Imam of Jarh Wa Tad’il
Rabee al-Madkhali
Personal
Born1933 (age 90–91)
Saudi Arabia
ReligionIslam
NationalitySaudi Arabian
Era90’s
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceḤanbalī
CreedAthari
MovementSalafi
Notable work(s)
  • Al-`Awaasim mimaa fi kutub Said Qutb min al-Qawaasim (A refutation on Said Qutb’s deviant books)
  • Manhaj Al-Anbiyah fi ad-Da'watu illa Allah (The methodology of the prophets in calling to Allah)
Alma materIslamic University of Madinah
OccupationRetired university professor
Muslim leader
Disciple of
Websitehttp://rabee.net/

Rabīʿ bin Hādī ʿUmayr al Madkhalī (Arabic: ربيع بن هادي عمير المدخلي; born 1933) is a Saudi professor who is a former head of the Sunnah Studies Department at the Islamic University of Madinah.[1] He is a Salafi Muslim scholar who is considered to be one of Salafism's prominent thinkers. He was most active in the 90’s and early 2000s where he received heaps of praise from the great scholars of Islam Like Shaykh Salih Ibn Uthaymeen and Shaykh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz . Another prominent Salafi scholar named Imam Albani labelled him the Imam of Jarh Wa Tad’il (Criticism and praise) [2][3][4]

Biography

Education and career

Rabee Al-Madkhali began seeking knowledge in his village from Ahmad bin Muhammad Jabir Al-Madkhali and Muhammad bin Jabir Al-Madkhali after he turned eight years old.[5] His teacher before his study at the 'Ma’had al-’Ilmi' in Samtah was Nasir Khalufah Mubaraki (one of Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al-Qar’awi's students). After completing several classical Islamic texts with him, he started his education at the Ma’had al-’ilmi in Samtah. The most notable of his teachers were: Hafidh ibn Ahmed Ali al-Hakami, Muhammad bin Ahmad Al-Hakami, Ahmad bin Yahya Al-Najmi, Muhammad Aman Al-Jami' and Muhammad Saghir Al-Khamisi.[6]

In 1961, he entered the Faculty of Sharia at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh for two months and then switched to the Faculty of Sharia at the Islamic University of Madinah, where his teachers included former Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Abdul-Muhsin Al-Abbad, Muhammad Amin Al-Shanqiti, Saleh Al-Iraqi and Abdul-Ghaffar Hasan Al-Hindi.[6] He graduated four years later with excellence. After working at the University, he returned to complete his higher education. He received his master's degree after publishing his thesis, ″Between imams Muslim and Daruqutni″ and achieved his doctorate with distinction with his dissertation. After completing his Doctorate at Umm al-Qura in 1980, Madkhali returned to the Islamic University of Madinah where he taught at the Faculty of Hadith and later became the head of the Department of Sunnah in the Department of Higher Studies. He held the chair until his retirement in the mid-1990s.[7]

Having been an opponent of the House of Saud[8][9] but then having turned strongly pro-establishment by the early 1990s, the Saudi government promoted al-Madkhali to lead a countermovement against growing criticisms of the Kingdom's socioeconomic ills, late deliveries of farm subsidies and normalization of ties with Israel.[10] After the Gulf War had concluded, Madkhali distributed a booklet justifying the decision of the Saudi Arabian government to allow the presence of U.S. troops (who later withdrew) on Arabian soil and criticizing rival controversial radical cleric Safar Al-Hawali for the latter's opposition to the government's decision.[11] In 2016, he issued a fatwa calling upon "the Salafis of Libya" to rebel against the UN-recognized Government of National Accord[12] in favor of Khalifa Haftar, who has been described as "Libya's most potent warlord".

Scholarly works

Al-Madkhali's collected works

Al-Madkhali has authored over 30 works in the field of Hadith and Islamic sciences, much of which has been compiled into a 15 volume set [13] In 1984, the book which brought him fame in the Saudi religious field, 'Manhaj Al-Anbiyah Fi Da’wah Ila Allah' (The Methodology of the Prophets in Calling to Allah), caused controversy over Al-Madkhali's criticisms of the Muslim Brotherhood and their methods in Muslim missionary work.[14] According to Lacroix, Al-Madkhali insisted that priority must be given to correcting Islamic creed amongst the people, whereas the Muslim Brotherhood's initial focus was on political reform.[14] Some observers state that Al-Madkhali is most noted for his refutations of Islamic thinker Sayyid Qutb. Al-Madkhali received acclamations for his works refuting radical preacher [15] Sayyid Qutb from other Salafist scholars such as Saleh Al-Fawzan, Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi'i,Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani and Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen.[16] Of his four books on Sayyid Qutb, 'Adhwa Islamiyyah ala aqidat Sayyid Qutb wa fikrihi' is considered the most important.[17] Apart from his praised works in refutations, his other authorships include:

