In the Name of Allaah…

He was the shaykh, Aboo ‘Abdillaah, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir ibn ‘Abdillaah ibn Naasir as-Sa’dee, from the tribe of Tameem.

He was born in the city of ‘Unayzah, in Saudi Arabia, on the 12th of Muharram, 1307.  He memorized the Qur’aan and mastered its recitation before reaching the age of 11.  He then engaged himself in seeking knowledge, studying with the scholars of his city and those who visited it.

The shaykh had many teachers, the most famous of whom was likely the great scholar of Tafseer, Shaykh Muhammad al-Ameen ash-Shinqeetee (d.1393)*, who resided in ‘Unayzah for four years.

Shaykh as-Sa’dee had exemplary character.  He was extremely humble with the young and old alike.  He would talk to all individuals according to their level of understanding and he would lead them to things of benefit.  He was indifferent and aloof from the splendor and temptations of this worldly life, and he did not seek positions of authority.

In the early years of his studies, he learned fiqh according to the Hanbalee school.  At that time, it was considered blameworthy in his society to go against the positions of the Hanbalee school.  However, it was by way of the books of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim that he and other scholars of the era began to shun the blind following of the math-hab.  After realizing the need to return all affairs back to the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salaf, Allaah raised his status and caused the people to seek him out.  It was then that he began to author books and gain prominence.

He was a shining light of guidance in his time, by Allaah’s Permission.  He admonished the people both publicly and privately, gave khutbahs, issued religious verdicts, and authored many valuable books in different Islamic sciences.  From them:

• Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahmaan fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan, his famous Tafseer of the Qur’aan, highly lauded by the choice scholars of our time.
• Bahjat Quloob al-Abraar, a concise explanation of 99 essential hadeeths.
• Minhaaj as-Saalikeen, a widely used Fiqh primer.

He authored more than 40 books, including a compilation of his religious verdicts.

He was a man of sincere advice for the Muslims, having great concern for their affairs.  This is evident from his advice, khutbahs, and a number of outstanding passages in his books.

The shaykh taught for many years and had many students.  The most prominent of them being:

• Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (d.1421)
• Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn Abdir-Rahmaan al-Bassaam (d.1423)
• Shaykh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee (d.1416) through correspondences

He continued teaching and writing, advising and guiding, until the age of 69, when he passed away from complications related to high blood pressure, an illness he dealt patiently for the last five years of his life.  He died on the 23rd of Jumaadaa al-Aakhirah, 1376.

May Allaah have Mercy on him.

Written by: Moosaa Richardson

Source: Introduction to Essential Questions and Answers Concerning the Foundations of Eemaan (TROID Publications, 1st ed., 1425.)

*It was previously mentioned that he died in the year 1351, which was a mistake from the original printing of the source cited, corrected 1437/04/17. -Moosaa