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Laying down the foundation:

Before going into any misconception or accusation, we need to come to a mutual agreement in order for our discussion to bear fruitful results. Hereunder I have listed some points which we -as Salafis- should have no disagreement concerning:

Firstly: If we are truly seeking the truth, then we must stay far from following our desires, as Allah The Most High said:
{وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ فَیُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ}
“And follow not your desire for it will mislead you from the Path of Allah.”
[Surah Sâd: 26]

Secondly: We must not be biased to anyone or anything but the truth.

Thirdly: The truth is that which is established in the Qurʿān and Sunnah; in conformity with the understanding of the Salaf.

Allah The Almighty said:
{ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَاۤ أُنزِلَ إِلَیۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِیَاۤءَ}
“Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. Quran & Sunnah), and follow not any Auliya' (protectors and helpers, etc.) besides Him.”
[Surah Al-A`râf: 3]

And He The Almighty said:
{وَمَن یُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَهُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَیَتَّبِعۡ غَیۡرَ سَبِیلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصۡلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَۖ وَسَاۤءَتۡ مَصِیرًا}
“And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We shall leave him on his chosen path, then burn him in Hell—what an evil end! . ”
[Surah An-Nisâ': 115]

Fourthly: Once the truth is established, we have to be just and accept it, whether we like it or not - even if it is presented to us by our worst enemy.

Allah The Most High said:
{ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّ ٰ⁠مِینَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاۤءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَلَا یَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰۤ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُوا۟ۚ ٱعۡدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰ}
“O believers! Stand firm for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness.”
[Surah Al-Mâ'idah: 8]

Fifthly: from the general principles of the Shari’ah is that:
اليقين لا يزول بالشك
'Certainty is not overruled by doubt'

Meaning, whatever is established with certainty cannot be removed by doubt. In other words, things are assumed to remain as they are until it is established with certainty that they are otherwise.

By extension, when someone is proven to be an upright, reliable individual (as 'was' the case with Sheikh Yahya by everyone's admission), we cannot accept anyone's criticism of him unless this criticism is Mufassar (explained) and established with evidences.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal rahimahullah said:

«كل رجل ثبتت عدالته لم يقبل فيه تجريح أحد، حتى يتبين ذلك عليه بأمر لا يحتمل غير جرحه».

“If someone's uprightness is established, no one's criticism against him will be accepted until that (which he is being criticised for) becomes apparent upon him in such a way that he cannot be excused from disparagement.”
[Tahdheeb At-Tahdheeb (7/273)]

Imam At-Tabari rahimahullah said:

«من ثبتت عدالته لم يقبل فيه الجرح، وما تسقط العدالة بالظن»

“If someone's uprightness is established, no (unverified) criticism will be accepted against him, and one's uprightness is not overruled by speculation.”
[Hadyu As-Saari - P. 428]

Imam Bukhari rahimahullah said:

«لم ينج كثير من الناس من كلام بعض الناس فيهم، ولم يلتفت أهل العلم في هذا النحو إلا ببيان وحجة، ولم تسقط عدالتهم إلا ببرهان ثابت وحجة»

“Many were unable to escape being criticised by others, and the people of knowledge did not pay any attention to that unless it was based on proof and evidence, and their uprightness was not overruled except with firm proof and evidence.”
[Juz' Al-Qiraa'ah Khalfa Al-Imaam - P. 14]

This was also mentioned by:
- Muhammad ibn Nasr Al-Marwazi in 'Fat-h Al-Mugheeth' (2/188)
- Al-Bayhaqi in 'Sunan Al-Kubraa' (10/124)
- Ibn 'Abdil Barr in' Jaami' Bayaan Al-'ilm wa fadhlihi' (2/1093)
- Al-Biqaa'ee in 'An-Nukat Al-Wafiyyah' (1/610)
- Al-Mu'allimi in 'At-Tankeel' (1/255)
and others...

