Marifah - Shaykh `Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi - A biography [pdf] - Compiled by Shaykh Shoayb Ahmad

Shaykh `Abdul Razzāq ibn Muhammad Hasan ibn Rashīd ibn Hasan al-Halabī was born in Damascus at his father’s home in the suburb of al-Qaymariyya in 1925 (1343H). The Shaykh grew up in a religious environment as his father regularly attended the lessons of the ‘`Ulemā and his mother was the daughter of the Muftī of Syria, Shaykh Ata`illāh al-Kasm…

Faraz notes:

Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq al-Halabi is the leading living Hanafi scholar of Damascus. He has taught the Hashiya of Ibn Abidin (’Radd al-Muhtar) at least a dozen times, cover to cover. This work is in 5 very large volumes in its old (Bulaq) edition, and the new editions range from 12 to 20-plus volumes. This dars would occur between Maghrib and Isha daily, without fail, six days a week–with Fridays off. He is very serious about completing books with his students, and inculcates a seriousness for study and the subject in his students, as well as having stern disapproval for useless questions and foolish behavior.

The idea that, “Knowledge comes first,” is firmly ingrained in his committed students. Two of his close students–recognized scholars and teachers in their own right–were invited to the wedding of a scholar with whom some misunderstandings had occurred. Attending the wedding would have meant missing Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq’s Hashiyat Ibn Abidin lesson. Very nervously–and half-expecting the response–they went into Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq’s room in the right corner of the front of the Ummayyad Mosque. They asked for permision. The Shaykh barely looked up from his glasses, stooped over his large desk, and said, “It isn’t possible. Knowledge comes first.”

May Allah preserve Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq and the scholars of our Community, and spread the light of their teachings and example–for this light is the Prophetic inheritance. It is the gift of God to humanity.