  • “Bainal-Imāmain Muslim Wad-Daruqutnī” – “Between the Two Imams: Muslim and Ad-Dar Qutni.” And this was one large volume which was the thesis of his Magistrates degree.
  • “An-Nukat ‘Ala Kitāb Ibn Salāh” – “Points Upon the Book of Ibn Salāh.” Published in 2 volumes and it was his PhD thesis.
  • “Manhajul-Anbiyā’ Fid-Da’wah IlAllāh Fīhī Al-Hikmah Wal-‘Aql” – “The Methodology of the Prophets in Calling to Allāh: In it was Wisdom and Intellect”
  • “Manhaj Ahlus-Sunnah Fī Naqd Ar-Rijāl Wal-Kutub Wat–Tawā’if” – “The Methodology of The People of Sunnah in Criticism of Men, Books, and Groups.”
  • “Kashf Mawqif Al-Ghazālī Min As-Sunnah Wa-Ahlihā” – “Exposing Ghazālī’s Position Regarding the Sunnah and Its People.”
  • “Makānatu Ahlil-Hadīth” – “The Position of the People of Hadīth”
  • “Manhaj Al-Imām Muslim Fī Tartībi Sahīhihī” – “Al-Imām Muslim’s Method in Ordering his Sahīh.”
  • “Adhwā’ Islāmiyyah ‘Alā ‘Aqīdah Sayyid Qutb wa Fikarihī” – “The Illumination of Islām Regarding the Creed of Sayyid Qutb and his Ideas.”
  • “Matā’in Sayyid Qutb fī As-hābi Rasūlillāh SallAllāhu Alaihi wa Sallam” – “The Slanders of Sayyid Qutb Upon the Companions of the Messenger of Allāh (H).”
  • “Al-Hadd Al-Fāsil Bainal-Haqq Wal-Bātil” – “The Distinct Separation Between Truth and Falsehood,” which was part of critical dialogue between him and Bakr Abū Zaid
  • “Jamā’ah Wāhidah Lā Jamā’āt; Wa Sīrat Wāhid Lā ‘Asharāt” – “One Jamā’ah – Not Many Jamā’ahs; and One Path – Not Tens of Paths,” which was part of a critical dialogue with ‘Abdur-Rahmān ‘Abdul-Khāliq.[18]

Colleague's view

Contemporary hadith scholar Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani regarded Al-Madkhali to be very knowledgeable in the field of hadith, particularly in Al-Jarh wa-l-Ta’dil. Al-Albani stated that, “the carrier of the flag of [knowledge] of Jarh wa Ta'deel today, in this present time, and rightfully so, is our brother Dr. Rabee’, and those who refute him do so without any knowledge."[19] He has also received praise from other contemporary Salafist scholars such as Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, Saleh Al-Fawzan, Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymeen, Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi'i, and the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia among many others who praised him for being a firm defender of Islam's core values.[18] Roel Meijer notes that some analysts view Madkhali’s followers as having an obsession with his defense and continuously cite scholarly praise of him as a mechanism "for maintaining, defending and enhancing this authority", which is contested by Madkhali's detractors.[20]

Political scientist Gilles Kepel has described Madkhali as being the perfect example of pro-regime "court scholars" in the Middle East, as opposed to more radical trends within the Salafist movement.[21] In contrast to his early opposition to the Saudi Arabian government, Madkhali is now considered one of the Saudi royal family's staunchest defenders.[7][8][22][23][24] While politically quietist within his own country, Madkhali has supported violent conflict in other areas, having called on Muslims both inside and outside Indonesia to participate in the Maluku sectarian conflict.[25][26][27][28]

Madkhali's source of religious authority within the Salafist movement is unclear. He has not been involved with official religious bodies of the Saudi government, does not belong to the significant line of 20th-century Salafist scholars including Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz and Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, and has been described as below the level of contemporaries such as Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen or Saleh Al-Fawzan.[29] Some anti-Muslim Brotherhood figures like Muqbil ibn Hadi al Wadi'i are huge supporters of Al-Madkhali and consider him to be a senior scholar. According to Al-Wadi'i:

"From the most insightful of people concerning the [misguided] groups and their taints in this era is the brother, Shaikh Rabī’ bin Hādī, may Allāh preserve him. Whomever he declares to be a hizbī, then it will be unveiled [and made clear] for you after some days that he is indeed a hizbī...I advise you to ask Shaikh Rabī’ bin Hādī, may Allāh  preserve him. A great deal of his life has passed with [dealing with] al-Ikhwān al-Muslimīn. He is the most knowledge person concerning them and their realities"

[30]

