The world of books is unique and it literally transports the readers to a time of joy, happiness, and excitement, and gives people a cause to smile, laugh or even shed a few tears. That’s the wonder of books! Through their words alone they can take the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions.
There are many types of books. Some serve for delight, others for knowledge. Some are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some are to be read only in parts; others to be read, cursorily; and some few to be read fully, with diligence, and attention.
With all this, the question is which book is useful for Muslims? What book is there that will benefit a Muslim not only in this world but also in the hereafter? There are a number of Islamic books that are present in the market but which one should you pick to read first?
There is an important aspect to remember! A useful book is that which the author has written for Allah’s sake, and not for money, position, and prestige, or to please others.
Imam Ibn Abd al-Barr رحمه الله said:
Imam Malik رحمه الله intended to compile his most famous book, “The Muwatta”, so he compiled it, so whoever was in Medina that day worked in “Muwattaat”, and he was told: You busy yourself with the work of this book while people have partnered with you on the same work, and Imam Malik knew those “Muwattaat”. so he said: Bring what they have compiled in their “Muwattaat”. So those books were brought to him and he looked in them, then discarded them and said: You will soon know that except for the book (Islamic book) which has been written for the pleasure of Allah, all the others will not be able to gain popularity.
He (Ibn Abd al-Barr) said:
It is as if those books were thrown in the wells, None of those books were used.
A useful Islamic book is one that its reader benefits from. Imam al-Bayhaqi, Imam al-Nawawi, Imam al-Subki, and al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar reported the saying of Imam al-Muzani رحمهم الله about the book “Al-Risalah” (الرسالة) of Imam al-Shafi’i: “I have been looking at “Al-Risalah” for fifty years. I don’t know that I looked at it once, except while I was benefiting from something I did not know.”
The best Islamic book is that which shows, clarifies, and demonstrates “the Truth” (what is related to the Quran and Sahih Sunnah is called “the truth”). The best examples of this are the books of the great scholar of al-Maqol and al-Manqool, Sheikh ul Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله. Sheikh Abdullah al-Saad said: He is one of the Mujahideen who worked for the victory of Islam with his hand, tongue, and pen. His books are many, and most of them are in the explanation of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and his way and the way of the Righteous Ancestors.
Useful Islamic books are found in the books of the late Imams and Scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama`, so care should be taken to acquire them, read them, and benefit from the abundant knowledge they contain.
Darussalam is one of the best and top publishers of Islamic books in the world. The authenticity of our publications is widely admitted in the Muslim world. Our books are also available in the main library of the Masjid of the Rasool ﷺ in Saudi Arabia. The content provided in the books by Darussalam is aligned with the teachings of Islam. Its major work is on the publishing of the Holy Quran in different languages on a very large scale on quality papers and with beautiful covers.
Here we will list the 10 best Islamic books by Darussalam that each person should read at least once in their life. The books range from a number of different categories and cover multiple topics.
01). Tafseer Ahsan-ul-Bayan (تفسير أحسن البيان)
Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf رحمه الله, a well-known Quran Interpreter of Pakistan, had written interpretation footnotes on the Salaf’s method and style in Urdu language and Darussalam published this interpretation with the title Tafseer Ahsanul-Bayan which is so appropriate in terms of the art of interpretation that King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran has printed it and distributed it all over the world in different languages for free. This tafsir is available in many languages including English and is printed in different sizes including a pocket size.
This Urdu Tafseer is one of the best Islamic books and is free from all slips of thought and belief. This interpretation is derived from both the method of Tafseer, al-Mathoor (interpretation from the direct sources; Quran and Sunnah) and al-Rai (the correct interpretation through the method of elicitation) and clarifies the meaning of the Quran in a very comprehensive way.
The translation of this Quran is by Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi and the interpretation is by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf رحمهما الله and contains 1472 pages. The content provided in this tafsir is elicited from the direct sources; the Quran and Sunnah and then the indirect sources; the sayings of Sahaba and Tabi’een. The citations of the Arabic dictionaries help provide additional explanations for the verses.
02). Riyad-Us-Saliheen (رياض الصالحين)
What is the Islamic system of society, the rights of Allah, and the rights of people on the basis of which a human society looks like paradise? To know this subject, the greatest benefactor of this ummah, Imam Nawawi رحمه الله wrote an Islamic book entitled رياض الصالحين which covers all the topics regarding the various issues, etiquettes, and more.
Darussalam has published this Islamic book in Urdu, English, and other languages, and has been marked as a bestselling book!
The author of this book is a very renowned Syrian Imam Yahya bin Sharf, an-Nawawi رحمه الله who was born in 631 AH and died in 676 AH. He is known as one of the best imams of the 7th century of hijra (7th AH).
He was the pupil of many great scholars such as Ishaaq ibn Ahmad al Maghrabi Al-Maqsadsi, Abdurrahman al-Anbari, and Abdul Aziz al-Ansari. He is the best interpreter of the famous hadith book Sahih Muslim.
