Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
He was Aboo Abdillaah AbdurRahman bn Naasir bn Abdillaah bn Naasir bn Hamd Aal Sa’dee at-Tameemee an-Najdee al-Hanbalee. He was born 1307 Hijrah [1885 C.E.]. He grew up with both parents late – his mother died when he was four while his father died when he was seven. A co-wife of his father took care of him and showed him much love. She tendered him until he became a youth after which his elder brother, Hamd, took care of him. That Hamd was one of those who committed the Qur’aan to memory and lived long.
Al-Imaam as-Sa’dee had been precocious and devote right from his young age. He memorized the Qur’aan at age twelve and began to learn from the scholars of his town and the neighbouring towns. He would never forsake the circle of knowledge. It was not very long that people – especially his mates – began to take knowledge from him. He went above what the scholars of his town used to learn of Fiqh of Hambali Madh’hab. He took keen interest in the works of Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and his pupil, Ibn al-Qayyim.
He was good in character, watchful of the fundamentals of the Deen, good to the less-privileged and the paupers. He was abstemious and of little concern for the world. He was asked to serve as a judge in year 1360 Hijrah but refused the offer because of his love for quest for knowledge.
He was not very tall but vast in body. He was white in colour with some redness; he was round-faced with massive white beard – which had become white with the hair on his head since his youth.
His teaching methodology was that he would pick two books for the students (at a time), reading one for them after the other. Then whenever the lesson finished, three students would rise to re-cap the explanations that might had been given in the course of the study, he would ensure the task go round all of them in order to test their retentive strength and understanding. Sometimes he would reward a student who could memorize better with a material gift, or would could answer his questions better. In the following day, he would ask them about the lesson of the previous day.
The Shaykh suffered high blood pressure in year 1371 Hijrah to last about five years of complications arising from that. He had to travel to Lebanon for treatment and Allaah granted him wellness. He came back to Unaysah to continue his teaching even against the doctors’ advice that he should reduce the spate. So the sickness came the second time in a severer way such that in the Wednesday night of 22 Jumaadal-Aakhirah 1377, he could feel some coldness yet he competed his teaching for the day, led the people in Ishaa prayer. After saying the Tasleem, he signaled to a student to assist him out of the Masjid. By the time he got home, he lost his consciousness and later regained it. He then began to say words of remembrance and praise for Allaah. He spoke to those with him of being righteous and other good words. After that, he collapsed again and became speechless. By morning, doctors said he had to be taken out for an emergent medical attention otherwise he could die. The King of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of the time, His Royal Majesty Faisal bn AbdilAzeez Aal Su’ood, was sent to. The King ordered that a plane should take him out, the plane on arrival could not land because of a heavy storm as Allaah would decree. So by twilight of Thursday which was equivalent to 23 Jumadal Aakhirah 1377 (1954 C.E.) the Shaykh passed on.
The city of Unaysah was shaken by the death of the Shaykh. Nobody’s death in the city had ever attracted any mourning as his. His Janaazah took place by Dhuhr at the main Masjid. He was buried at Shahwaaniyyah Cemetery. He was around 69 years of age when he died. May Allaah be merciful to him.
The Shaykh took knowledge from a lot of scholars, especially the scholars of his town. Then he learnt at Buraidah from eminent personalities such as Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bn Abdillaah bn Saleem. And notable among the students that took knowledge from him were Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bn Saalih Uthaymeen (who succeeded him in teaching at his masjid), Ash-Shaykh Abdullaah bn AbdilAzeez bn Aqeel, Ash-Shaykh Alee bn Hamd as-Saalihee, Ash-Shaykh Muhammad Ash-Shinqeetee, Ash-Shaykh Abdullaah bn AbdurRahman bn Saalih al-Bassaam and very many others.
Among his books were Tayseerul-Qur’aanil-Kareem named ‘Tayseerul-Kareem al-Mannaan fee Tafseer al-Qur’aan’ written in eight volumes. The Shaykh finished writing it in the year 1344 Hijrah. It is however known today as ‘Tayseerul-Kareem ar-Rahmaan fee Tafseer kalaam al-Mannaan,’ in seven volumes. So also was ‘Manhaj as-Saalikeen wa Tawdeeh al-Fiqh Fee ad-Deen. And many other works to numerous to recount here.
adapted from 'Hayaatush-Shaykh AbdirRahmaan As-Saddee Fee Sutoor' gathered by Ahmad al-Qar'aawee
