Reading List Suggestions Required

[mesbah]

Salam Alaykum everyone
inshaAllah you are all well.

It's been a while that I'm looking for a good Islamic reading list, which covers various topics (basic introduction, theology, laws, history, spirituality and philosophy, family, women, etc.) and is practically readable and usable for an English speaking person (doesn't matter, a Muslim seeking more information about Islam, or a non-Muslim wishing to know, or a revert etc.)

so my request is two:

1- if you are aware of any Islamic reading list, can you please share it here?

2-what book about Islam have you personally read or even just browsed and found it fitting in such a list? feel free to add the name of any book you read about Islam and you liked.
that is very precious to me and my list. inshaAllah together we can come up with a good and practical reading list.
 

WSalam

[Guest arch]

Light within me - Allamah Tabatabai

The elixir of love - Muhammadi Reyshahri

Risalat al wilayah- The return to being

Kernel of the kernel (lubb lubab) - Allamah Tabatabai

Self building - Ibrahim Amini

Shining Sun- Syed Muhammad Hussain Tehrani

Man and His Destiny - Murtadha Mutahhari

Supplication in the eyes of Ahlul Bayt- Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi

Bright Moon- A collection of poems by Imam Hussain

 

[SoRoUsH]

Justice and Remembrance: Introducing the Spirituality of Imam Ali

- Reza Shah-Kazemi

[mesbah]

12 hours ago, Guest arch said:

Light within me - Allamah Tabatabai

The elixir of love - Muhammadi Reyshahri

Risalat al wilayah- The return to being

Kernel of the kernel (lubb lubab) - Allamah Tabatabai

Self building - Ibrahim Amini

Shining Sun- Syed Muhammad Hussain Tehrani

Man and His Destiny - Murtadha Mutahhari

Supplication in the eyes of Ahlul Bayt- Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi

Bright Moon- A collection of poems by Imam Hussain

 

Thank you very much. Jazaka Allah. 

[habib e najjaar]

This is a copy paste of part of a reading list I shared with an ShiaChat member some years back via PM, I don't know if the links still work:

  

On 1/13/2012 at 12:35 PM, habib e najjaar said:

Food for the Soul:

 

Forty Hadiths <-- I am sure I don't need to give this a rating, you have heard me mention it too many times.

Light Within Me <-- super DUPER recommend. its by the blindingly Amazing Trio: Khumayni, Tabatabai, Mutahhari)!

Greater Sins You will do yourself an injustice if you do not read this!! Practical steps for everyday training of the soul and our outward behavior.

Istiadha: seeking protection of Allah from Shaytan <-- extremely beautiful! and very handy, considering we are dealing with an enemy who can travel in our very veins

Adabus Salat - Imam Khumayni giving us an education on how to achieve what salah is meant to achieve. right from wudhu, intention, every step. SubhanAllah. 7 star rating!

Self Building

Uddatud-Daée (the Asset of the Supplicant) - really changes how we view and perform the act of supplication.

The Kernel of Kernels (Lubb al Lubaab) be sure akhbaris will tell you this shirki book is not authenticated. They will also not tell you how amazing it is. Must read!

The wine of Love (ofcourse recommended by Ustad ...) its amazing, I read it almost daily at work, love it. Legenhaussen discusses it well. You will also find in it the aspect of Emam's life you so love (family man).. his letter to Fatima Tabatabai.

Uswat al arifeen (the model for the gnostics) -describes the life of the great Arif shaykh Bahjat.

Lantern of the Path by Imam Sadiq ,its like attending short beautiful lectures on tips for daily application.

Sayr wa Sulook short and beautiful. I loved how his reminders on the number 40..

The Greater Jihad beautiful lessons from Emam. (I loved his advice to hawza students btw)

The Collector of Felicities <-- I absolutely loved what I read of it, until my sis took the book with her Teaches us to recognize and cure the diseases of our soul

Manners and Morals of the Holy Imams <-- I liked this. many anecdotes. we used it in the part time hawza I was attending on weekends.

