Ali Al-Halabi

Question: what is the condition of the one who considers ’Ali ibn Hassan Al-Halabi a Sunni while still taking knowledge from him? Sheikh Abu Bilal hafidahullah responds: ’Ali ibn Hassan—may Allāh have mercy on him—was severely criticised with verified statements matching reality, indicating that he deviated from the goodness he once upheld during the time of Sheikh Al-Albani—may Allāh have mercy on him. As of now, we do not know of anyone from the well-known and reputable students of Al-Albani who has remained steadfast, except for Sheikh Saleem (Al-Hilali)—may Allāh preserve him. ’Ali ibn Hassan aligned himself with the Ihya Al-Turath, was enticed by money, and they established a university or school for him—Al-Albani Institute—through financial incentives. He inclined toward them, went with them, and ultimately changed towards the end. Therefore, we do not advise seeking knowledge from him after his deviation. Praise be to Allāh, the knowledge he possessed is available through others and can be found in books. As a student of knowledge, you can refer to various sources, study books, and benefit from scholarly works. Likewise, others Salafees possess great knowledge and substantial contributions that serve as a reliable alternative.