What books are recommended for the beginner student of knowledge?
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Question:
What books do you recommend for beginners among the students of knowledge in these specializations? We want one book in creed, one in tafsir, one in hadith, one in grammar, one in fiqh, one in fara'id, one in usul al-fiqh, one in rhetoric, and one in literature?
Answer:
The greatest book, the most noble book, and the most truthful book that I recommend to every student of knowledge is: attending to the Qur'an and turning to it. It is the book of creed, the book of fiqh, the book of rulings, and the book of Islamic history; it is comprehensive of everything. So I advise every student to attend to the Qur'an, to strive to memorize it, to recite it frequently, and to reflect on its meanings. This is especially for those who have passed the secondary stage, as they are the most deserving of people to attend to it and memorize it; because they are now in the university stage, after which they will take on responsibilities: such as judging, da'wah, teaching, and others. So let the memorization of the Book of Allah be the most important thing for them, so that they benefit from the speech of Allah. Then the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): they should memorize what is easy for them from the book "Bulugh al-Maram," or "Umdat al-Hadith," or "Muntakha al-Akhbar," according to their capacity.
And after all this, there are many books of creed, and other books from which one chooses what suits him. Among the best in creed are: the book "al-Tawhid" and "al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah." These are two concise books in creed. And if one adds to that "Kashf al-Shubuhat" and "Thalathat al-Usul," then that is also good.
So the result is that the books "al-Tawhid," "Thalathat al-Usul," "Kashf al-Shubuhat," and "al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah" are among the most concise and best books in creed.
And in fiqh: "Umdat al-Fiqh" by al-Muqaddim is good and concise.
And in terminology: "Nukhbat al-Fikr" is a good and beneficial book, despite its brevity, in the terminology of hadith.
And in principles: there are many books in the principles of fiqh: such as "al-Waraqat," which is a concise book, and "Rawdat al-Nazir" by al-Muqaddim, which is also a concise, good, and beneficial book. There are other known books available, but "Rawdat al-Nazir" and "al-Waraqat" are two books for the beginner. "Al-Waraqat" is a small book, and "al-Rawdah" is a good book.
And in tafsir: "al-Jalalayn" is a good book, though it has notes and things that a student of knowledge with good creed should pay attention to, and he is able to know them. I have the intention, if Allah wills, to write a commentary on it, and I have started doing so: tracking the errors in it, so that it may be printed with it, if Allah wills. The point is that it is a good and beneficial book despite its brevity.
And "Mukhtasar Tafsir Ibn Kathir" by Shaykh Nasib al-Rifai is a good and beneficial concise book on the tafsir of Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him).
What books do you recommend for beginners among the students of knowledge in these specializations? We want one book in creed, one in tafsir, one in hadith, one in grammar, one in fiqh, one in fara'id, one in usul al-fiqh, one in rhetoric, and one in literature?
Answer:
The greatest book, the most noble book, and the most truthful book that I recommend to every student of knowledge is: attending to the Qur'an and turning to it. It is the book of creed, the book of fiqh, the book of rulings, and the book of Islamic history; it is comprehensive of everything. So I advise every student to attend to the Qur'an, to strive to memorize it, to recite it frequently, and to reflect on its meanings. This is especially for those who have passed the secondary stage, as they are the most deserving of people to attend to it and memorize it; because they are now in the university stage, after which they will take on responsibilities: such as judging, da'wah, teaching, and others. So let the memorization of the Book of Allah be the most important thing for them, so that they benefit from the speech of Allah. Then the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): they should memorize what is easy for them from the book "Bulugh al-Maram," or "Umdat al-Hadith," or "Muntakha al-Akhbar," according to their capacity.
And after all this, there are many books of creed, and other books from which one chooses what suits him. Among the best in creed are: the book "al-Tawhid" and "al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah." These are two concise books in creed. And if one adds to that "Kashf al-Shubuhat" and "Thalathat al-Usul," then that is also good.
So the result is that the books "al-Tawhid," "Thalathat al-Usul," "Kashf al-Shubuhat," and "al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah" are among the most concise and best books in creed.
And in fiqh: "Umdat al-Fiqh" by al-Muqaddim is good and concise.
And in terminology: "Nukhbat al-Fikr" is a good and beneficial book, despite its brevity, in the terminology of hadith.
And in principles: there are many books in the principles of fiqh: such as "al-Waraqat," which is a concise book, and "Rawdat al-Nazir" by al-Muqaddim, which is also a concise, good, and beneficial book. There are other known books available, but "Rawdat al-Nazir" and "al-Waraqat" are two books for the beginner. "Al-Waraqat" is a small book, and "al-Rawdah" is a good book.
And in tafsir: "al-Jalalayn" is a good book, though it has notes and things that a student of knowledge with good creed should pay attention to, and he is able to know them. I have the intention, if Allah wills, to write a commentary on it, and I have started doing so: tracking the errors in it, so that it may be printed with it, if Allah wills. The point is that it is a good and beneficial book despite its brevity.
And "Mukhtasar Tafsir Ibn Kathir" by Shaykh Nasib al-Rifai is a good and beneficial concise book on the tafsir of Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him).
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.