Qalbe Saleem - The immaculate conscience. absolutely fantastic, done in the deep analytical style you will notice in all Dastghaib Shirazi's books. beautiful.

Anecdotes for reflection: Part 1, 2 and 3.

Rays of the Sun, 83 stories from the life of Imam Khumayni ( :gaga: LOVE it!

 

 

Hadiths:

 

Collection of sayings of Imam Ali (عليه السلام) <-- beautiful and you can read it anytime you feel the need to refresh your soul.

A Bundle of Flowers <-- very nice, esp when you go into akhbari mode and want quick reference to many hadiths!

 

 

 

 

History:

 

Sulh al Hasan <-- a beautiful read. Clears the misconceptions about our Imam (عليه السلام), and highlights the injustice we do to him by failing to understand how and why he entered a treaty with moawiyah.

Beacons of Light by Shaikh Tabarsi. I liked what I read of it, if I remember correctly.

History of the Caliphs ( I had this in hard copy but the translation quite put me off reading it. Still, it is very detailed and should be informative inshaÁllah)

The Life of Imam Mahdi (atf) -Baqir Qarashi's books are great on detail. this is the only one of his I have read, but he has done biographies on all the aimmah . A must read I would think, to build our relationship with those we call our aimmah! You can find the rest of his books linked here under his name

 

Fiqh: (I am afraid I am quite poorly read in Shia fiqh, except for reading the risalah of Sayyid Sistani.) These books I found very useful, I got the book from a Sunni guy at campus who had them all compiled into one! beautiful!

Fasting according to the five schools of thought

Prayer according to the five schools of thought

Hajj

(can't seem to find the rest online, there is also a discussion on marriage according to the five schools) these are all by Mughniyyah.

 

This one is by Sharafaddin (the author of al murajaát which is a mUST read especially if you deal with Sunnis regularly) Questions on Jurisprudence

 

 

 

Random:

ALL the books of Shahid Mutahhari. I especially LOVEEE this one: Polarisation around the character of Ali ibn Abi Talib Ive put most of his books here incase you need them, though I am sure you already have them.

 

Nahjul Fasahah - the Peak/height of Rhetoric. Haven't read it, but I remember it was recommended to me.

 

Istikhara: Seeking the Best from Allah <-- really good book, considering its a word we throw around quite freely.

 

The books of Shahid sadr, you can find a list here . I have read trends of history in the Qurán, an Inquiry concerning al Mahdi and The AWaited Saviour. excellent reads. (I never did manage to read falsafatuna or iqtisaduna yet. too blonde)

 

The novels of bintalhuda :wub: you are the mushy kind, you would enjoy this. Mushy-ness, halal style B) I've read all of them a couple of times, and still enjoy reading them available here.

 

The Hereafter It is sad that this is a destination we cannot escape, yet we know so little about it. Must REad!

 

Shariati: he deserves a category of his own!! I will only list those I have read.

And Once Again Abu Dhar!

Fatima is Fatima Salamullah 3layk ya sitna nisaail alameen. <-- this book was a major part in dad becoming shií.

Hajj the Pilgrimage (slap in the face of those who claim he was not a spiritual person)

Where shall we begin? <-- a clarification for those who need one, especially the critics who say he could not live in Iran, would only survive in the west.

Red shi'ism smarties will tell you this is pure bidah ofcourse, which then makes it wajib for you to read it. :angel:

Our expectations of the Muslim woman nice article, feminists may like this, its empowering, without shedding any of the role Islam has provided for women in society ^_^

The Visage of Prophet Muhammad ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) - explains beautifully and simply what Nabina wa Habibna Muhammad ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) did for us. Today we can call ourselves Muslims, Shia of Muhammad and Ali (عليه السلام) without bothering to take the time to know this man. shame.