10. Sheikh 'Abdul-Azeez Al-Bura'ee hadaahullah

▪️(نحن نعلم أنه على تقوى الله عزّ وجلّ ومراقبة، وأخونا في الله عزّوجلّ ونحبّه في الله، وعالم من علماء السُّنّة، نفع الله به ، أسدٌ من أسود السُّنّة، تاجٌ على رؤوس أهل السُّنّة)

“We know that he is upon Taqwa and consciousness of Allah the Mighty and Majestic. He is our brother in faith. We love him for the sake of Allah. He is a scholar from the scholars of the Sunnah through whom Allah has benefited. A lion from the lions of the Sunnah. A crown on the heads of Ahlus-Sunnah.”
[source: q&a from the people of Qusa'ir 28/7/1428]

▪️(فالشيخ يحيى شامة في وجوه أهل السنة وتاج على رؤوسهم)

“Sheikh Yahya is a beauty spot on the faces of Ahlus-Sunnah and a crown on their heads.”
[source: page 24 of Al-Mu'aamaratul Kubraa]

9. Sheikh Muhammad Al-Imaam hadaahullah

▪️(لا يصلح للجرح والتعديل في هذا العصر إلا الشيخ ربيع والشيخ يحيى)

“Sheikh Rabee' and Sheikh Yahya are the only ones best suited for Al-Jarh wat Ta'deel in this era.”
[source: Page 6 of Al-Burhan Al-Jaliyyah by Abu Zaid Mu'aafa Al-Mighlaafi ]

▪️(لا يطعن في الشيخ العلامة يحيى الحجوري إلا جاهل أو صاحب هوى)

“None speaks ill of Ash-Sheikh, Al-'Allaamah, Yahya Al-Hajoori except an ignorant individual or a person of desire.”
[source: Page 23 of Al-Mu'aamaratul Kubraa by Abdulghani Al-Qa'shami]

7. Sheikh Muhammad ibn Hizam hadaahullah

(وأما بالنسبة لمن يطعن في الشيخ يحيى فما يضر إلا نفسه و الطعن في علماء أهل السنة والجماعة علامة أهل البدع علامة المبتدع وعلامة الزائغ الطعن في العلماء كما قال أبو حاتم الرازي وقتيبة بن سعيد رحمة اللّه عليهما: علامة أهل البدع الوقيعة في أهل الأثر. وقال: فالشيخ يحيى ممن نرجوا له أن يرفعه اللّه عزوجل درجات في هذه الفتنة لأنه صبر واحتسب وجاهد فسيرفعه اللّه عزوجل وستذكرون ما هي إلا أيام وسترون الرفعة للشيخ يحيى حفظه اللّه إن شاء اللّه ترون من طعن فيه وتكلم فيه وقدح فيه إن لم يتداركه الله عزوجل بتوبة صادقة ستجدونه ضائعا عن طلب العلم يترك طلب العلم وربما يشغل في الأوقات وربما يرجع إلى الدنيا و البحث عن بعض المشاكل و غير ذلك من الامور و العياذ بالله. وقال: هم - أي العلماء - يرون أن من طعن – أي في الشيخ يحيى - فهو رجل مفتون يجب أن يبتعد عنه من طعن وحذر فهم ما يرضون به ويرون الإبتعاد عنه ويرون ان هذا رجل زائغ ورجل مفتون)

“As for those who slander Sheikh Yahya, they do not harm anyone but themselves. And slandering the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jama’ah is from sign of the people of innovation and deviance, as Abu Hatim Ar-Razi and Qutaibah ibn Sa'eed, may Allah have mercy on them both, said: 'The sign of the people of innovation is their slander of the people of Athar.' ” And he said: “Sheikh Yahya is one for whom we hope that Allah Almighty elevates his rank due to this Fitnah (i.e. fitnah of Abdurrahmaan Al-Adeni and co.), because he has remained patient, seeking Allah's reward and striving hard, hence Allah Almighty will elevate him. Mark my words, it's only a matter of days Insha'Allah before you see the elevation of Sheikh Yahya hafidhahullah, and you will see those who insulted and spoke ill of him -unless Allah Almighty rectifies their affair and grata them sincere repentance- You will find them diverted from seeking knowledge, they will abandon seeking knowledge and may become occupied at times and may return to (chasing after) the Dunya and looking for some problems and other matters, we seek Allah's protection. And he said: They, i.e. the scholars, consider anyone who speaks ill of Sheikh Yahya to be a person of fitnah who we must stay away from. Anyone who speaks ill and warns (against Sheikh Yahya), they (the scholars) are not pleased with him and they see that they should be abandoned, and they see this person as a deviant and a person of fitnah.”
[source: audio clip recorded in Sha'ban 1429 H]

6. Sheikh Jameel As-Silwi hafidhahullah

(الذي يتكلم في الشيخ يحيى مطعون، فالشيخ يحيى حفظه الله يتكلم لله ولدين الله، وأحدنا قد يجبُن أن يتكلم في بعض الأمور، وهو قد هيّئه الله لهذا الأمر، للتعليم والتأليف ولحل كثير من المشاكل).

