The Beneficial Books for Forming the Library of a Student of Knowledge
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
After this, we move on to a message sent by a listener who says, "I am a student of knowledge, and I wish to build a religious library in my home. Can you direct me to beneficial books? May Allah reward you with good."
The Shaykh:
Yes, books are the means for the student of knowledge, and building a library in the home is one of the most important means of seeking knowledge. Perhaps the mention of this library extends to those who read from it, men and women in the house. The books we direct to are the Book of Allah the Exalted, Tafsir al-Tabari by Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tafsir by Imam Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Baghawi by Imam al-Baghawi, Tafsir Ibn Atiyyah, Tafsir al-Qurtubi, and Mawa'ib al-Bayan by our Shaykh, Shaykh Muhammad al-Amin al-Shanqiti (may Allah have mercy on him). Also, Tafsir al-Karim al-Mannan fi Tafsir Kalam al-Rahman by the distinguished Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di. And in the books of creed as well. Yes.
The books of Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, the books of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, the books of the distinguished Ibn al-Qayyim, and al-'Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah by al-'Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam al-Hanafi. The books of the Sunnah, such as Kitab al-Sunnah by Ibn Abi 'Asim, Kitab al-Sunnah by al-Nadim, Kitab al-Sunnah by al-Nasa'i, and others. Yes. And the books of creed written according to the methodology of the pious Salaf.
In the books of hadith, one starts with Bulugh al-Maram and its commentary Subul al-Salam, then al-Muntaqa and its commentary Nail al-Awtar, then the two Sahihs and their commentaries by al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar and al-Hafiz al-Nawawi. The four books of Sunan and their commentaries, as well as Sharh al-Sunnah by Imam al-Baghawi. Also, Jami' al-'Ulum wa al-Husn, which is a commentary on the Nawawi Forty, and its completion by al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him). Also, Riyad al-Salihin and its commentary, and other books of the Sunnah as much as possible.
As for the books of fiqh, for example, in Hanbali fiqh, one starts with the text of al-Mudawwanah and its commentaries, then Sharh al-Zad, the text of Zad al-Mustaqni' and its commentary al-Rawd al-Murbi', Sharh al-Muntaha, Sharh al-Iqna', Kashshaf al-Qina', al-Kafi by Ibn Qudamah, al-Muqni' by Imam Ibn Qudamah, and its commentary al-Sharh al-Kabir by Ibn Abi 'Umar, al-Mughni by Mawdud al-Din Ibn Qudamah, Sharh al-Zarkashi on Mukhtasar al-Khiraqi, and al-Insaf fi Bayan al-Rajih wa al-Marjuh fi al-Madhhab. These are the books of fiqh in the Hanbali school. And whatever is available from the four schools of jurisprudence, from the books of the four schools. It is not necessary for a person to be restricted to them.
As for the Arabic language, for example, *Al-Mulhah* and its commentary, *Qatr al-Nada* and its commentary by Ibn Hisham, *Al-Afaliyyah* and its commentary by Ibn 'Aqil; these are books that the Muslim needs. Likewise, books of the language such as *Qamus al-Muhit*, *Lisan al-'Arab*, and *Al-Sahah* in the language by al-Jawhari. All of these are references in the Arabic language. The biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): the book of biography by Ibn Hisham, its commentary on *Raww al-Alaf*, and *Zad al-Ma'ad* in the guidance of the best of creation by the noble Imam Ibn al-Qayyim. There are many abridgments, such as the abridgment by Shaykh 'Abdullah ibn Muhammad, and the abridgment by Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab. *Fasl al-Maqal* in the biography is good. *Al-Sirah* by Ibn Kathir is among the books of biography. Yes. *Al-Nubuwwah*. And in the sciences of hadith, *Nukhbat al-Fikr* and its commentary by al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, *Fath al-Bari*, and the commentary by al-Imam al-'Iraqi.
The presenter:
What about the books of rulings, if you please?
The Shaykh:
We mentioned them. We mentioned the books of rulings from fiqh and from the Prophetic Sunnah, such as *Al-Bulugh* (*Bulugh al-Maram* from the evidence of rulings) and *Al-Muntakha* from the evidence of rulings. These are all in the rulings of fiqh. Good. From *Dala'il al-Taharah* to the end of the chapters of fiqh, and what is there for deriving rulings from it.
The presenter:
What is suitable for him to memorize, if you please?
The Shaykh:
He will find these books of dhikr, such as the book of *Al-Adhkar* by Imam al-Nawawi, for he preserves these adhkar and the prescribed daily recitations. Likewise, *Al-Wabil al-Sayyib* by Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, and *Al-Kalim al-Tayyib* by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah. All these books deal with the remembrance of Allah and ruqyah (healing by Qur'anic recitation). Likewise, *Zad al-Ma'ad* by Ibn al-Qayyim, and *Al-Tibb al-Nabawi* by Ibn al-Qayyim is also good on this topic. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.
