The 1MM Library Initiative
Library and Research Center of Western Pennsylvania, Supervised by Moosaa Richardson
Reviewing, Stamping, Reminiscing
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…
The highlight of these wonderful days for me is our nightly opening of a box of books or two, stamping them into the 1MM Library Trust. Chipping away at the 116-box shipment in the late hours of the night after Eshaa Prayer at 1MM, a few brothers share in various tasks of unpacking, organizing, and shelving a hundred or so books.
With each book that is pulled up out of the large cardboard cigarette case used for its 2.5-year storage and shipping, a number of possibilities arrive: a story of its purchase or study may unfold, tears may flow, or passages of various length may be read. For example:
“I studied this one, al-Baa’ith al-Hatheeth by Allaamah Ahmad Shaakir (may Allaah have mercy on him), under Shaykh Rabee’,” skimming through the notes and dates. “1427 in Makkah… the shaykh commented here… the shaykh read from his research here…”
Al-Baa’ith al-Hatheeth is a summary of Ibn Katheer’s book on Hadeeth Sciences, with commentary and examples. May Allaah have Mercy on Imaam Ibn Katheer and Allaamah Ahmad Shaakir, and may He preserve Allaamah Rabee’ ibn Haadee.
“Ohhhhhhhh…. this one! Manners, manners, manners!” referring to al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee’s classic: al-Jaami’ fee Akhlaaq ar-Raawee wa Aadaab as-Saami’. “I also studied some of this one under Shaykh Rabee’…”
“Ahhh… this one! This is one of Shaykh Muhammad Baazmool’s refutations of the deviations of modern authors in Hadeeth Sciences. The shaykh refuted innovated principles being promoted by an instructor in his own department at Umm al-Qura University. He gave me this one at his house on a Thursday morning in 1429…”
“What’s this one about?” I’m asked.
“I don’t know, I’ve never read that one. Just found it at a used bookshop apparently…”
STAMPED. NEXT. Everything can’t be a fantastic story and a dreamy trip down memory lane!
Before I know it, its midnight, and I haven’t even unpacked one complete box of books yet! So go these precious nights at 1MM.
May Allaah bless the library and those who support and maintain it.
Moosaa Richardson
1438.08.08.
The 1MM Library Initiative 