Part 1 and part 2: The Philosophy of Supplication short and powerful. Inspiring to each one of us.

Jihad and Shahadat

Hurr I don’t know if this is the full one, if I remember correctly, it had more flesh when I read it. Still, I may have confused it with another book.

a poem I LOVEE! (one, followed by infinite zero's. this is an analogy mum used a lot as we grew up. beautiful!! I think you would love it in Farsi, alas, some of us have to read it in english :'( )

  

On 1/13/2012 at 4:12 PM, habib e najjaar said:

More.

 

Food for the soul:

 

Manifestations of the All Merciful part 1, part 2 : I know this author personally (well, mom and dad know him). very humble 3abid mashallah, khoja based in Qom. Part 1 I have read a few times, fantastic mashallah. You see the daily dua for Ramadhan (which starts Allahumma adkhil 3la ahlil qubooris-suroor) in a whole new light. Part 2 I havent read, but now I must!

 

Divine Invitation also by author above. simple, beautiful and spiritually uplifting. This one is about how we should view shahr Ramadhan.

 

Tafsir of Surah Fatiha by Imam Khumayni (qas) I read the book, this is a video you might enjoy watching it.

 

Inspirational:

The voice of Human Justice

Anecdotes of Pious men (Shahid Mutahhari)

Lessons from Qurán read it online a few years ago.

Risalat al Huqooq (the TReatise of rights of Imam Sajjad.) Beautiful.. subhanAllah

 

History:

Yazid was never Amirul Mu'mineen (this is by the kenyan Shia scholar I told you about once)

The Unschooled Prophet (by Shahid Mutahhari) explains beautifully the meaning of Nabi al Ummiyy

Me'raj the Night of ascension Nice simple easy to read book setting out the details of what happened during Isra wal mi'raaj.

Fadak in History this is one of the very disputed points between Shias and Sunni. enlightening on facts and what really happened. (its by Shahid Sadr, therefore a MUST read)

 

 

Hadith:

I have read all of this collection of little books. very handy reference when you are looking up narrations about a certain topic:

40 hadith on: Salat Zakat The awaited saviour Parents Hajj Ghadir The Qurán Azadar

 

 

Random:

Introduction to the Science of Tafsir of Qurán

 

 

Not Seen Online:

Abu Dhar - I don't know the author or publisher, but its the most detailed biography I have ever come across. All the rest are simply articles, or focus on one part of his life..

 

 

ekh sorry don't have the energy to go on. Today I am leaving work an hour early inshallah

  

On 1/18/2012 at 4:22 PM, habib e najjaar said:

Spiritual:

Elixir of Love :wub: you will love this. 1. It's on your fave topic: Love. 2. Its an irfani hand book

 

The Will of Ayatullah Mamkani - Very very beautiful advices, with practical steps which we can follow and learn from.

 

Living the Right Way - Ayatullah Jawad Tehrani. Superb book, a book I have enjoyed reading online and plan on buying the hardcopy of inshaÁllah soon... He supplements each lesson with ayaat and hadiths. Easy to read, even for young people.

 

Anecdotes for Reflection Part 1 Part 2 and Part 3: Very very beautiful short anecdotes from the lives of believers and disbelievers in different points in history (I.e the times of different Prophets, our Imams etc). Definitely a must read! Very educative.

 

Inner Voice another gem from Allameh Sayyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi. Incase you do not know him, you should first say a fatiha for his soul, and secondly, you should know he was a very influential party in the spread of Islam and Shiísm amongst native africans (like myself). He took on the task of daawah in Africa after being adviced to do so by Ayatullah Muhsin al Hakim (I think? I'm not sure I remember correctly) whom he had visited in Najaf. The Marjah had asked him: what are you doing for Islam where you come from? He saw this as a personal challenge and a reflection of the failure of Muslim desi communities living in Africa to bring people towards Islam. He has written very many books, and is infact the one who translated Tafsir al Mizan for the first time. Sadly, he passed away before completing this project. He is the father of Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi of Toronto, you may have heard of him. Also a scholar.

