bint al noor

Aslamo Alykom.

A couple of friends and I wanted to start reading a book together as part of a book club to increase our knowledge about Islam. However, we don't know what book to start with or read. I've heared it is better to start with Aaqidah, but I'm not sure if that would be wise to learn on our own with out an instructor. I know that the best way to learn is under a teacher, but since we don't have access to that we have to just do with what we have, namely books and ourselves.

I'm posing this question for the Shyukh to see what their recommendations are. We want to start a book that we can finish so that we feel we have reached something. Also, a book that would be understandable and not dry (as dry books usually need a class to go along with it ).

Anyhow, I would highly appreciate it if I can get a professional opinion.

We Jzakom Allah Khair.

Aslamo Alykom.

Salik_Zahid_Hurairah

Well I'm no professional but I would recommend: Interpretation of Kitab At-Tauhid - (the destination of the seeker of truth). you can get it at darussalam dot org. I found it much more beneficial then just the regular kitab at-tauhid book. also if you search Aqeedah at-tawheed in google video there is a sheikh going over the book.

bint al noor

Thanks for your suggestion. I actually tried reading kitab al tawheed before and it was a bit dry.
A friend of mine recommended this book:

The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi

What do you think?

Salik_Zahid_Hurairah

salaam alaikum

just doing a quick search it looks like it was translated by Hamza Yusuf one of the best known sufis in america. So I would say stay away from it inshallah.

You could try Ibn Qayyim: Provision for the Hearafter. Ibn Qayyim's writting style flows.

You could also try to get the last volume of Tafsir Ibn Kathir (if not all the volumes) and start reading through the last 30th of the tafsir of the quran.

I agree that the kitab at tawhid book was a little boring or probably more hard to understand when I first tried but I think the explanation of it makes it a lot more readable and 100% more beneficial plus it's the basis for our deen.

tawheed79

Way laykum salam,
Alhamdullilah, I say this respectfully,
-let us not start automatically discounting people based on superficial knowledge...From whatever source, let us take what benefits us and leave what does not...No one is infallibe in delivering the message of salvation, therefore Islam, except for the Rasool (saws)...

-for people who have took the "the Code evolved", "the purification act" or Code of scholars" seminars, will acknowledge with no doubt, that there is great diversity in Islamic Law...

-Almaghrib insititute according to its teaching philosophy found in the curriculum section states:
"Regarding its methodology of fiqh, AlMaghrib Institute wishes to promote respect of all of the classical madhabs of Islam (primarily the Hanafis, Shafi’ees, Malikis, and Hanbalis)..."

-The muslim (Hamza Yusuf) who is the author of the book, "The Creed of Imam Tahawi", who was named in the previous post, does follow the classical madhab of
Imam Malik (ra). The issue of respect and the rights owed to him as a muslim becomes paramount. Of course, this does not mean that we do not think and analyze, fairly criticize, debate and just blindly follow, but rather we adhere to the etiquettes of disagreement, which Shaykh Yasir Birjas teaches...

-The message that Shaykh Yasir Qadhi wrote
entitled, "Pledge of Mutual Respect and Cooperation", which can be found on
[mod edit: link removed]
is highly relevant to this post...Please read it.

-We all need to mature, and increase our knowledge and our manners, first and foremost myself...I hope I did not offend anyone...Jazak Allah for your concern for the Ummah...
May Allah (Swt) help us all. Salam

Slaveofthe1

It really depends on what level you want to take your knowledge.

Slaveofthe1

Hands down the first books that should be read are:

Fundamentals of Tawheed by Bilal Philips
Critical Study of Shirk by Yasir Qadhi

These were the books Shaykh Yasir recommended in Light of Guidance for readings in Aqeeda and specifically Tawheed.

TawhidFirst

The Fundamentals of Tawheed is a really fluid / easy reed, I think you will really benefit from it, you can download it from Islamhouse, I hope legally. But to avoid the legal issue, inshallah you can find it really cheap at one of your local stores.

There is also Shaykh Yasir Qadhi's lecture series Two Shahadas is really good. It's very short and summarises a lot in very little time, in an interesting and authentic manner without philosophical underlinings. Youtube has it.

Personally, I am using the lecture series (Two Shahadas) in an online course that is 1 hour / day for 30 days covering almost all you need to know for intorductory knowledge. You can visit the course site at islamilm dot wordpress dot com and you can email islamilm at gmail dot com the answer to the quizzes on the site which makes it interactive inshallah

__________________

سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ الْعَظِيم

Sahih Bukhari reports that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

((There are) two statements that are light on the tongue, but heavy on the Balance, and most beloved to Ar-Rahman: "Glory be to Allah and with His praise, glory be to Allah the Magnificent.''

bint al noor

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Thanks tawheed79 for your comments except that I would not want to go to a questionable source for my Aaqidah, and hence wouldn't use that translation.