What are the beneficial books to which you direct me for reading?
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The questioner : What are the beneficial books to which you direct me for reading?
The Shaykh : The most beneficial book we direct you to read is the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); you should read it, reflect upon it, and consult the exegeses of trusted scholars until the meaning of the Qur'an becomes clear to you, just as you have memorized its wording. For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not move past ten verses until they learned them, along with the knowledge and practice contained therein; they learned the Qur'an, the knowledge, and the practice all together (may Allah be pleased with them). After that comes what is authentic of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). There are many books compiled from authentic hadiths, such as the Sahihayn of al-Bukhari and Muslim and what has been transmitted from them. Then there are the writings of trusted scholars; among them we point to Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) and his student Ibn al-Qayyim, for their books are very beneficial for the student of knowledge. We and others have benefited greatly from them, because they are based on textual and theoretical evidence, and they provide great benefit to a person. If you are in a country, consult the trusted scholars there about the books they recommend you read. But this is what we see, and Allah knows best.
The Shaykh : The most beneficial book we direct you to read is the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); you should read it, reflect upon it, and consult the exegeses of trusted scholars until the meaning of the Qur'an becomes clear to you, just as you have memorized its wording. For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not move past ten verses until they learned them, along with the knowledge and practice contained therein; they learned the Qur'an, the knowledge, and the practice all together (may Allah be pleased with them). After that comes what is authentic of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). There are many books compiled from authentic hadiths, such as the Sahihayn of al-Bukhari and Muslim and what has been transmitted from them. Then there are the writings of trusted scholars; among them we point to Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) and his student Ibn al-Qayyim, for their books are very beneficial for the student of knowledge. We and others have benefited greatly from them, because they are based on textual and theoretical evidence, and they provide great benefit to a person. If you are in a country, consult the trusted scholars there about the books they recommend you read. But this is what we see, and Allah knows best.