like the people
of Sa'da (city in north Yemen). One of them learns Arabic for years
until he reaches the level of `Al Mugnee Al Labeeb', but he still
speaks on the level of a layman.
(She continued to say) I said to him one time on the phone: Now, we no
longer find someone to correct us in our mistakes as you used to do.
He responded: Supplicate to Allah for me. (She said) I pray that
Allah raises him in the high parts of paradise and I pray He (Allah)
makes my sister and I from those whom He (Allah) said (in the Quran)
concerning them:
`And those who believe and their children follow them in belief, We
will join them with their children (in paradise), and We will not
waste their actions'
(end of footnote)
Occasionally, he would be firm in his questioning in order to test our
understanding. He would also do this with his male students, and at
times he would give us difficult questions. I (Umm Abdullah) said to
him one time: These questions are not on my level. He responded: I
know, but I intended a benefit from them, but I placed them in the
form of questions.
I (Umm Abdullah) say: What he used to do has an origin in the
legislation. It has been recorded in Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim on
the authority of Mu'ath bin Jabal, he said: I accompanied the
Messenger –sallahu alahi wa salam- on a riding beast when he said:
'Oh Mu'ath! I said: I answer your call and I'm continuously at your
service. He (the Prophet) repeated this 3 times and then said: Do you
know what is the right of Allah upon His servants? I said: No. He
said: The right of Allah upon His servant is that they worship Him and
don't associate partners with Him. Then some time passed and he said:
Oh Mu'ath! Do you know what is the right of the servants with Allah,
if they do that (worship Him without associating partners to Him)?
Their right is that He will not punish them'.
Presenting a benefit in the form of a question strengthens
comprehension of the information, and is understood better than
presenting it in any other manner. This is because the student will
gather and focus his attention to what is being presented to him.
He would occasionally direct questions to the females that were
listening to the lessons, and then he would check which answers were
correct or false. From those questions that he asked (them): What is
(the `Iraab) analysis for the following sentence:
The two Abdullah's came riding (camel, horse, etc).
And (the likes of the question) what is the meaning of their (teachers
of the Arabic language) statement explaining `Itha' (if): it hides
(the doer of the action) because it is (used as) a condition. It is
(also) mansoob (carries a fatha) due to the response of the condition.
(translator' s note: I apologize for my inability to translate the last
example accurately. It deals with Arabic grammar that is very
difficult to explain in English. Allah knows best)
We would ask him concerning doubtful matters or confusion related to
our lessons or research, and if we did not fully comprehend his
explanation of the matter, he would request us to continue
researching, or he would accompany us to the library and assist in
researching the matter. This is something that indeed brings sadness
to us, because who after my father would lend such assistance!
(A poet said):
Who can compare to your kind soft way?! You walk gently and without
haste, but arrive/come first.
Verily from Allah we come (are created), and to Him we will return. I
(Umm Abdullah) ask Allah to give us a firm statement (La illaha ill
Allah) in this life and the hereafter.
He would admonish and direct us with gentleness and ease, and by the
mercy of Allah, we had no choice but to obey him. Verily (his orders)
were for our own good and well being, and all of them (his guidance
and admonition) were precious pearls attached to and supported by the
Quran and Sunnah.
From his astonishing mannerism was that he was not strict /harsh
against our opinions and deductions that were possibly correct. If we
held an understanding different from his in a matter, he would not be
harsh toward us. This was his normal character with his students, as
was known. He would not act cruel or stern toward them (his students)
if their opinions or understanding could possibly be correct. This
(character) is something; oh respected reader, difficult to find (in a
teacher).
• He warned us of the society, because it is one that is deviant
and astray. It (is a society) that races toward that which is
incorrect and does not benefit, except for those whom Allah shows mercy.
• He warned us of pride, and he disliked for a female to be
prideful and arrogant toward her husband. He would say: There is no
good in her (this type of female).
• He encouraged us with abstinence in this worldly, vanishing life.
• He instructed us to intend through our eating and drinking, to
strengthen ourselves for obedience to Allah, in order to receive the
reward of Allah.
He would say: Do not busy yourselves with preparing food, what is
easily available, we will eat.
• He (constantly) encouraged us. He was not from those fathers who
discourage their daughters and families. He made our level (of work)
simple in order that we continued to progress and prepare ourselves
with learning and obtaining beneficial knowledge.
From his statements to me was: b]["I hope that you become a faqeeha"
(female grounded in religious legislation) .
Oh by the One who we hope from no other than Him, I ask you Oh Allah
to make his wish/hope a reality.
As for discouraging (your daughters or family), this only brings about
laziness and hopelessness, and may lead to a regretful result.
At other times, if he noticed from us a deficiency in answering
questions, he would admonish us. This was from his ways of wisdom.
He would do this with the purpose of protecting us from conceit and
pride, these two matters are diseases and they are fatal. May Allah
protect and save us from them.
Several years ago (while the Shiekh was still alive), I (verbally)
wished (in his presence) to see a palm pith. (Later) He saw some
people digging up a palm tree, when they pulled out the palm pith from
the heart of the tree; he brought me one to the house and said: Here
is a palm pith.
(translator' s note: I believe she intendeds here to illustrate her
fathers gentleness and willingness to take some time out of his
extremely busy schedule to fulfill his daughters wishes)
In conclusion to this answer, (I would like to mention) I saw a dream
of my father after his death. He and Shiekh Ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
were present in a place that I am not certain of. I believe it may
have been the lower library (in Dammaj). Shiekh Ul Islam was standing
with his beautiful white beard. It almost fully covered his chest.
My father was also very handsome and strong. I ask Allah to place
them in His highest paradise.
(end of translated text)
This is what we had to offer of the translation of her work. We
encourage everyone to read the full version of her father's biography.
Indeed she has placed in her book jewels and pearls that were only
seen and witnessed by her. May Allah increase her in knowledge and
understanding.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our last messenger
Muhammed, and upon his family members and companions.
translated by Mustafa George
via www.salafitalk.net
