[5] Brief Biographies of Some Prominent Contemporary Scholars – Al-Allamah Hammad Al-Ansari

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

He was Shaikh Hammad bin Muhammad Al-Ansari Al-Khazraji Al-Sa’di- born in 1343 AH in the town of Tad Makkah in Mali, West Africa. He traced his lineage to Sa’d bin Ubadah, the noble Companion of the Prophet ﷺ.

From an early age, he displayed remarkable intelligence and a deep love for knowledge. Raised by his learned uncle, who was known as “the Sea” because of his vast knowledge, he memorised the Quran by the age of eight. He also memorised many classical texts in Arabic grammar, Hadith, jurisprudence, and Arabic poetry, including works by Al-Hariri, Ibn Malik, Al-Suyuti, and Al-Subki, as well as the famous Seven Mu’allaqat.

Due to French colonial rule, he left his homeland at the age of twenty-one and travelled to the sacred cities. In Makkah, he studied in the circles of the Grand Mosque under scholars such as Shaikh Hamid Al-Faqi, Shaikh Abdullah Al-Mashat, and Shaikh Muhammad Amin Al-Halabi. Recognising his knowledge and ability, Shaikh Abdullah bin Hassan Al Al-Shaikh granted him permission to teach in the Grand Mosque.

He later continued his studies in Madinah before returning to Makkah. Following the advice of Shaikh Abdul Latif bin Ibrahim and Shaikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al Al-Shaikh, he moved to Riyadh, where he taught at the College of Sharia and the Imam Institute, before finally joining the Islamic University of Madinah.

Shaikh Hammad became renowned for his devotion to knowledge and his generosity towards students. His library, containing more than 3,000 volumes, was especially rich in Hadith and rare manuscripts. He made these resources readily available and played an important role in preserving and publishing many valuable Hadith works.

He taught numerous scholars, including Shaikh Bakr Abu Zaid, Shaikh Rabee bin Hadi, Shaikh Abdur Razzaq Al-Badr, and many others. His lifelong service to the Quran, Sunnah, and the sciences of Hadith left a lasting legacy that continues to benefit students of knowledge throughout the Muslim world.

He left behind a tremendous legacy of writings covering various branches of Islamic knowledge. Among his works in Arabic grammar is Al-Ajwibah Al-Wafiyyah ʿan As’ilat Al-Alfiyyah. In Islamic creed, he authored Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ashʿari wa ʿAqidatuhu. In Islamic jurisprudence, he wrote Tuhfat Al-Sa’il ʿan Sawm Al-Murdiʿ wa Al-Hamil. In Hadith, he authored Ithaf Dhawi Al-Rusukh biman Dallasa min Al-Shuyukh and Sabil Al-Rushd fi Takhrij Ahadith Bidayat Ibn Rushd, along with many other valuable works that students of knowledge continue to acquire and benefit from.

He also participated, may Allah have mercy upon him, alongside Ibn Qasim (may Allah have mercy upon him), in compiling the Fatwas of Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah.

Among his sayings and circumstances, may Allah have mercy on him, was mentioned by his son, Abdul Awal Al-Ansari:

“Whenever I saw a manuscript, I copied it.”

“In my youth, I would read and write until dawn, and I would only sleep a little in the afternoon.”

“I donated four hundred manuscripts to the Islamic University, some of which are in my handwriting.”

“Books are more valuable to me than the palaces of kings.”

“I possess licenses in every field of knowledge, even in geometry!”

“We would not study any knowledge until we had memorized it.”

“I spent seven years in the library of the Haram copying manuscripts, and there was no photography/photocopying available.”

“I am not a mufti; I am a servant of the students of knowledge.”

“A teacher of mine told me: You must travel to Najd, for living with them is like living with the companions of the Prophet,” due to the abundance of scholars there and the purity of their beliefs.

“My days in Riyadh were the golden days.” 

Among his advice and wise sayings (may Allah have mercy upon him) were the following:

“How much has been written, yet how little has been read.”

“I have observed that the students of knowledge in this age do not revise knowledge together through mutual discussion.”

“Obtain Ibn Jama’ah’s book Adab Al-Sami’ wa Al-Muta’allim, and read one chapter from it every day.”

“Today, the enemy—that is, the disbelievers—has distracted the students of knowledge from seeking knowledge, even though seeking knowledge is an obligation upon them in these times.”

“Women in this age have distinguished themselves through their enthusiasm and readiness for research.”

“The scholars should speak to the people according to what they can understand and should not lead them into confusion and complexities.”

Regarding Ikhwan al-Muslimeen [the Muslim Brotherhood sect], he said: “Do not go near them, for everything they have is based upon doubts and misconceptions.”

Speaking about psychology, he remarked: “They call it ‘education’ (tarbiyah), whereas I call it ‘degeneration’ (tardiyah).”

He advised one student of knowledge: “Do not read excessively from books that contain irregular and deviant scholarly opinions.”

Regarding the Gulf Crisis, he said: “It brought about inactivity and laziness among the students of knowledge.”

Concerning the so-called Islamic awakening (al-Sahwah) spoken of in that era, he said: “This is not an awakening; rather, it is a state of heedlessness from seeking knowledge.”

His virtues, noble qualities, and outstanding merits were many. He, may Allāh have mercy upon him, passed away on Wednesday, 21st of June, 1418 AH, after suffering from an illness for several months. His funeral prayer was held in the Prophet’s Mosque after the afternoon prayer, led by Shaikh Abdul Bari Al-Thubayti. A large number of students of knowledge and scholars attended his farewell, numbering in the thousands. 

An Excerpt from Al-Majmuʿ fi Tarjamat Al-ʿAllamah Al-Muhaddith Al-Shaikh Hammad Al-Ansari by Abd Al-Awwal bin Hammad Al-Ansari page 7 onwards