Courtesy of @DaarusSunnah (original with audio).

Questioner:

Recently an article has been spread between some websites, in which you mentioned the repentance of Yahya al-Hajoori and that he arrived to Makkah to repent. So what is your advice [with regards to it]?

Shaykh Abdur-Rahman Muhiyideen

All praise is due to Allah, and may Allah the peace and salutations be upon the Messenger of Allah, his household, his companions and whoever follows their guidance.

Firstly, it is binding to understand that Allah is happy with the repentance of His servant, more happy than one of us who loses his camel in a waterless desert [after finding it], as has been narrated in the hadith. When some of the brothers informed me of the arrival of Yahya al-Hajoori to Makkah, I became happy and said perhaps he will repent or perhaps he has repented from the numerous academic and Manhaj mistakes that have occurred from him, or from the wicked statements that have appeared in his speech - [statements] that a servant would be shy to utter. So I said - perhaps he has repented from this, and Alhamdulilah we became happy with this. [Since] the Prophet said "Do not help the Shaytaan over your brother". However, if he remains persistent upon his ways - I ask Allah to guide him. Let it not be understood from my speech that I blame Shaykh Rabee' [for not accommodating Yahya], this is incorrect, as some brothers have said to me "It is as if you're blaming Shaykh Rabee". No this isn't what I say. Rather, I became happy with this affair and I said - perhaps he has repented and humbled himself before Allah, and he is seeking forgiveness and changing his mannerisms and ways. This is what is to be understood correctly.

As for this man to increase his stubbornness and repetition of errors which have appeared from him, whether it is directed at the Sahabah or other than them, or his wicked statements wherein he abuses and insults; then we ask Allah to rectify him, and to guide his heart, and to correct his tongue so he doesn't speak except with good. This is what I intended, and I never intended that Rabee' was incorrect in rejecting him, this is something else. If he was to come to me and speak to me I would say "O servant of Allah, repent to Allah" I don't know him even by face.

Rather I hear that he is with us in the salafi manhaj - Alhamdulilah, this is what is correct. and some errors occurred from him - do you understand? - and we ask Allah to pardon and forgive us, we all err and we ask Allah to accepts our repentance. The Prophet said: "Every son of Adam commits sin, and the best of sinners are those who repent." I ask Allah to favour us and him with repentance, and all praise is for Allah who saved us from that which has afflicted him, from these wicked statements. [Possessing] upright mannerisms is a good thing, and he should have lofty mannerisms and good character, and he should adorns himself with the mannerisms of the Prophets and Messengers. [since] the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets. [Yahya] should carry the inheritance of the Prophet in his heart.

Questioner:

O Shaykh, do you allow the spreading of this recording?

Shaykh Abdur-Rahman Muhiyideen

No problem, as a clarification from us. If Allah wills, it contains good, and perhaps he [Yahya] returns to his senses and repents to Allah, and Allah will be Happy and the Messenger said, "Is there one who repents?..." Allah, the Exalted, - as it has been reported in the hadith, stretches His Hand during the night so that those who commit sins by day may repent. I ask Allah to accept our repentance and not to delay it.

Questioner:

Ameen - may Allah reward you. If you could mention the date?

Shaykh Abdur-Rahman Muhiyideen:

Today is 15th Rabi Al-Aakhir in the year 1435 A.H [Saturday 15 February 2014 C.E].