This is a continuation from the previous article…
(9) Start building an Islamic “Library” in your home
Another thing that will help in teaching your family and letting them develop an understanding of their religion and help them adhere to its rules, is having one’s own Islamic library at home. It does not have to be extensive; what matters is choosing good books, putting them in a place where they are readily accessible, and encouraging family members to read them.
You could put books in a clean and tidy corner of the living room, and in a suitable place in a bedroom or guest room; this will make it easy for any member of the family to read constantly.
In order to build a library properly – and Allah loves things to be done properly – you should include references so that family members can research various matters and children can use them for their studies. You should also include books of varying levels, so that old and young, men and women can all use them. You should also have books for giving to guests, children’s friends and family visitors, but try to get books that are attractively presented, edited properly and with the sources and classification of the narrations properly given. You can make the most of Islamic bookstores and exhibitions to build a home library, after consulting and seeking advice from those who have experience in the field of books. One way in which you can help family members to find a book when they want it is to organize the books according to subject, with books of Tafseer on one shelf, books of Hadeeth on another, fiqh on a third, and so on. One of the family members could also compile alphabetical or subject indexes of the library, to make it easier to look for books.
Many of those who want to start a home library may ask for titles of Islamic books. Here are a few suggestions:
Tafseer:
• Tafseer Ibn Katheer
• Tafseer Ibn Si’di
• Zubdat al-Tafseer by al-Ashkar
• Badaa’i’ al-Tafseer by Ibn al-Qayyim
• Usool al-Tafseer by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
• Lamahaat fi ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan by Muhammad al-Sabbaagh
Hadeeth:
• Saheeh al-Kalim al-Tayyib
• ‘Aml al-Muslim fi al-Yawm wa al-Laylah (or: Al-Saheeh al-Musnad min Athkaar al-Yawm wa’lLaylah)
• Riyaadh as-Saaliheen and its commentary Nuzhat al-Muttaqeen
• Mukhtasar Saheeh Al-Bukhaari by al-Zubaydi
• Mukhtasar Saheeh Muslim by al-Munthiri and al-Albaani
• Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer
• Dha’eef al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer
• Saheeh al-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb
• Al-Sunnah wa Makaanatuhaa fi at-Tashree’
• Qawaa’id wa fawaa’id min al-Arba’een an-Nawawiyyah by Naazim Sultaan
‘Aqeedah:
• Fat-h al-Majeed Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed (edited by al-Arnaa’oot)
• A’laam as-Sunnah al-Manshoorah by al-Hakami (ed.)
• Sharh al-‘Aqeedah at-Tahhaawiyyah, edited by al-Albaani
• The series on ‘Aqeedah by Umar Sulaymaan al-Ashqar in 8 parts
• Ashraat as-Saa’ah by Dr. Yoosuf al-Waabil
Fiqh:
• Manaar as-Sabeel by Ibn Duwiyyaan
• Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel by al-Albaani
• Zaad al-Ma’aad
• Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah
• Fiqh as-Sunnah [also available in English translation]
• Al-Mulakhkhas al-Fiqhi by Saalih al-Fawzaan
• Collections of Fatwas by different scholars (‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Muhammad Saalih al- ‘Uthaymeen, ‘Abdullaah ibn Jibreen)
• Sifat Salaatu an-Nabi, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, by Shaykh al-Albaani and Shaykh ‘Abd al- ‘Azeez ibn Baaz [available in English under the title The Prophet’s Prayer Described]
• Mukhtasar Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz by al-Albaani
Good Manners and Purification of the Soul:
• Tahtheeb Madaarij as-Saalikeen
• Al-Fawaa’id
• Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi
• Tareeq al-Hijratayn wa Baab as-Sa’aadatayn
• Al-Waabil as-Sayib
• Raafi’ al-Kalim at-Tayyib by Ibn al-Qayyim
• Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif by Ibn Rajab
• Tahtheeb Maw’izat al-Mu’mineen
• Ghadhaa’ al-Albaab
Seerah and Biographies:
• Al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah by Ibn Katheer
• Mukhtasar al-Shamaa’il al-Muhammadiyyah by At-Tirmithi, abridged by al-Albaani
• Al-Raheeq al-Makhtoom by al-Mubaarakpoori [available in English translation]
• Al-‘Awaasim min al-Qawaasim by Ibn al-‘Arabi, ed. by al-Khateeb and al-Istanbooli
• Al-Mujtama’ al-Madani (2 vols.) by Shaykh Akram al-‘Umari [available in English under the title Madinan Society at the Time of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)]
• Siyar A’laam an-Nubala’
• Minhaaj Kitaabat at-Taareekh al-Islaami by Muhammad ibn Saamil al-Salami
There are many other good books on various topics, such as those by:
• Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab
• Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Naasir al-Sa’di
• Shaykh ‘Umar Sulaymaan ibn Ashqar
• Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ismaa’eel al-Muqaddam
• Prof. Muhammad Muhammad Husayn
• Shaykh Muhammad Jameel Zayno
• Prof. Husayn al-‘Awayishah’s books on ar-Raqaa’iq (topics to soften the heart and strengthen Iman)
• Al-Iman by Muhammad Na’eem Yaaseen
• Al-Walaa’ wa al-Baraa’ by Shaykh Muhammad Sa’eed al-Qahtaani [available in English translation]
• Al-Inhiraafaat al-‘Aqdiyyah fi al-Qarnayn ath-Thaani ‘Ashara wa ath-Thaalith ‘Ashara by ‘Ali ibn Bukhayt az-Zahraani
• Al-Muslimoon wa Zaahirat al-Hazeemah an-Nafsiyyah by ‘Abd-Allah al-Shabaanah
• Al-Mar’ah bayn al-Fiqh wa al-Qaanoon by Mustafa al-Sibaa’i
• Al-Usrah al-Muslimah amaam al-video wa at-tilifiziyon by Marwaan Kijik
• Al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah I’daadaatuha wa mas’ooliyaatuha by Ahmad Abu Bateen
• Mas’ooliyat al-Abb al-Muslim fi Tarbiyat Waladihi by ‘Adnaan Baahaarith
• Hijaab al-Muslimah by Ahmad al-Baaraazi
• Wa Jaa’a Dawr al-Maajoos by ‘Abd-Allah Muhammad al-Ghareeb
• Books by Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
• Abhaath al-Shaykh Mashoor Hasan Salmaan
There are many other useful, good books – what we have mentioned is only by way of example, and is by no means a complete list. There are also many useful pamphlets and booklets, but it would take too long to list everything. The Muslim should consult others and think hard. Whoever Allah wishes good for, He helps him to understand His religion.
(NOTE: If you want to build a strong and powerful relationship with Allah, check out Islamia TV, where you can watch Islamic speakers from across the globe deliver inspiring and motivational courses. Learn more at www.islamia.tv.)