“He who speaks ill of Sheikh Yahya is one who is disparaged. Sheikh Yahya hafidhahullah speaks for Allah's sake and for the sake of Allah's religion, whereas some of us may be fearful to speak about some matters, but Allah has enabled him to take on this matter; teaching, authorship, and resolving many problems.”
[source: audio clip posted on aloloom]

He (Sheikh Yahya) follows the path of our Sheikh (Muqbil) rahimahullah in guarding the Sunnah and defending it, and in clarifying the condition of the liars, and this is what enraged them.”
[source: audio clip posted on aloloom]

2. Sheikh Ahmad ibn Yahya An-Najmi rahimahullah

▪️(وقد رد عليه الشيخ يحي الحجوري جزاه الله خيرا في هذه الفقرات وغيرها، ردا مفحما بالأدلة القاطعة الساطعة من الكتاب وصحيح السنة، فجزاه الله خيرا وبارك فيه، وكثر من أمثاله الذابين عن الحق الناصرين للتوحيد الذائدين عن حياضه وبالله التوفيق)

“Sheikh Yahyaa may Allah reward him a good reward has refuted him (Zindaani) in this short passages and in other places with a refutation that silences the adversary using decisive clear proofs from the Book and the authentic Sunnah, so may Allah reward him a good reward and bless him and may Allah make numerous the likes of him those who defend the truth and support Tawheed and gaurd its boundaries. And with Allah is success.”
[source: preface to Sheikh Yahya's As-Subh Ash-Shaariq]

▪️(طلبة الشيخ مقبل على العموم نعلم أنَّهم على السنة، أمَّا من زعم أنَّهم حدادية، فزعمه هذا باطل، وقوله هذا تجني، وبغي على طلبة الشيخ مقبل -رحمه الله-. وإنَّ معهد دماج الذي أسسه الشيخ مقبل -رحمه الله- في بؤرة التشيع، ووسط التشيع، فنشرت فيه السنة في تلك البقاع الَّتِي ما كان أحد يجرأ على الكلام فضلاً عن الرد عليهم، وقد نفع الله بطلاب الشيخ مقبل، فانتشرت بِهم السنة في جميع بقاع اليمن عدا نفرٌ قليلٌ منهم خالفوا عقيدة أهل السنة والجماعة الَّتِي رباهم ونشأهم عليها الشيخ مقبل -رحمه الله- وأخذوا بطريقة المبتدعة، وحسَّن لهم الشيطان طرق الابتداع، فهؤلاء لايعتبر بِهم، وإنَّما يعتبر بمن ثبتوا على السنة، ودانوا بِها ودعوا إليها، ووالوا وعادوا من أجلها، وأحبوا وأبغضوا من أجلها هؤلاء هم الذين يعتبر بِهم، وهم الذين سلكوا مسلك أهل الحديث والأثر، واتبعوا مذهب أهل السنة والجماعة؛ لذلك فإنَّي أقول: من يقول أنَّ هؤلاء حدادية، فهو باغٍ ظالم وعند الله الملتقى...)

“The students of Sheikh Muqbil, in general, we know that they are upon the Sunnah. As for those who claim that they are Haddaadiyyah, then their claim is baseless, a false accusation, and an injustice against the students of Sheikh Muqbil rahimahullah. The institute of Dammaj which was founded by Sheikh Muqbil rahimahullah is (located) within the  centre of Shiism, and in the midst of Shiism, yet the Sunnah was spread therein and in those places where no one would have dared to speak let alone respond to them. Allah has brought benefit by way of Sheikh Muqbil's students, and the Sunnah has spread by of them throughout various parts of Yemen. With the exception of a small group of them who violated the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah (such as Abul Hasan Al-Ma'ribi), upon which Sheikh Muqbil rahimahullah cultivated them and nurtured them - and they took the method of the innovation, and Satan beautified for them the ways of innovation. These ones are not taken into consideration. Rather, consideration is given to those who adhere to the Sunnah, profess it, call to it, bear allegiance and disallegiance for its sake, and love and hate for its sake. They are the ones who followed the path of the people of hadith and Athar, and followed the doctrine of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah. Therefore, I say: Whoever says that they are Haddaadiyyah, then he is a transgressor, an unjust person, and before Allah will be the meeting...”
[source: Al-Fataawa Al-Jaliyyah 'An Al-Manaahij Ad-Da'awiyyah]

[source: preface to Sheikh Yahya’s book 'Al-‘Arba’oon Al-Hisaan']

