Salam,
With the rapid pace of change in Saudi Arabia and increased tolerance (in some areas) towards Non-Salafi Muslim scholars, I believe I can now safely publish this post without fear of harassment for the scholar mentioned below.
I received as a gift the above copy of the famous Dalail al-Khayrat text from none other than a long serving member of the Panel of Senior Scholars of Saudi Arabia (Haiyah Kibar al-Ulama).
Yes, the same panel on which the giants of modern day Salafism such as Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan sit and deliberate.
But which panel member was it? The answer is: Shaykh Abd al-Wahab Abu Sulayman from Mecca.
I was fortunate to visit him in his home about eight years ago with our teacher Shaykh Khalid Turkestani. After a sitting full of benefit, on our way out we were fortunate to be given this particular edition of the Dalail al-Khayrat as a gift.
Those who know Shaykh Abd al-Wahab Abu Sulayman will not be surprised by this, as he is probably the only non Salafi member of the Panel of Senior Scholars (Haiyah Kibar al-Ulama).
He was born and raised in Mecca studying with Shaykh Hasan al-Mashat (d.1980) the famous Maliki and Ashari scholar of the city. This was during a time when non Salafi scholars were still allowed prominent teaching positions in the Masjid al-Haram. This was also the time when these same non Salafi teachers were teaching Ashari aqidah texts (Most likely in their homes and not in their Masjid al-Haram study circles).
A few years after my initial meeting I was fortunate enough to meet Dr Abdul Wahab Abu Sulayman once again, this time in the Bayt al-Mawlid in Mecca, where he openly without any trepidation indicated to the place where he was standing and said, “It is said this is the exact place the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was born, you may pray two nafl here if you wish.” He then proceeded to pray two nafl in that place.
May God bless and protect Dr Abdul Wahab Abu Sulayman and the revival of tolerant traditional Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia.
Link to Dr Abdul Wahab Abu Sulayman’s official government page for the Panel of Senior Scholars (Haiyah Kibar al-Ulama):