What an eventful day!

Today was full of activities.

First, I had a Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence Test) at about 10:00 a.m.

While I was pulling into school I noticed all kinds of police cars and motercycles in the area. Later on, I remembered that they were scheduled to have a Pseudo Graduation Ceremony. Mostly a symbolic event in which a group of students (one from each nationality) that is graduating, receives a kind of degree (more like a certificate of appreciation) that is passed to them by the local Prince. Thus all the police traffic, Prince `Abdul-`Azeez bin Maajid Aal Sa`ud, Governor of the Madinah Region, was on campus.

Later on in the evening was the fun stuff.

Firstly, there was a talk to be giving at Masjid Qubaa', the first Masjid built in Islam (during the Prophet Muhammad's Prophethood). The lecturer was Shaikh Sulaiman Abul-Khail, Vice-President of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. It was a clear case of purely bad timing. "Why", you ask? Cause tonight was THE NIGHT. Tonight, our beloved Shaikh, Muhammad bin Haadee al-Madkhalee, was to debate his Doctorate Thesis. So everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, had plans only to go to the debate. To add to the hype, the main debater of the thesis was Shaikh Wasiullaah `Abbaas, Lecturer at Umm al-Quraa University in Makkah.

It was quite a "Star Studded Event", but not like Hollywood Stars... no, not in the least. Those "Stars" misguide people. These Stars were lamps of light deep in the dark sky, which travelers seeking the path use to be guided to the Right Way. These were Scholars of the Deen (Religion).

The Thesis was presented through the faculty which I study in, the Hadeeth College. It was based on those Hadeeth (Prophetic Narrations/Statements) that Imaam Abu Daawood as-Sijistaani documented in his Hadeeth Collection called the "Sunan", plural of "Sunnah" (Prophetic Narrations/Statements and Actions). Basically, from the other Collections of Hadeeth, some narrations were found ONLY in Abu Daawood's Collection. So the Shaikh studied those narrations through teh Sciences of Hadeeth and Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence). The thesis was VOLUMINOUS! It was 2,700 pages in total, bound into five THICK volumes.

The Shaikh's Mushrif (Supervisor/Mentor) for the thesis, was Shaikh `Abdur-Rahmaan Muhiuddeen, and old school teacher fromt he Hadeeth College, that studied under the likes of Shaikh Hammaad al-Ansaaree and Shaikh `Abdul-Muhsin al-`Abbaad. The main debater was Shaikh Wasiullaah bin Muhammad `Abbaas, of Makkah. The other debater, was a teacher from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, it turns out, he was Shaikh Muhammad bin Haadee's first teacher when the Shaikh first studied in Riyadh, WAY back in the day. Back in 1404 A.H. (the year I was born), Shaikh Musfir bin Ghurmillaah ad-Dumainee, taught Shaikh Muhammad bin Haadee, when the Shaikh was getting his Bachelors in Islamic Studies.

The turnout was AMAZING. I estimate that there were about 2,000 spectators (yea, sounds like a Gladiator Match huh?). People turned up from EVERYWHERE. There were people that came from FAR OFF cities in the Kingdom. From Jizan, Riyadh, al-Majma`, Dammam, Jeddah, Makkah... you name it. That's besides the international visitors, people came from Kuwait, there were people that came from Europe on `Umrah, it was amazing. There was Quite a line-up of Scholars, Professors, Major Students of Knowledge, Da`wah Personalities and General Students of Knowledge from all over the place. At the end of the post, I'll provde a list of everybody that I, myself, saw. I am sure there were some hidden guests here and there with all the commotion and crowding.

The debate started at 7:00 p.m., after Maghrib Salaah (Prayer). The introduction was read by the Student, Shaikh Muhammad bin Haadee al-Madkhalee, and the first Debator, Shaikh Musfir, started his criticism of the work. This guy obviously had something up his sleeves. He had this strangely disturbing look on his face when he saw the HUGE turnout. He started praising the Student and the Work. Yet he also described the work as "Extremely Weak" and "Falling Apart". It's strange though, being that he is Shaikh Muhammad's teacher, from back in the day, but it is quite common for people from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh to be prejudice of students from our University. Oh well, it surprised me since the actual Supervisor of the Thesis, Shaikh `Abdur-Rahmaan Muhiuddeen, himself said, "I've never supervised nor witnessed a more spectacular and pleasing thesis in my career in the Islamic University of Madinah. After many, cheap shots and failed attempts, the first debater's time was up. The size of the Thesis is so expansive that the first debater never left the first volume.

Then came Shaikh Wasiullaah `Abbaas. The one we all came to see in action. The Shaikh is known to be an authority when it comes to the Sciences of Hadeeth, that is of course, after the main Scholar of those sciences in our time, Shaikh Rabee` bin Haadee al-Madkhalee. The Shaikh made many valuable suggestions, everybody benefited. No cheap shots, no cards up sleeves. Just clean, crisp criticism that was VERY in-its-place. The Shaikh is quite well-mannered and very soft spoken. What a delight!

Ok, so at about 11:00 p.m. the debate is finally over. Crowds of people are moving around in the Debate Hall: talking, chilling, whatever. Everybody is waiting for the three Shuyookh (plural of Shaikh), the Supervisor and the two Debaters. They came out of the little room that they make the decision in, about twenty-five minutes later.

