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Assalam Alaikum, I wrote you a few days earlier, I guess my question is still in the queue. I forgot to ask you that if I have a very basic knowledge of Islam and am intrested in learning about it and how to relate my life to it, where should I begin? Can you recommend any books, in English that will be available in the U.S. I will deeply appreciate any guidance and recommendation. Thank you.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum,


I wrote you a few days earlier, I guess my question is still in the queue. I forgot to ask you that if I have a very basic knowledge of Islam and am intrested in learning about it and how to relate my life to it, where should I begin? Can you recommend any books, in English that will be available in the U.S. I will deeply appreciate any guidance and recommendation. Thank you.

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Books on Basic Islam

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Dear and Beloved Sister, although there are millions and millions of books written on Islam, but the absolute truth of the matter is that if any book is any good, then its source has to be none other than the Book of Divine Guidance revealed by the Lord All-Mighty Himself: The One and Only, Glorious Quran.

 

Thus in our humble opinion, if one wishes to learn about Islam, regardless of how basic or how advanced one’s level of knowledge in Islam is, there is no better book when seeking guidance than the Book revealed by Allah Subhanah Himself for the guidance of all mankind.

 

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a Perfect Guidance for mankind and consists of clear Teachings which show the Right Way, and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood.

 

We highly recommend that you start with the complete reading of the translation of the Holy Quran from its inception its first chapter Surah Fatehah to its end Surah Al-Naas, if you sincerely wish to understand the fundamentals of Islam. Because the deen of Islam is a complete and perfect code of life, if you start with any other man-written book on Islam, it might only give you an understanding on a particular aspect of Islam leaving a lot of questions unanswered on the other aspects of the deen; but if you start with the understanding of the Glorious Quran, you will get a complete and detailed overview on this beautiful way of life called Al-Islam. After you have read the Glorious Quran with understanding, even if only once, and you wish to expand your knowledge on any particular aspect of its guidance, there are several good works by various scholars over the ages who have strived to share their knowledge and understanding of the various subjects.

 

In our humble opinion, if Arabic is not your first language, then it would be best if you could read the translation of the Glorious Quran in a language you understand best. There are several good translations available in the English language and can be procured from any good Islamic bookstore or through the internet. Amongst the best and most accepted and widely available translation in the English language is the translation done by Brother Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Another translation we highly recommend reading is the ‘Meaning of the Quran’ by a brother called Syed Abul Aala

Maududi, who instead of giving a word to word poetic translation of the Majestic and Supreme text of the Glorious Quran has simplified the translation in simple and normal English prose, which makes it extremely easy for the first time reader to understand the Quran in its entirety.

 

If you have any difficulty whatsoever in procuring a translation of the Glorious Quran, you could send us your mailing address and it would be our honor to mail you a copy of this Glorious Book of Guidance.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother and sincere well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 


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