 

Ethical Discourses volume 2 - , this is by Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi, 

 

Jami as-Saádaat (The Collector of Felicities) alternative link (al-Islam). Description in first post.

 

Qurán:

Tafseer al Meezaan volume 2 - I am one of those who makes a lot of sighs about the whole of this work not being translated to English, but I cannot say I have read and know everything in what has been translated. Extreeeemely beautiful. Just look at his tafsir of surah al Fatiha. subhanallah. This tafsir focusses on tawheed, and submission to Allah. (you will notice that each tafsir/exegesis focuses on a particular theme.. his is beautiful. it captures the purpose of our existence!wa maa khalaqtul insa wal jinna illa liya3budoon)

 

Tafsir of Agha Mahdi Pooya - available on al-Islam.org/Qur'an. However, I would recommend getting it in hard copy, and reading it in detail. This tafsir focusses on the rights of Ahlul Bayt (عليه السلام) and on the concept of wilayah of our Ahlul Bayt (عليه السلام)

 

Mahdawiya:

The Occultation of the 12th Imam - brilliant work, looks at the history around the occultation - major and minor. very educative. read it. you wont regret it

 

History:

Despotic Rulers - by Jawad Mughniyyah.. (not found it online, I linked you to it on amazon or something) Eh. I remember reading this in my early teens, I was so enraged at the things that happened to our Ahlul Bayt (عليه السلام) .. ya Rab. I knew I had to read a lot more, its not enough to know the injustices against the Ahlul Bayt.. We need to know them for their beauty too, otherwise we join the list of those who oppress them (by calling them our Imams, yet not knowing a thing about them )

Hayat al Qulub Part 1 and Part 2

 

Quick Learning:

Faith and Reason - handy reference for some of those big and random questions that eat up your head sometimes. Its in Q and A format, with a brief and detailed answer. Ive found it very helpful lots of times. I want to invest in the hardcopy sometime inshaÁllah.

 

 

Stuff I want to read:

Freedom: The Unstated Facts and Points.

A short treatise on Wilayat al Faqih - by Mansour Leghaie (remember him? ) - I linked this to you a coupla months ago. never got round to reading it though.

 

 

Randoms:

For a Better Future 200 questions and answers on youth, marriage, children. Its like getting advice on random social issues. Ive read a number of questions, they are answered well most of the time ^_^

 

Edited March 3, 2020 by habib e najjaar

[mesbah]

I wish I could give your above post^ more likes and thanks!

thanks

[habib e najjaar]

Thanks for the topic. I need to re read most of these.. the last few years of my life had completely changed my reading habits.

InshaAllah I will share the rest of the PMs I had sent when I am on laptop tomorrow. Seems to copy differently on phone and links become un-clickable.

[habib e najjaar]

  

On 1/15/2012 at 11:33 AM, habib e najjaar said:

Al Tawhid Journals. Deserve a category of their own. It makes me sad that publications of such quality are no longer available. I wish they would publish ALL the editorials. they were beyond beautiful, the editor gave you a feel of what it was to be a true pro revolution irani. awakened, intellectual, beautiful! every article in there is a gem. I don't know why they don't put up more of them

 

Message of Thaqalayn Journals. this is their website I have loved all those I have read, (about 4-5). Somewhat similar to al tawhid. perhaps you could subscribe for them.

 

 

Informative:

End of Islamic Spain: Names, Dates and Places really sad to know what really happened in andalusia. short and informative. I first read it when I was 13/14.. touched me a great deal and I looked around me in society and wondered what we were doing wrong, and if we were heading down a similar path. part 2 below will explain what I mean.

 

Islamic Renewal in Latin America and Iberia: Its Needs and Preconditions

 

Islam and Iran: A Historical Study of Mutual Services - by Ayat. Mutahhari, majoosi haters should hate this :P but its true!