Shaikh `Abdur-Rahmaan Muhiuddeen made the announcement:

"In the name of Allaah, ar-Rahmaan, ar-Raheem. All Praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds. May the Salaah (prayers) and Salaam (peace) be upon the Messenger of Allaah. Today, on the day of Wednesday, the 11^th of Rabee` al-Aakhir, the year 1427 A.H., here in the Grand Lecture Hall of the Islamic University of Madinah…
The Board for Theses Debate:

• I your brother `Abdur-Rahmaan bin Saalih Muhiuddeen, the Supervisor
• Professor Dr. Musfir bin Ghrumillaah ad-Dumaini, a Thesis Criticizer
• Professor Shaikh Wasiullaah bin Muhammad `Abbaas, a Thesis Criticizer

We sat down together to discuss the outcome of the Doctorate Thesis of the Student,

Muhammad bin Haadee al-Madkhalee, of Saudi Nationality, who presented his Thesis to the Department of 'Fiqh as-Sunnah' (The Jurisprudential Understanding of the Sunnah) in the faculty of 'Hadeeth and Islamic Studies'. The thesis was presented for the International Certificate of Higher Studies (PhD.), with the Title, 'The Zawaa'id (Hadeeth that is not found in other books) of Imaam Abu Daawood, from the Eight Fundamental Books of Hadeeth, Collection and Analysis, According to the Science of Hadeeth and Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)'. The debate started at 7:00 p.m. and lasted until 11:00 p.m. and was interrupted temporarily due to `Ishaa' Salaah (Prayer). We'd like to announce that after great consideration and analysis, the Student, Muhamad bin Haadee al-Madkhalee has been awarded the International Certificate of Higher Studies (PhD), with Honors of the First Degree (the highest degree that a student can get his Doctorate in). May Allah's Salaah (prayers) and Salaam (peace) be upon His Messenger Muhammad, and his Family and Companions."

After that, the Students were in a hurry to try to congratulate the Shaikh, It was quite a scene. Students hurrying to get to the exit area of the Stage that the Shaikh was on, Scholars in a hurry to get out of the crowd and be on their way either to their homes, or to the private congratulatory dinner that was to be held afterwards. If it weren't for some brothers that were standing security and the fact that there was a small private sitting room that the Shuyookh were hurried into, so as not to be bothered by the crowds, if it weren't for that, I think Shaikh Muhammad would have been hurt. So while we were waiting in the sitting room, the Deen of the Hadeeth College, Dr. Husain al-`Abdalee, and the Vice Deen, Dr. Qaasim at-Tawaashah, came to congratulate the Shaikh as well as many of the Shaikh's close relatives from Jizan region (where the Shaikh's hometown is).

When the crowds died down, the caravan started moving. The destination was the post-debate dinner. The location was kept secret so that the Shuyookh and family members and friends of the Shaikh are not bothered by 2,000 students and guests. No matter how hard they tried, people just followed in their cars like paparazzi. I was unable to go right away, as I had to drop Shaikh `Ubaid off at his home, since he was a bit worn out. When I got there, there was quite a gathering of people. I'm guessing the initial guest list was around 100 people, but there were about 250 people there. Al-Hamdu lillaah. the food was just enough, not to leave anybody hungry. Shaikh `Abdur-Rahmaan Muhiuddeen gave a nice talk about the Sunnah, holding fast to it and acting by it. The talk was followed by the dinner and then basically we left.

I personally had to drop a brother off at his hotel, since he flew down from Riyadh to attend the debate. After dropping the brother off, I went to the Prophet's Masjid and took some pictures from outside, I'll be uploading them soon, insha Allaah. I basically came home at 2:00 a.m. I doubt that anybody else really came home before that. I was gonna write this post last night, but I was exhausted and needed to get my slumber on.

List of Prominent Attendees from Madinah:

• Shaikh Saalih bin Sa`d as-Suhaimi
• Shaikh `Alee Naasir al-Faqeehee
• Shaikh `Ubaid al-Jaabiree
• Shaikh Yoosuf ad-Dakheel
• Shaikh `Abdur-Rahmaan bin Saalih Muhiuddeen
• Shaikh `Abdullaah al-Bukhaaree
• Shaikh Tarheeb ad-Dausaree
• Shaikh `Abdus-Salaam as-Suhaimee
• Shaikh Ibraaheem ar-Ruhailee

As for the Shuyookh from outside Madinah:

• Shaikh Sulaimaan Abul-Khail, Vice President of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh
• Shaikh `Abdul-Kareem al-Muneef, from the city of al-Majma`, not too far from Riyadh
• Shaikh Wasiullaah bin Muhammad `Abbaas
• Shaikh Ahmad Baazmool, who recently completed his Doctorate Thesis, with excellent marks, in Umm al-Quraa University in Makkah
• Shaikh Muhammad bin Ramzaan, from Dammaam

As for the other guests from outside Madinah:

• Our brother, Khaalid Baaqais, admin of SalafiDuroos.net
• Ahmad az-Zahraanee, a well-known student of Knowledge from Makkah
• Fu`aad al-`Amree, graduate from the Islamic University of Madinah, currently works with the Committee for Commanding the Good and Forbidding the Evil
• Usaamah al-`Amree, Fu'aad's brother. Also a graduate and also working with the Committee
• Ruzaiq al-Qurashee, old school Da`wah Workshop Coordinator from Taa'if
• `Abdullaah bin Burjis, brother of the late Shaikh `Abdus-Salaam bin Burjis, rahimahullaah (May Allaah have Mercy upon him)
• `Aadil Mansoor, well-known student of knowledge from Riyadh
• Haanee bin Breik, well-known student from Yemen, who recently moved back to Madinah
• `Abdullaah `Abbaas, graduate from our University and well-known young student of Knowledge

There were many other people from different cities, regions and countries that attended. Shaikh Muhammad bin Haadee's cousins came up from Jizan region. As well as many old acquaintances from way back in the day, when the Shaikh was still an up and coming student of knowledge.

That's the news everybody

Enjoy..