Jump to content

Anwar al-Awlaki

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 217.35.93.92 (talk) at 21:43, 20 January 2009. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Anwar al-Awlaki
Born
 United States -New Mexico
OccupationImam/Scholar
Websitehttp://www.anwar-alawlaki.com

Anwar al-Awlaki (also spelled Aulaqi) is Muslim scholar, lecturer and teacher.

Biography

His parents are from Yemen, where he lived for eleven years and received the early part of his Islamic education.[1] Awlaki has served as an Imam in Colorado, California, and most recently in the Washington, D.C. area where he headed the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Centre and was also the Muslim Chaplain at George Washington University[2]. He migrated to Yemen and despite having no travel restrictions, he currently does not wish to leave his home country. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University, an M.A. in Education Leadership from San Diego State University and was working on a Doctorate degree in Human Resource Development at George Washington University.

On 31 August 2006, ostensibly due to a Yemeni Secret Police investigation over Yemeni Tribal issues, Awlaki was detained for questioning by the Yemeni authorities. According to Awlaki, during the course of his interrogation he was asked specific questions about his Islamic activities, which led him to believe that he was being held and questioned at the behest of the United States government.[3]

On 12 December 2007, Awlaki was released by the Yemeni authorities and was reunited with his family. Upon his release he issued the following statement:

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Alhamdulillah I have been released on the 12th of December after spending almost a year and a half behind bars. The time I spend in detention was a great blessing from Allah. They were moments of contemplation and study which I was greatly in need of. Alhamdulillah, Allah has blessed me during that time of solitude with tranquility and peace to the extent that at most of the time I was preferring detention over freedom. Now that I am free I ask Allah to enable me to thank Him for his blessings. I am greatly moved to know that many of my brothers and sisters have been asking about my situation and praying for my release. I thank them all. May Allah reward all of you with Paradise.

— Anwar al Awlaki, Unknown Source

Anwar al-Awlaki currently resides in Yemen, and is associated with Iman University.

Islamic Education

Imam Anwar al-Awlaki has studied in the circles of the scholars of Makkah and Madina for a short period (a few months) and for a short while attended the circle of Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen.

In addition to an ijaza in Quran recitation according to the recitation of Hafs he has read and completed Sahih al Bukhari with Shaykh AbdulRahman Shumailah al Ahdal and has received ijazah to narrate Sahih al Bukhari, from Shaykh AbdulRahman, through three high isnaads, one of them being the highest existing isnaad in the world. The other two Shaykh AbdulRahman received from his shuyukh in Makkah.

Imam al-Awlaki has also read and completed Sahih Muslim and al Muwata by Imam Malik with Shaykh AbdulRahman and received ijazah on both books. He has studied al Minhaaj by Imaam Nawawi on Shafi fiqh with Shaykh AbdulRahman al Ahdal and Shaykh Hamud al Ahdal and received ijaza from both of them.

The above mentioned shuyukh have also given Imam al-Awlaki ijazah to narrate through their isnaad the six books of Hadith, al Adhkaar by Imaam Nawawi, al Shifa by Qadhi Iyaad, and some other books in Shafi fiqh.

Imam al-Awlaki has also studied, traveled and lived with Shaykh Hassan al Ahdal and it was through him that he was able to study with other scholars from this blessed family of scholars who are descendants of al Hussain bin Ali may Allah be pleased with them. They are based in al Marawa’ah in Tihama which is in the Western part of Yemen on the coast of the Red Sea and this is the land of the Sahabi Abu Musa al Ash’ari. Shaykh Hassan al Ahdal has given Imam al-Awlaki a general ijaza in the six books of hadith, Buloogh al Maraam by Ibn Hajjar al Asqalani, Umdat al Ahkaam by al Maqdisi, al Minhaaj by al Nawawi, al Ghaya wal Taqreeb by Abu Shuja, and al Waraqaat by al Juwaini. The Imam has also spent a short time with Shaykh Salman al Odah.

Al-Awlaki has mentioned that he has also benifitted considerably from the scholars he had met in the US during the 90’s, a time in which there was a great influx of islamic scholars in America.

Imam Anwar al-Awlaki has also studied with and continues to learn from Shaykh Hussein bin Mahfoodh. Whom he who says "is a friend whose relationship with me extends over the years. ...I have benefited and continue to benefit from the Shaykh whom I trust his deen and know him to be a scholar who does not fear in the sake of Allah and is willing to stand up for the truth... until this day, I consult with him on the various important aspects of Sharia that I am presented with and I have continued to benefit from his knowledge and wisdom over the years. I have accompanied him and traveled with him and consider him to be one of the best scholars that I have came[sic] to know."