▪️(فجزى الله أخانا الشيخ الفاضل الشيخ يحي خيراً وهنيئاً له لما حباه الله من الصبر على البحث والتنقيب عن الفوائد الحديثية والفقهية ... فقد اطلعت على كتاب الجمعة للشيخ يحي بن علي الحجوري فوجدته كتاباً عظيماً فيه فوائد تشد لها الرحال مع الحكم على كل حديث بما يستحقه، واستيعاب الموضوع، فهو كتاب كافٍ وافٍ في موضوعه، كيف لا يكون كذلك والشيخ يحي حفظه الله في غاية من التحري والتقى والزهد والورع وخشية الله، وهو قوَّال بالحق لا يخاف في الله لومة لائم، وهو -حفظه الله- قام بالنيابة عنِّي فِي دروس دار الْحَديث بدماج يلقيها على أحسن ما يرام)

“May Allah reward our esteemed brother, Sheikh Yahya, and we commend him for the patience that Allah has granted him to be able to research and examine for hadith and Fiqh related benefits...and I have looked through the book 'Al-Jumu’ah' by Sheikh Yahya ibn ‘Ali Hajoori and I found it to be a magnificent book. It contains beneficial matters of knowledge for which one ought to travel for, as well as giving every hadith its appropriate ruling, and encompassing the entire topic. So it is a complete book sufficient in this topic. And how can that not be the case while Sheikh Yahya is someone who gives his all in pursuit of what is best and in righteousness and leaving off those things which do not benefit in the hereafter (Zuhud), and piety and in fearing Allah. He is someone who speaks the truth in Allah's path and is not afraid of the criticism of the criticisors, and he (May Allah protect him) acts as my substitute in the lessons in Daarul Hadith in Dammaj, giving them in the best desired manner.”
[source: preface to Sheiykh Yahya’s book 'Ahkaamul Jumu’ah']

▪️(أودعه فوائد تُشدُّ لها الرّحال، من كلام على الحديث وعلى رجال السَّند، واستنباط مسائل فقهية بما يدُلُّ على تبحُّره في علم الحديث والفقه، ولست أبالغ إذا قلت: إنَّ عمله هذا يفوق عمل الحافظ في «الفتح» في هذا الباب؛ من بيان حال كلّ حديث وبيان درجته)

“He has included therein benefits that one ought to travel for, such as discussing the hadith and the men in the chain of transmission and extracting fiqhi issues, all of which illustrate his expertise in the sciences of hadith and fiqh. I would not be exaggerating if I said that this work of his exceeds that of Al-Hafidh in 'Al-Fath' on this very chapter in terms of clarifying the condition and grading of every hadith.”
[source: preface to Sheikh Yahya's 'Ahkaam At-Tayammum' part of his explanation on 'Muntaqa ibnil Jaarud']

▪️(قال أخونا عبد الله ماطر وفقه الله: سألت الشيخ – يعني الإمام الوادعي- وأنا والله ليس بيني وبينه إلا الله عز وجل، وأنا في غرفته على سريره الذي ينام عليه. فقلت: يا شيخ إلى من يرجع إليه الإخوة في اليمن؟ ومن هو أعلم واحد في اليمن؟ فسكت الشيخ قليلا ثم قال: الشيخ يحيى)

'Abdullah Maatir waffaqahullah (one of the guards of Sheikh Muqbil) said that he asked Sheikh Muqbil (rahimahullah) at a Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, “Who should the brothers in Yemen return to? And who is the most Knowledgeable person in Yemen?” So the Sheikh remained quiet for a moment then said, “Sheikh Yahya”.
[Al-Mu'aamarat Al-Kubraa (p. 24)]

▪️(وأوصيهم بالشيخ الفاضل يحيى بن علي الحجوري خيرا وألاّ يرضوا بنزوله عن الكرسي فهو ناصح أمين).

“And I counsel them to take good care of the virtuous Sheikh, Yahya Ibn 'Ali Al-Hajoori, and not to be satisfied with his descent from the chair, for he is a sincere advisor.”
[source: the wasiyyah (legacy) of Sheikh Muqbil]

The Scholars' Praise for Sheikh Yahya

1. Sheikh Muqbil rahimahullah

▪️(يحيى بن علي أبو عبدالرحمن الحجوري من حُفّاظ كتاب الله، سمعت بعض دروسه التي تدل على استفادته، وهو قوي في التوحيد)