 

Women:

 

Women in a Qur'anic Society beautiful article. Read it.

 

Woman and Her Rights by Shahid Mutahari

 

 

History:

Kitab al Irshad - (by shaykh al Mufeed) I don't think I need to tell you how informative and handy this is. a must read for every Shia. I don't know if its available online, but you should be able to get it from an Islamic bookstore.

 

Shia/Sunni - Also educative on Shia perspectives of historical events, qur'anic and narrations:

ALL the books by Tijani Samawi. I have read all of them, and loved each. His format is easy to read. You should start with Then I was Guided its like reading a story book. Then you can read To Be With the Truthful , then Shia are the Real Ahlal Sunnah and once you are done with these, look up the rest of his books :P I forget the names now.

Fiqh:

Jurisprudence made easy - this is a book I enjoy reading, its format is simple and easy to read - its in question answer format, like a discussion between father and son. fiqhi rulings as per the edicts of Sayyid Sistani (ha).

 

Food for the soul:

Sahifa al Sajjadiya - each time you read any of the supplications or munajaat in here you see a different petal of its beauty. subhanAllah You should read it in Arabic, and then follow the translation.

Anecdotes from Ahlul Bayt (عليه السلام) - by Shahid Mutahhari, one of the few books I enjoyed reading online fun to re-read.

  

On 1/25/2012 at 10:25 AM, habib e najjaar said:

(salam)

 

From our dear Shahid Sadr (qas) A General Outlook at Islamic Rituals

 

Glimpses of Shiísm in Musnad Imam Hanbal (you may have already read this in al tawhid.. again, this is something we Shia tend to overlook when looking at the Imams of the Sunni school)

 

On 1/26/2012 at 3:15 PM, habib e najjaar said:

Removing Doubt from Gheeba Rulings Lovely little book that I got for free just before I went to Iran ^_^

 

Muhammad ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) by Yasin T al Jibouri. Nice biography, I read it online.

 

On 1/25/2012 at 10:25 AM, habib e najjaar said:

(salam)

 

From our dear Shahid Sadr (qas) A General Outlook at Islamic Rituals

 

Glimpses of Shiísm in Musnad Imam Hanbal (you may have already read this in al tawhid.. again, this is something we Shia tend to overlook when looking at the Imams of the Sunni school)

 

On 1/18/2012 at 1:06 PM, habib e najjaar said:

Spiritual:

 

Soaring to the Only Beloved

 

History:

 

Karbala and Ashura - very detailed, yet concise book on the events leading up to ashura, and the night after ashura. beautiful

 

On 1/17/2012 at 7:49 PM, habib e najjaar said:

History:

Nafsul Mahmoom - Very detailed account of Imam Husayn (عليه السلام) . A must must MUST read. (by Shaykh Abbas Qummi)

 

Islam and Christianity:

The Qur'an, Bible and Science by Maurice Bucaille. It's sad that somebody who was so close to the truth ended up not becoming Muslim..

 

[habib e najjaar]

  

On 2/23/2012 at 11:08 PM, habib e najjaar said:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/31026289/Mizanul-Hikmah - meezanul hikmah! I will try and be reading it online now and then ^_^

  An aunt of mine who I lived with for a while had Mizanul Hikmah in hard copy. Huge book, lovely topic wise collection of hadiths. I never did get round to reading it all, nor did I keep up with reading it online.

On 1/25/2012 at 5:20 PM, habib e najjaar said:

Indeed, it takes greatness to recognize greatness

 

 

One of the Imam's students says, "After the release of the Imam and his arrival at holy Qom in 1963, people held massive celebrations in all the quarters of this city. The house of the Imam was then over-crowded with people, and Ayatullah Bahjat was one of those who used to go to the Imam's house every day. He would stand for few minutes at the door of one of the house rooms. When it is suggested to him to sit inside the room, he would say, 'I commit myself to coming here and to standing at this place for few minutes to pay homage to this great personality.'"