References

  1. ↑ "Rabee Ibn Haadi 'Umayr Al-Madkhali". The Muslim 500. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  2. ↑ Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Sheikh Rabi’ Ibn Haadi ‘Umayr Al Madkhali. The Muslim 500: The World's Most Influential Muslims
  3. ↑ Roel Meijer, Global Salafism: Islam's New Religious Movement, pg. 49. New York: Columbia University Press, 2009.
  4. ↑ Omayma Abdel-Latif, "Trends in Salafism." Taken from Islamist Radicalisation: The Challenge for Euro-Mediterranean Relations, pg. 74. Eds. Michael Emerson, Kristina Kausch and Richard Youngs. Brussels: Centre for European Policy Studies, 2009. ISBN 9789290798651
  5. ↑ Meijer, R., "Politicizing al-jarh wa-l-ta'dil p.377
  6. 1 2 Roel Meijer, "Politicizing al-jarh wa-l-ta'dil: p.377.
  7. 1 2 Lacroix, pg. 212.
  8. 1 2 George Joffé, Islamist Radicalisation in Europe and the Middle East: Reassessing the Causes of Terrorism, pg. 317. London: I.B. Tauris, 2013.
  9. ↑ Stephane Lacroix, Awakening Islam, pgs. 102 and 212. Trns. George Holoch. Cambridge: President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2011.
  10. ↑ Sherifa Zuhur, Saudi Arabia, pg. 66. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2011. ISBN 9781598845716
  11. ↑ Mansoor Jassem Alshamsi, Islam and Political Reform in Saudi Arabia: The Quest for Political Change and Reform, pg. 111. London: Routledge, 2010. ISBN 9781134126538
  12. ↑ International Crisis Group, Addressing the Rise of Libya’s Madkhali-Salafis, pg. 14. Brussels: United States Department of Justice
  13. ↑ Zafiri, K., "Thabt mu'allafat al-shaykh Rabi b. Hadi al-Madkhali" [Meijer says to see this book in 'Politicizing al-jarh wa-l-ta'dil' p.380].
  14. 1 2 Lacroix p.212
  15. ↑ Allen, Lisa M. (2011). "The Philosophy of Sayyid Qutb Will Persist as Al Qaeda's Intellectual Heritage". Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses. 3 (6): 7–9. ISSN 2382-6444. JSTOR 26350986.
  16. ↑ Roel Meijer, Politicizing al-jarh wa-l-ta'dil p.380 & 386
  17. ↑ Roel Meijer, Politicizing al-jarh wa-l-ta'dil p.386
  18. 1 2 Abdul-Wahid, Abu Khadeejah (5 February 2018). "Biography of Ash-Shaykh Al-Allāmah Rabī' Ibn Hādī Al-Madkhalī and the Praise of the Scholars for him". Abu Khadeejah : أبو خديجة. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  19. ↑ Meijer, "Politicizing," pg. 380.
  20. ↑ Meijer, "Politicizing," pg. 381.
  21. ↑ Gilles Kepel, The War for Muslim Minds: Islam and the West, pg. 253. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 2004. Trns. Pascale Ghazaleh. ISBN 0674015754
  22. ↑ Stephane Lacroix, pg. 212.
  23. ↑ NATO Science for Peace and Security, Suicide as a Weapon, pg. 18. Amsterdam: IOS Press, 2007. ISBN 9781586037956
  24. ↑ Natana DeLong-Bas, Wahhabism: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide, pg. 8. Oxford University Press, 2011.
  25. ↑ Noorhaidi Hasan, Laskar Jihad, pg. 151. Ithaca: Cornell Southeast Asia Program, 2006.
  26. ↑ Muhammad Najib Azza, "Communal Violence in Indonesia and the Role of Foreign and Domestic Networks." Taken from Conflict, Community, and Criminality in Southeast Asia and Australia, pg. 25. Eds. Arnaud De Borchgrave, Thomas M. Sanderson and David Gordon. Washington, D.C.: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2009.
  27. ↑ Andrew T. H. Tan, A Handbook of Terrorism and Insurgency in Southeast Asia, pg. 149. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2007.
  28. ↑ Rohan Gunaratna, Inside Al Qaeda: global network of terror, pg. 201. Volume 3 of the University of St Andrews' Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence series. London: C. Hurst & Co., 2002.
  29. ↑ Roel Meijer, "Politicizing al-jarh wa-l-ta'dil: Rabi b. Hadi al-Madkhali and the transnational battle for religious authority." Taken from The Transmission and Dynamics of the Textual Sources of Islam: Essays in Honor of Harald Motzki, pg. 377. Eds. Nicolet Boekhoff-van der Voort, Kees Versteegh and Joas Wagemakers. Leiden: Brill Publishers, 2011.
  30. ↑ Abdul-Wahid, Abu Khadeejah (5 February 2018). "Biography of Ash-Shaykh Al-Allāmah Rabī' Ibn Hādī Al-Madkhalī and the Praise of the Scholars for him". Abukhadeejah.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021.
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