The Shaykh Translating His Own Biography:

“I am Sulayman ibn Sulaymullah ibn Raja’ Allah ibn Buti Al-Ruhayli, from the tribe of Harb.”

His Birth:

“I was born, raised, and still reside—and I ask Allah that I die—in Medina.”

• He was born in the month of Rajab in the year 1386 AH.

Some of His Teachers:

“I first began seeking knowledge—prior to formal schooling—in the Mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I attended some of the gatherings of Shaykh Al-Ameen (may Allah have mercy on him) when I was under six years old. I also attended some gatherings of Shaykh ‘Umar Fullatah (may Allah have mercy on him) and gatherings of Shaykh Abu Bakr Al-Jaza’iri (may Allah have mercy on him)—sitting in his circles frequently. Furthermore, I attended some gatherings of Shaykh Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) whenever he visited Medina, some gatherings of Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) in Riyadh and Medina, and some public and private gatherings of Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) which he held in Medina. This was due to the fact that my father (may Allah preserve him and grant us and him a good end) had a deep love for the gatherings of the scholars ever since he came to know Medina. He attended the circles of the scholars: Shaykh Al-Ameen and Shaykh Al-Afriqi. Shaykh ‘Umar Fullatah (may Allah have mercy on him) even used to tell me: ‘Your father was my classmate; we used to sit next to each other in Shaykh Al-Afriqi’s study circle.’ My father also attended the gatherings of Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him). He once mentioned to me that he disliked a certain individual’s gathering because that person would stretch out his hand for people to kiss. My father used to take me to these circles when I was under six years old.”

Memorization of the Qur’an:

“Then, at the age of six, I joined a neighborhood mosque Quran-memorization circle under the guidance of a teacher from our tribe named ‘Ateeq ibn Jabir Al-Ruhayli, at a school sponsored by Shaykh Rashid ibn ‘Atiq Al-Ruhayli (may Allah have mercy on them all). By Allah’s grace, I completed the memorization of the Quran before reaching the age of ten.”

Pursuit of Knowledge (Talab Al-‘Ilm):

“I pursued formal education and graduated from primary school. My father insisted that I enroll in the Islamic University of Madinah at its Middle Institute (Al-Ma’had Al-Mutawassit). At that time, almost no Saudi students enrolled in the Islamic University except those who were underperforming, those who had failed elsewhere, or rare exceptions of notable standing. Because of this, my father faced fierce opposition to my enrollment. The principal of my primary school even made my father sign a pledge stating that if I was not accepted into the university, I would not be admitted to any other school—as a scare tactic. The reason was that I excelled in scientific subjects, but my father insisted on the Islamic University, saying to them: ‘Provision is in the Hands of Allah; I want him to learn Islamic knowledge.’ So, I joined the Middle Institute at the university. We studied under truly eminent scholars, most of whom were from Al-Azhar, and they were exceptionally strong in the foundational disciplines (‘Uloom Al-Aalah). To this day, I still keep personal notes written by some of them. Then I moved on to the High Institute (Al-Ma’had Al-Thanawi) at the university, where things proceeded similarly. After that, I enrolled in the College of Sharia. I studied there alongside a number of distinguished peers, among whom I recall my brother, colleague, and beloved friend for the sake of Allah: Shaykh Yaseen Mahmud (may Allah bestow vast mercy upon him). We used to alternate taking first and second place in the college: in the first year, I was first and he was second; in the second year, he was first and I was second; and in the third and fourth years, I was first. Another colleague and brother was Shaykh Tarheeb Al-Dosari, who was my classmate though older than me because he had attended another college before joining Sharia. I had the honor of studying under several scholars at the college, including my teacher Shaykh ‘Abd Al-Salam ibn Salam Al-Suhaymi (with whom I studied for two years), Shaykh Salih Al-Suhaymi, Shaykh ‘Ali Al-Hudhaify, and a group of other scholars. Upon graduating from the College of Sharia, I was compelled to join the Department of Usool Al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence). I was told: ‘If you do not accept Usool Al-Fiqh, you will not be accepted into any other department.’ By Allah’s grace, each of my teachers had been guiding me toward his own department. Some told me: ‘Do not join anything other than the Department of ‘Aqeeda (Creed); we want you there.’ My teacher Shaykh Fayhan Al-Mutairi used to tell me: ‘Do not join anything except the Department of Fiqh (Jurisprudence), and we will not permit you anywhere else.’ However, Allah decreed that I end up in the Department of Usool. I was appointed there as a Teaching Assistant (Mu’eed) and completed the coursework year. In the second year, I insisted on teaching at the college. By Allah’s grace, I taught Al-Qawa’id Al-Fiqhiyyah (Legal Maxims) to students ever since it was officially introduced to the curriculum—making me the first to teach it in the college. I continued doing so for years until I transitioned to teaching post-graduate studies at the university, where we continue to teach to this day, praise and gratitude belong to Allah. Allah—Mighty and Majestic—blessed me with a great favor: studying under teachers who instilled in us a love for the methodology of the Salaf (pious predecessors) and taught us that it is the sound methodology for both knowledge and action. Beneficial knowledge is that which follows the path of the righteous predecessors (may Allah be pleased with them), and righteous action is upon their path—because it is derived from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). We remain upon this path, and I ask Allah to keep us and my brothers steadfast upon it and to let us die upon it, regardless of those who oppose it.”