In 2002 Imam Awlaki was given permission from the administration of the University of Eman in Yemen to attend any classes at any level whereupon he attended classes in Tafsir and Fiqh for a period of a few months. He also took knowledge from Shaykh Abdul Majid al Zindani the Rector of the University.

In addition to the ijaza’s mentioned above Imam al-Awlaki has a general ijaza in Quran, Sciences of Quran, Hadith, Sciences of Hadith, Tafsir , Fiqh, Usool Fiqh and Arabic from: Shaykh Hassan Maqbooli al Ahdal Shaykh Hussein bin Mahfoodh Shaykh AbdulRahman Shumailah al Ahdal Shaykh Hamud Shumailah al Ahdal

On Criticism of Islam

In The Dust Will Never Settle Down[4], Awlaki discusses the controversy over the publication of cartoons in Europe that defamed Muhammad.[5] Quoting Hadith, Qur'an and various commentaries (including those by Ibn Taymiyya), Awlaki comes to the conclusion that blasphemy against Muhammad by non-Muslims is punishable by death.

Awlaki is on record praising the works of Abdul Majeed al-Zindani, who is under UN sanction for his affiliation with al Qa'ida.[6]

Works

  • The Battle of Hearts and Minds
  • The Dust Will Never Settle Down
  • Dreams & Interpretations
  • The Hereafter — 16 CDs - Al Basheer Productions
  • Life of Muhammad:Makkan Period - 16 CDs - Al Basheer Productions
  • Life of Muhammad:Medinan Period- A Lecture in 2 Parts - 18 CDs - Al Basheer Productions
  • Lives of the Prophets (AS) — 16 CDs - Al Basheer Productions
  • Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA): His Life & Times - 15 CDs - Al Basheer Productions
  • Umar ibn al-Khattāb (RA):His Life & Times - 18 CDs - Al Basheer Productions
  • 25 Promises from Allah to the Believer - 2 CDs - Noor Productions
  • Companions of the Ditch & Lessons from the Life of Musa (AS) - 2 CDs - Noor Productions
  • Remembrance of Allah & the Greatest Ayah - 2 CDs - Noor Productions
  • Stories from Hadith — 4 CDs - Center for Islamic Information and Education (CIIE)
  • Hellfire & The Day of Judgment - 1 CD - Center for Islamic Information and Education (CIIE)
  • Quest for Truth: The Story of Salman Al-Farsi (RA)- 1 CD - Center for Islamic Information and Education (CIIE)
  • Trials & Lessons for Muslim Minorities - 1 CD - Center for Islamic Information and Education (CIIE)
  • Young Ayesha (RA) & Mothers of the Believers (RA) - 1 CD - Center for Islamic Information and Education (CIIE)
  • Understanding the Quran - 1 CD - Center for Islamic Information and Education (CIIE)
  • Lessons from the Companions (RA) Living as a Minority - 1 CD - Center for Islamic Information and Education (CIIE)
  • The Story of Ibn Al-Akwa: Mashari Al-Ashwaq - A Lecture in 15 Parts - Unpublished
  • Allah is Preparing us for Victory - A Lecture in 2 Parts - Unpublished
  • The Quran: The Book of Tolerance - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • Surat Taha - Short Talks after Fajr 2 Parts - Unpublished
  • Giving & Investing in the Hereafter - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • Goodly Word, Goodly Tree - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • Naseeha - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • Hijra - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • Revivers of the Message - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • The Truth of Suleiman (AS) & Magic / Magic, Jinn & Freemasons - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • Tolerance: A Hallmark of Muslim Character - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • Trust in Allah but Tie Your Camel - A Lecture in 1 Part - Unpublished
  • Brutality Towards Muslims - Khutbah - Unpublished
  • The War on Islam - Khutbah - Unpublished
  • Story of the Bull - Khutbah - Unpublished
  • The Constants of Jihad - A Lecture in 6 Parts - Unpublished

References

  1. ^ "Attack on America: An Islamic Scholar's perspective". National Geographic News. 2001-11-28. Retrieved 2007-06-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Imam Anwar Al Awlaki - A Leader in Need". Cageprisoners.com. 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-06-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Moazzam Begg Interviews Anwar al Awlaki (audio)". Kalamullah.com. 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2009-01-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "The Dust Will Never Settle Down (audio)". Kalamullah.com. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  5. ^ "Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy". Wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  6. ^ "A Question from a Reader on my Islamic Education". anwar-alawlaki.com. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2009-01-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Anwar_al-Awlaki&oldid=265360856"