After this, we move on to a message sent by a listener who says, "I am a student of knowledge, and I wish to build a religious library in my home. Can you direct me to beneficial books? May Allah reward you with good."
The Shaykh:
Yes, books are the means for the student of knowledge, and building a library in the home is one of the most important means of seeking knowledge. Perhaps the mention of this library extends to those who read from it, men and women in the house. The books we direct to are the Book of Allah the Exalted, Tafsir al-Tabari by Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tafsir by Imam Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Baghawi by Imam al-Baghawi, Tafsir Ibn Atiyyah, Tafsir al-Qurtubi, and Mawa'ib al-Bayan by our Shaykh, Shaykh Muhammad al-Amin al-Shanqiti (may Allah have mercy on him). Also, Tafsir al-Karim al-Mannan fi Tafsir Kalam al-Rahman by the distinguished Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di. And in the books of creed as well. Yes.
The books of Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, the books of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, the books of the distinguished Ibn al-Qayyim, and al-'Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah by al-'Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam al-Hanafi. The books of the Sunnah, such as Kitab al-Sunnah by Ibn Abi 'Asim, Kitab al-Sunnah by al-Nadim, Kitab al-Sunnah by al-Nasa'i, and others. Yes. And the books of creed written according to the methodology of the pious Salaf.
In the books of hadith, one starts with Bulugh al-Maram and its commentary Subul al-Salam, then al-Muntaqa and its commentary Nail al-Awtar, then the two Sahihs and their commentaries by al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar and al-Hafiz al-Nawawi. The four books of Sunan and their commentaries, as well as Sharh al-Sunnah by Imam al-Baghawi. Also, Jami' al-'Ulum wa al-Husn, which is a commentary on the Nawawi Forty, and its completion by al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him). Also, Riyad al-Salihin and its commentary, and other books of the Sunnah as much as possible.
As for the books of fiqh, for example, in Hanbali fiqh, one starts with the text of al-Mudawwanah and its commentaries, then Sharh al-Zad, the text of Zad al-Mustaqni' and its commentary al-Rawd al-Murbi', Sharh al-Muntaha, Sharh al-Iqna', Kashshaf al-Qina', al-Kafi by Ibn Qudamah, al-Muqni' by Imam Ibn Qudamah, and its commentary al-Sharh al-Kabir by Ibn Abi 'Umar, al-Mughni by Mawdud al-Din Ibn Qudamah, Sharh al-Zarkashi on Mukhtasar al-Khiraqi, and al-Insaf fi Bayan al-Rajih wa al-Marjuh fi al-Madhhab. These are the books of fiqh in the Hanbali school. And whatever is available from the four schools of jurisprudence, from the books of the four schools. It is not necessary for a person to be restricted to them.
As for the Arabic language, for example, *Al-Mulhah* and its commentary, *Qatr al-Nada* and its commentary by Ibn Hisham, *Al-Afaliyyah* and its commentary by Ibn 'Aqil; these are books that the Muslim needs. Likewise, books of the language such as *Qamus al-Muhit*, *Lisan al-'Arab*, and *Al-Sahah* in the language by al-Jawhari. All of these are references in the Arabic language. The biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): the book of biography by Ibn Hisham, its commentary on *Raww al-Alaf*, and *Zad al-Ma'ad* in the guidance of the best of creation by the noble Imam Ibn al-Qayyim. There are many abridgments, such as the abridgment by Shaykh 'Abdullah ibn Muhammad, and the abridgment by Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab. *Fasl al-Maqal* in the biography is good. *Al-Sirah* by Ibn Kathir is among the books of biography. Yes. *Al-Nubuwwah*. And in the sciences of hadith, *Nukhbat al-Fikr* and its commentary by al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, *Fath al-Bari*, and the commentary by al-Imam al-'Iraqi.
The presenter:
What about the books of rulings, if you please?
The Shaykh:
We mentioned them. We mentioned the books of rulings from fiqh and from the Prophetic Sunnah, such as *Al-Bulugh* (*Bulugh al-Maram* from the evidence of rulings) and *Al-Muntakha* from the evidence of rulings. These are all in the rulings of fiqh. Good. From *Dala'il al-Taharah* to the end of the chapters of fiqh, and what is there for deriving rulings from it.
The presenter:
What is suitable for him to memorize, if you please?
The Shaykh:
He will find these books of dhikr, such as the book of *Al-Adhkar* by Imam al-Nawawi, for he preserves these adhkar and the prescribed daily recitations. Likewise, *Al-Wabil al-Sayyib* by Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, and *Al-Kalim al-Tayyib* by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah. All these books deal with the remembrance of Allah and ruqyah (healing by Qur'anic recitation). Likewise, *Zad al-Ma'ad* by Ibn al-Qayyim, and *Al-Tibb al-Nabawi* by Ibn al-Qayyim is also good on this topic. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 01/097 — archive.org (12:34)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.