 

 

from: Uswat al Aarifeen

 

On 1/31/2012 at 2:07 PM, habib e najjaar said:

omg!

 

 

The Messenger of Allah said:

“Beware! Do not falsify the words of an Ālim. Do not reject his statements and do not bear enmity towards him. Be cordial with them, because friendship with the learned is a sign of good morals. And enmity with them is hypocrisy. Beware! Whoever insults an Ālim insults me and whoever insults me insults Allah; and whoever insults Allah; his abode is Hell. And (remember), whoever honours an Ālim, honours me and whoever honours me honours Allah and whoever honours Allah; his abode shall be Paradise.”

(Layali al-Akhbār) as quoted in Greater Sins

 

Edited March 4, 2020 by habib e najjaar

[habib e najjaar]

THIS was a project we had started with another ShiaChat member. Unfortunately it seems we both abandoned it. I don’t even remember the access passwords to the blog anymore :-/

[mesbah]

1 hour ago, habib e najjaar said:

THIS was a project we had started with another ShiaChat member. Unfortunately it seems we both abandoned it. I don’t even remember the access passwords to the blog anymore :-/

that's sad. hope you restart it once again.
but so far very good and informative, thanks.
I also am searching for Islamic book clubs online, whereby I can find practical reading lists and real feedback from people on each book (like the above ones) I don't know why al-Islam.org does not have readers' community where you can find discussions about each book
hal min nasir!


 

[habib e najjaar]

12 minutes ago, mesbah said:

that's sad. hope you restart it once again.
but so far very good and informative, thanks.
I also am searching for Islamic book clubs online, whereby I can find practical reading lists and real feedback from people on each book (like the above ones) I don't know why al-Islam.org does not have readers' community where you can find discussions about each book
hal min nasir!


 

It would be a good idea to set up an online reader's community. I think telegram would be a good platform since it is accessible on both phone and laptop, and members joining later can still view the previous discussions that happened. Shiachatters have had book clubs in the past but I don't think any lasted particularly long.

[mesbah]

12 minutes ago, habib e najjaar said:

It would be a good idea to set up an online reader's community. I think telegram would be a good platform since it is accessible on both phone and laptop, and members joining later can still view the previous discussions that happened. Shiachatters have had book clubs in the past but I don't think any lasted particularly long.

even dead and deserted book clubs are useful for me, since I mostly want to read people's reading choices and the real feedback on each book.

[habib e najjaar]

2 minutes ago, mesbah said:

even dead and deserted book clubs are useful for me, since I mostly want to read people's reading choices and the real feedback on each book.

You can look up old, abandoned deserted book clubs. Don't mind the dust. 

The Elixir of Love

 

[habib e najjaar]

A collection of rare Shia e books and articles

[habib e najjaar]

Excerpts from Combat with the Self by Ayatullah Hurr al Amili  This is definitely a must read book. I personally prefer to read such books in hard copy and am not a fan of reading e books unless I am forced to. It is said that Ayatullah Bahjat advised youth to read and practise one hadith from this book daily for their spiritual upliftment and guidance. In all honesty, if one has succeeded in the jihad al nafs, every other success will pale in comparison. And if one fails in this, any other success is irrelevant.

I have not shared a link to the book as I have not yet come across an e-copy of the book. If anyone has one, please share. It is available on amazon and other online book stores.

Edited March 4, 2020 by habib e najjaar

[peace4alltheworld]

I would recommend everything you can find by Ayatullah Nasir Makrem Shirazi.

All his works are superb.Here is a link to his book on ethics.It has 3 volumes.

https://www.al-Islam.org/ethical-discourses-volume-1-naser-makarem-shirazi

[peace4alltheworld]

I am all for a book club.If it comes to something let me know.We can start with 40 hadiths by Imam Khomeini.