“Yahya ibn ‘Ali, Abu 'Abdirrahman Al-Hajoori, from the memorisers of the Qurʿān, well learned in various fields of Knowledge. I have listened to some of his lessons which prove him to be well learned. He is strong in Tawheed (The field of Islamic Monotheism).”
[source: The autobiography of Abu Abdurrahmaan Muqbil ibn Haadi (page 48)]

▪️(وقد بذل الشّيخ يحيى -حفظه الله- جهدًا مشكورًا في تخريج أحاديثه وتحقيق ألفاظه ومعانيه، وتنبيهات قيّمة على بعض الأخطاء التي حصلت للمؤلّف رحمه الله، فأصبحت تخاريج الحديث مرجعًا ينبغي لطالب العلم أن يقتنيه، ولو من أجل التخريج ... والأخ الشيخ يحيى بن علي الحجوري بحمد الله قد أصبح مرجعًا في التدريس والفتاوى، أسأل الله أن يجزيه خيرًا وأن يبارك في علمه وماله وولده إنه جواد كريم)

“Sheikh Yahya hafidhahullah made a commendable effort in extracting its hadiths and verifying its wordings and meanings, and [raising] valuable points on some mistakes that occurred from the author rahimahullah, such that his checking of the hadith has become a reference which students of knowledge should seek to acquire - even for the checking alone...and the brother Ash-Sheikh Yahya ibn 'Ali Al-Hajoori, praise be to Allah, has become an authority in the field of teaching and giving legal rulings. I ask Allah, the Exalted, to grant him a good reward and to bless him in his knowledge and his wealth and his children, indeed He is the All-Generous, All-Beneficent.”
[source: Preface to Sheikh Yahya’s Tahqeeq of 'Islaah Al-Mujtama’]

▪️(فقد قُرِئَ عليَّ شطر رسالة "السفر" لأخينا في الله الشيخ الفاضل، التقي الزاهد، المحدث الفقيه أبي عبد الرحمن يحيى بن علي الحجوري حفظه الله فوجدتُها رسالة مفيدة، فيها فوائد تشد لها الرحال ... والأخ الشيخ يحيى هو ذلك الرجل المحبوب لدى إخوانه لما يرون فيه من حسن الاعتقاد، ومحبة السنة، وبغض الحزبية المسَّاخة، ونفع إخوانه المسلمين بالفتاوى التي تعتمد على الدليل)

“Half of the treatise (concerning) 'As-Safar' by our brother in faith, the virtuous Sheikh, the pious ascetic, the Muhaddith, the Faqeeh, Abu 'Abdurrahman Yahya ibn 'Ali Al-Hajoori hafidhahullah was read to me, and I found it to be a beneficial treatise, with benefits which one ought to travel for...And the brother, Sheikh Yahya is that man who is loved by his brothers due to what they see in him of sound belief, love of the Sunnah, hatred for deformed partisanship, and the benefit he brings to his Muslim brothers through (his) evidence based fatwas.”
[source: preface to Sheikh Yahya's 'Dhayaa' As-Saalikeen fee Ahkaam wa Aadab Al-Musaafireen']

▪️(فلله دره من باحث ملم بحواشي الفوائد من عقيدة وفقه وحديث وتفسير ... فالشيخ يحيى حفظه الله فتح الله عليه بسبب تمسكه بكتاب الله وبسنة رسول الله ﷺ، وقد انتهى من تحقيق إصلاح المجتمع ورسائل أخرى فيها فوائد تشد لها الرحال، ذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم)

“What a good researcher he is, acquainted with collecting beneficial matters of knowledge in the topics of ‘Aqeedah, Fiqh, Hadith and Tafseer...Allah has endowed Sheikh Yahya hafidhahullah with knowledge due to his adherence to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He has completed the Tahqeeq (verification & correction) of the book 'Islaah al Mujtama’ and other treatises containing beneficial matters of knowledge for which journeys are made in search of. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills.”
[source: preface to Sheikh Yahya’s book 'As-Subh Ash-Shaariq']

▪️(فقد قرأت مواضيع مما كتبه الشيخ الفاضل، المحدث الفقيه يحيى بن علي الحجوري في الأربعين الحديث مما تتعلق بالاجتماع على الطعام، فوجدته حفظه الله قد أجاد وأفاد، بل أتى بفوائد تشد لها الرحال)

“I have read portions of what the virtuous Sheikh, the Muhaddith, the Faqeeh, Yahya ibn ‘Ali al-Haajoori has written in 'The Fourty Hadeeth' dealing with (the topic of) gathering together at meal, and I found that he -hafidhahullah- did very well and brought much benefit, rather he mentioned beneficial matters of knowledge which one ought to travel for.”