Reading List for Islamic Workers
Compiled by Jamaal Diwan and Muslema Purmul
Imam Hasan al-Banna said:
- Devote a section from the Book of Allah not less than 1 Juz, to read daily. You are to finish the
whole book within a month, but not in less than three to four days.
- Perfect the recitation of the Qur'an, listen to it, and ponder over its meanings. Study the purified
tradition of the Prophet (PBUH) and the history of the early Muslims, as far as your time
permits. The minimum required knowledge on this subject is contained in the book ‘The
Defenders of Islam’. Frequently read the collected sayings of the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him), and memorise at least forty Ahaadeeth (from the collection of Imam Nawawi). You
are also to study a exposition on the principles of Islamic belief and another on the branch
aspects of Islamic jurisprudence.
- Improve your skills of reading and writing. Create a private library, irrespective of how small it
is. Delve deeply into the arts and sciences, if you are a specialist in this field. Acquaint yourself
with the general Islamic subjects such that you can pass general judgements concerning day to
day problems.
He also said regarding the areas of work for the activist:
1. Reforming the self. A Muslim should strive to attain a strong body, good character, cultured
thought, correct belief, and true worship. He should be able to earn his own living, and control
his inner instincts/desires. He should be careful about his time, organised in his affairs and
willing to offer help and service to others. These comprise the duties of every Muslim as an
individual.
2. Establishing an Islamic home; such that his family respect his ideology and observe the
Islamic code in all aspects of home life. He should be wise in selecting his wife and inform her
about her rights and duties (and vice versa). He should bring up his children, and other household
members under his supervision according to the principles of Islam. These too, are the duties of
every individual Muslim.
3. Guiding society by spreading the call of righteousness, fighting atrocities and detestful things,
encouraging virtue, enjoining all that is good, helping the people, trying to win the public
opinion to the side of Islam, and observing Islamic principles in all aspects of public life. This is
the duty of individual brothers as well as the jamaa’ah (community) working as a unit.
From these statements we can derive the following areas of importance for the one seeking
knowledge that will benefit them and their communities in this life and the next:
1.
Regular recitation and reading of the Quran
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Tajwīd (proper pronunciation of the Qur’an)
ʿAqīdah (Islamic belief)
Tazkiyah & Tarbiyah - Inner Dimensions of worship and purification of the soul
Islamic Manners and Character
Sīrah and early Islamic history
Hadith (memorizing at least the 40 of Imam an-Nawawi)
Fiqh – being able to live daily life knowing what you can and cannot do
Daʿwah
Reading Islamic magazines
Building a personal library
Reading the news and current events
We can also add:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Quran Sciences and Tafseer
Hadith Sciences
Legal History
Usul al-Fiqh
Required qualities: Patience, Humility, Consistency. Spending time around Imams, people
of knowledge and asking them questions. Honesty, when something is not understood to be
honest with oneself and ask. Persistence. Patience. Reading in a detailed way without rushing
and while seeking to understand everything in a deep way.
Quran, Tafsīr, and Quranic Sciences:
- Read Quran every day. Instead of a particular amount, set a certain amount of time that
you want to spend on it with reflection and contemplation. Don’t rush to finish a certain
number of pages. Intend to spend time in the contemplation of the book of Allah.
- Imam Suhaib Webb’s Series on Surah al-Fatiha
- Ulum al-Quran by Ahmad Von Denffer (Quranic Sciences)
- In the Shade of the Quran by Sayyid Qutb (Tafsīr)
- A Thematic Commentary of the Quran by Muhammad al-Ghazali
- Towards Understanding the Quran by Mawdudi (Tafsīr)
Tajwīd:
- Sit with a local Imam and learn how to read the Quran properly if you do not yet know
how to. This is a personal obligation on every single Muslim and should not be taken
lightly. It is especially important for those in leadership positions who will be carrying
the responsibility of leading people in prayer.
ʿAqīdah:
- al-ʿAqāʾid by Hasan al-Banna. You can find it on youngmuslims.ca or
http://mustafaumar.com/files/Treatise.pdf
- Book of Emaan by Muhammad Naim Yasin.