Marital & Personal Status:

“As for my marital/social status: I am married, a monotheist (muwahhid), and fearful (kha’if) [of Allah]. These are all attributes of praise: marriage is praised in the Law, Tawheed (monotheism) is praised in the Law, and fear of Allah is praised in the Law.”

His Children:

“By Allah’s praise, I have seven children: five sons and two daughters.”

His Writings & Works:

“I have authored several books; some are still in manuscript form with me, and others have been published. Among what I have written:

1. Sharh Al-Usool Al-Thalathah (Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles) – [In press]
2. Sharh Manthoomat Al-Sa’di fi Al-Qawa’id Al-Fiqhiyyah (Explanation of Al-Sa’di’s Poem on Legal Maxims) – Complete manuscript in my possession. [In press]
3. Sharh Kitab Al-Buyoo’ min Manar Al-Sabeel (Explanation of the Book of Sales from Manar Al-Sabeel) – Transcribed from my audio tapes by some esteemed brothers. [In press]
4. Qawa’id Ta’arud Al-Masalih wa Al-Mafasid (Rules Regarding the Conflict of Benefits and Harms)
5. Masa’il Al-Kitab wa Al-Sunnah wa Dalalat Al-Alfaz Al-lati Akhta’a Feeha Al-Razi fi Al-Mahsool wa Al-Ma’loom (Issues of the Book, Sunnah, and Linguistic Indications in Which Al-Razi Erred in Al-Mahsool and Al-Ma’loom)
6. Al-Ta’reefat Al-Usooliyyah fi Majmoo’ Fatawa Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (Foundational Definitions in the Collected Fatwas of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah)
7. Masa’il Al-Amr Al-Usooliyyah Al-lati Intaqadaha Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (Issues of Legal Commands Critiqued by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah)
8. Al-Ishraqat ‘ala Kitab Al-Maqasid fi Al-Muwafaqat (Insights on the Book of Objectives in Al-Muwafaqat) – [In press]
9. Naqd Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah li Masa’lat Takleef Ma La Yutaq (Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah’s Critique of the Issue of Obligating Beyond One’s Capacity) – [In press]
10. Inhiraf Al-Shabab: Al-Wasa’il wa Al-‘Ilaj (Youth Deviance: Causes and Remedies)
11. Min Fiqh Al-Fitan (From the Jurisprudence of Tribulations)
12. Master’s Thesis: Al-Ta’weel wa Atharuhu fi Usool Al-Fiqh (Textual Interpretation and Its Impact on the Principles of Jurisprudence). My supervisor was Shaykh ‘Umar ‘Abd Al-‘Azeez, one of the finest men I have known. I saw in him a deep love for Tawheed, the creed of the Salaf, and the writings of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim. He would be overjoyed whenever I brought him a quote from Ibn Taymiyyah or Ibn Al-Qayyim.
13. Doctoral Dissertation: Al-Qawa’id Al-Mushtarakah bayna Usool Al-Fiqh wa Al-Qawa’id Al-Fiqhiyyah (Common Rules Between the Principles of Jurisprudence and Legal Maxims). My supervisor was Shaykh ‘Umar ‘Abd Al-‘Azeez, who is Iraqi and currently residing in Qatar. May Allah heal him, as he is ill. He supervised my PhD work, but transferred to Umm Al-Qura University before finishing. Out of his grace, he officially requested to continue supervising me and would personally drive to Medina just for our hour-long supervision session rather than having me travel to Mecca. He would arrive on Tuesdays (his day off), meet me at the college for the session, and drive back to Mecca the same night—an extraordinary gesture I doubt anyone else would do. I ask Allah by His Most Beautiful Names and Supreme Attributes to grant him the best reward on my behalf.”

Academic and Administrative Positions:

• Professor in the Department of Usool Al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence), College of Sharia, Islamic University of Madinah.
• Instructor in the PhD program (Department of Fiqh) and Master’s program (Department of Usool Al-Fiqh), in addition to undergraduate instruction.
• Supervisor of numerous academic dissertations both inside and outside the university.
• Chairholder of the His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al Al-Shaykh Chair for Edicts (Fatwa) and Its Regulations at the university.
• Lecturer/Instructor at the Prophet’s Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi).
• Former Chairman of the Africa Committee at the Deanship of Admission and Registration.
• Former Chairman of the Asia Committee at the Deanship of Admission and Registration.
• Former Chairman of the Europe Committee at the Deanship of Admission and Registration.
• Former Vice Dean of the College of Sharia for Post-Graduate and Evening Studies.
• Former Dean of Student Affairs at the Islamic University.
• Former Member of the University Council.
• Member of the Supreme Committee for Guidance and Counseling at the Islamic University.
• Participant in the university’s cultural programs.
• Lecturer across various domestic (Saudi Arabia) and international events.
• Instructor of intensive Islamic courses inside and outside Saudi Arabia.
• Participant in the Citizenship Conference and other events in the brotherly state of Kuwait.
• Participant in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in the United States of America.

“This is what comes to mind at the moment, and in any case, I do not think there is much benefit in it other than preventing us from hearing idle speech. And praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.”

Source: ترجمة الشيخ سليمان الرحيلي