Riyad us Saliheen is a great collection of subject-wise commentary from the Quran and Sunnah which comprises about 2000 Ahadith in 372 chapters and 19 sections. This book is the best option for madaris, schools, colleges, and Universities from an Islamic educational point of view.
It includes a brief explanation of every Hadith mentioned in this book with full references and the status of hadith as Sahih and Daeef. A book that will make you free from many other books on the same topic.
This Islamic book is the best collection of Islamic etiquettes, the Rights of Allah, and the Rights of People. The author has tried to mention only authentic ahadith regarding the title of chapters, if there are some hadith that is not proven through the authentic chain of transmission, Darussalam comments on that hadith and highlights the status of that hadith. There is also a brief commentary and glossary of every hadith as well.
03). Minhaj ul Muslim (منهاج المسلم)
The leading Imams have written many Islamic books related to the complete code of a Muslim’s life which are also very popular but in this day and age, a common man may not be able to fully understand them.
The people need conciseness and a definite solution to every problem so that they can act upon the Quran and the Sunnah. Of course, it is the duty of the people to seek evidence and to be satisfied with other scholars.
This great offer of Darussalam under the name of Minhaj-ul-Muslim is a wonderful gift for every Muslim, compiled by the eminent religious Saudi scholar, Sheikh Abu Bakr Jaber Al-Jazairi.
He has brought to the notice of the people in one volume all the necessary rules and regulations of Islam. We can say that this Islamic book is a comprehensive collection of teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah related to all walks of life.
04). Namaz e Nabvi (نماز نبوی)
Are you sure you are offering salah according to the Sunnah and are not making any mistakes in it? Many people are unfamiliar with their mistakes and are unaware of the Prophet’s (PBUH) method of Prayer. Since prayer is obligatory for every Muslim, it is also obligatory for every Muslim to learn its method.
Dr. Shafiqu ur Rehman, a prominent religious scholar of Pakistan, has written this Islamic book entitled Namaz e Nabvi to the benefit of the Ummah. Within this book, he has covered the correct process of ablution and salah in the light of the sunnah.
The warnings about the Sahi and the Dhaif Hadith are also highlighted by Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai رحمه الله. This Islamic book in English is sold under the name “Prayers according to the Sunnah”.
This is the latest edition with many additions which have made it more comprehensive in its material. All the issues regarding Salah have been solved in detail with references to the Quran and Sunnah.
This book is so comprehensive and authoritative on its subject that it has been introduced on the “Abb Takk” news channel in Pakistan with reference to a standard, authentic, comprehensive, and non-sectarian book on the topic of Prayer.
05). Tib-e-Nabvi (طب نبوی)
Health is a great blessing of Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) himself used the medicine as needed and from time to time he also told his Companions about the spiritual and medical treatment of various ailments. Today his treatments have been included in various medical books.
There was a need to combine the two treatments into a single Islamic medicine book so that everyone could have access to all kinds of simple treatments. This work Tib-e-Nabvi was compiled by Imam Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله in the eighth century AH with the Arabic title “الطب النبوي”.
The book was initially in Arabic and was later published in several other languages. Darussalam has published this book in Urdu as well as in English.
The author of this Islamic book, Imam Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله, was born in 691 AH and died in 751 AH. He was an important medieval Islamic jurisconsult, theologian, and spiritual writer. He was the famous pupil of Shiekh ul Islam Imam Ibn Taimiyyah and the teacher of Imam Ibn Rajab and Imam Ibn Kathir رحمهم الله.
This Prophetic medicine book is a collection of healing manuscripts narrated by the Holy Prophet (PBUH). It explains in detail the root causes of various diseases, prevention of reproductive diseases, diet, precautions, and simple methods of healing. At the same time, the spiritual methods of maintaining physical fitness have been fully explained with references of the Quran and Sunnah.
06). The Sealed Nectar (الرحيق المختوم)
Scholars of Ahadith (narrations) and writers of the biography of Muhammad (PBUH), the Messenger of Allah, have explored his life from every angle and aspect from birth to death.
Every event and incident of his life has been described and narrated in detail, but no one can claim to have rendered the Prophet’s (PBUH) biography its full right. Hundreds of Islamic books have been written on Prophet Muhammad’s life (PBUH) and this endeavor will continue till the Day of Resurrection.
No doubt, ‘The Sealed Nectar’ (الرحيق المختوم) is a book of great value and praiseworthy work on the life of Muhammad (PBUH). This Islamic book was written by the Eminent Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri of Jamiah Salafiyah, Banaras (India).
The first Islamic Conference on the Seerah (biography of the Prophet (PBUH) was held in 1976 in Pakistan and sponsored by the Muslim World League. The League announced a worldwide contest for writing a book on the life of the Prophet (PBUH).
One hundred and fifty thousand Saudi Riyals (SR 150,000) (forty thousand U.S. Dollars) was announced as the grand prize for the best five books and The Sealed Nectar was awarded the first prize.
The Sealed Nectar is a gem of a book. Darussalam also published this book in the Arabic and English language for the benefit of the Muslim Ummah. This a must-read for all Muslims looking to learn more about early Islam and Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) life.
07). Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women
Islam is a universal religion whose teachings are applicable to both men and women. Islam is the only religion that has addressed women by giving them their due rights, guidance, and solutions to their problems.
The book Islamic Fatwa Regarding Women contains the basic Islamic teachings and fatwas regarding women compiled by Muhammad Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Musnad.
In Saudi Arabia, women have got the facility to put their questions regarding different kinds of problems faced by them in their day-to-day life, to the eminent scholars herein who are amongst the best scholars in the world.
There are many Fatawa books (responses to their questions) compiled for women in this regard and such Fatawa are an authentic and easily accessible source of knowledge.
The Islamic book Islamic Fatwa Regarding Women compiled by Muhammad Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Musnad is a marvelous piece of work in this regard. The compiler has done a good job of gathering the most important and frequently asked questions by Muslim sisters.
The responses are given by some of the top scholars in the Muslim world, namely, Shaikh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz, Shaikh Muhammad ibn Uthaimin and Shaikh Abdullah ibn Jibrin رحمهم الله. Some of the questions were responded to by the “Standing Committee” made up of eminent scholars similar to those just mentioned.
08). Zindagi Se Lutf Uthaye (زندگي سے لطف اٹهائیے)
Dale Carnegie an American writer and lecturer, and the developer of courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills wrote a book, The Art of “Art of Public Speaking”, in which his style was the first state principle and then, under one, to illustrate the events of his nation’s prominent men. ۔ How did his book benefit him? All he could do was commit suicide. It was only because he wrote this book in an attempt to make worldly happiness and a life of ease a success.
Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman Al-Arifi, a prominent Saudi cleric, thought of compiling the biographies of the Companions of the Holy Prophet and the stories of prominent people of the Ummah in a similar way, which were far superior to the biographies of non-Muslims.
So he completed this Islamic book in a period of twenty years and the result is that more than two million copies of this Islamic book have been published and dedicated to the public.
Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman Al-Arifi is the author of more than twenty books and every book has been published many times with millions of copies. His language deals with common people directly.
So, everyone who has become bored with his life must read this book. He will find many solutions to everyday issues and worries.
09). Hisnul-Muslim (حصن المسلم)
Islam is the best protector of its followers. To protect honor, he forbade adultery. Prohibited alcohol to protect the intellect. He called the murder a great crime to save one’s life.
To protect the property, it was commanded to cut off the thief’s hand. In the same way, prayers (supplications) have been taught to protect oneself from poisonous things, natural calamities, sudden death, scarcity of sustenance, the calamity of wealth, etc., and to draw man towards the remembrance of Allah.
It is a fact that prayer is the weapon of the believer. This is a stronghold of the believer. There are countless examples throughout Islamic history that as prayer showed its effectiveness, history took a new turn. New eras and new mornings and evenings were born.
A Muslim who does not make supplication his way is in fact a stingy person. The Holy Quran and authentic hadiths are great sources in which there is a very comprehensive and melodious supplication of our needs.
Gathering all these supplications in one place is a great service to this Ummah. Darussalam was helped by Allah to prepare an encyclopedia of the best prayers in the name of Hisnul Muslims and tried to collect only these authentic prayers.
This Islamic book was further enhanced by additions. Now it includes prayers, fasting, Hajj, Umrah, as well as morning and evening dhikr, funeral prayers, solution of magic and jinn, and all the prayers related to daily life.
10). End of the World
In recent times things have become very confusing and we have begun to see in bookstores and on websites speculation about future events, based on verses and Hadiths which refer to future events having to do with the signs of the Hour. Every time a calamity befalls Islam and Muslims, people begin to look for a way out from them.
Sometimes you hear about the appearance of the Mahdi, sometimes you hear that the time for the final major battle against the Jews and Christians is close at hand, other times you hear about landslides in the East or in the West, and so forth.
It is essential, in fact necessary, to explain the signs of the Hour, speak about their true meaning, and understand them [in that light]; because we believe in the Hereafter, we should prepare for this day and save ourselves and our families from the tribulations that will take place near the Day of Resurrection.
This Islamic book contains the rules and regulations about the understanding of the signs of the hour, eradicates misconceptions about them, and reveals to readers the explanation of more than 135 signs of the Hour in regard to the last word.
This book includes references from the Quran, the Sunnah, dictionaries, history books, and the sayings of the Salaf. It further explains the signs of the Hour through the help of maps and pictures related to the specific topic.
The author of this Islamic book is Dr. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-‘Areefi, Professor of ‘Aqeedah (beliefs) and Contemporary Math-habs and Religions at King Sa‘ood University, Riyadh, and Member of the Senior Council for Islamic Media. He was taught by Shiekh bin Baz, Sheikh Abdullah bin Jibreen and Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh Al-Uthaimain رحمهم اللهHe is famous for his sermons.
Also, Read
- An Inspiration to the World: Understanding the Essence of Seerah
- The Health Benefits of Fasting: A Scientific Look at Ramadan
- Top 3 Benefits of Learning the Quran
- Ramadan Calendar 2023
- How Many Prophets in Islam?
- How to Pray In Islam?