Purification of the Soul:
-
In the Early Hours by Ustadh Khurram Murad
Rising Soul, Published by MAS Youth
Purification of the Soul by al-Ghazali, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Ibn Rajab
Heaven’s Door, part 2 of above
Purification of the Soul by Jamaal Zarabozo
Don’t Be Sad by Aaidh al-Qarni
Islamic Manners:
- Islamic Manners by Abdul al-Fattah Abu Ghudda
- Muslim Character by Muhammad al-Ghazali
- Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn by al-Nawawi
Seerah:
- In the Footsteps of the Prophet by Tariq Ramadan
- Muhammad: Man and Prophet by Adil Salahi
- The Noble Life of the Prophet (3 Volume Set) by Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee
History:
- Men and Women Around the Messenger by Khalid Muhammad Khalid
- The individual books on Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali by As-Sallaabee (in the case
of Ali spelt Sallabi).
- Saviours of the Islamic Spirit by Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi
- The Islamic Civilization by Mustafa Sibai
- The Four Imams by Muhammad Abu Zahra
- Al-Muhaddithat by Mohammed Akram Nadwi
- Islam and the Blackamerican by Sherman Jackson
Hadith:
- 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi with his own commentary, translated by Abdassamad Clarke
- The Compendium of Knowledge and Wisdom by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, translated by
Abdassamad Clarke (an explanation on the 40 hadith)
- Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi by Jamaal Zarabozo
- Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn by al-Nawawi
Hadith Sciences:
- The Sunnah and Its Role in Islamic Legislation by Mustafa Sibai
- Approaching the Sunnah: Comprehension and Controversy by Yusuf al-Qaradawi
- The Sunnah: A Source of Civilization by Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Fiqh:
-
The Four Imams (previously mentioned in history)
The Ethics of Disagreement in Islam by Taha Jabir al-Alwani
Difference of Opinion in Fiqh by Shah Wali al-Dihlawi
The Differences of the Imams by Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi
The Lawful and Prohibited in Islam by Yusuf al-Qaradawi (with special emphasis on the
introduction)
-
Fiqh al-Sunnah by Sayyid Sabiq
Usul al-Fiqh:
- Source Methodology in Islamic Jurisprudence by Taha Jabir al-Alwani
- Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence by Mohammad Hashim Kamali
- Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah: A Beginner’s Guide by Jasser Auda
- Imam al-Shatibi’s Theory of the Higher Objectives and Intent of Islamic Law by Ahmed
al-Raysuni
Dawah:
- The writings of Hasan al-Banna
- To Be a Muslim by Fathi Yakan
- The Problems of the Da’wah and the Daa’iyah by Fathi Yakan
- Islamic Awakening: Between Rejectionism and Extremism by Yusuf al-Qaradawi
- The Priorities of the Islamic Movement in the Coming Phase by Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Leadership:
- Seven Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen Covey
- Developing Leaders Around You by John Maxwell
As a general rule you should read the first book in each of the fields before going to the later
books and read from every field at least one book before going to the later books in any
particular field. In “fiqh” you can count the first four readings together as one reading because
they revolve around the same theme and they are short in nature. After finishing one text in each
field you can pick and choose which order to read the rest of the books in while respecting the
order of books listed inside each field. For example, maybe after reading one book in each field
you decide that you are interested most in “purification of the soul,” you can just continue in that
field and read the rest of the books in order then move onto other subjects. As for which order to
read the first books of each field in, Jamaal recommends the following: Tafsir, Tajwīd,
Purification of the Soul, Islamic Manners, Hadith (from here on forward Quran and hadith
should be read, understood, and pondered over continuously alongside everything else), Quran
Sciences, Hadith Sciences, Sīrah, History, ʿAqīdah, Fiqh, Da’wah, Usul al-Fiqh, Leadership.
As one is reading they should make sure that they acknowledge their own human weakness and
not start causing problems with ideas that they have not come across yet. Islamic studies is a
massive field and the student should always embody humility and patience. They should also try
to attend as many classes as possible with Imams and teachers and as questions of people of
knowledge who they know. They should also read www.suhaibwebb.com regularly.
We know that the amount of books available in the bookstores and on the internet is enormous.
However, we feel, after our experience that this list is representative of the core subjects and
material that would enable one, if properly and thoroughly understood, to be an extremely
effective positive agent of contribution in their community.
Also, don’t forget, this is only an introductory reading list.
In the end, God knows best.
Jamaal Diwan
Muslema Purmul
Ramadan 1432/2011
2nd Edition