It should also be borne in mind that the lecturer did not follow the customary chronological narrative found in most biographical works. Hardly would he finish recounting one incident from the Shaykh’s life before extracting from it lessons and points of reflection. Throughout the lecture he added educational touches, addressing certain shortcomings he observed among students of knowledge by means of Shaykh al-Albani’s biography.

(9) Moreover, the Shaykh’s close companions and his early students—many of whom are still alive—possess a wealth of information about Shaykh al-Albani’s life, his striving, and numerous reports that have yet to be recorded. They are an important source—one that must not be overlooked—when compiling his biography.

To this day I have not seen any comprehensive work produced after the Shaykh’s death (1), despite the fact that those who claim to love him and to have studied under him are many, and their publications are even more numerous. The leaflets they issue in defense against the rulings he passed on them show that they have plenty of time on their hands; would that they had devoted some of it to the Shaykh himself!

Some people who have long professed devotion to Shaykh al-Albani promised years ago that they would publish writings about him, yet up to now nothing has appeared.

I fear someone may say that this amounts to ingratitude toward their Shaykh. Allah is the One whose help is sought. (2)

[Note]
The Shaykh’s scholarly method:

The items I have mentioned are the sources for the Shaykh’s biography—may Allah have mercy on him. As for his scholarly methodology, academic approach, and thought, the researcher has no primary source except the first one: his own works, abundant as they are, speak best on his behalf. When apparent contradictions arise, one must consider what was written earlier in relation to what came later.

All the remaining sources are subsidiary to that first one. Allah grants success.