So, I spent yet another weekend rearranging my books for the umpteenth time, during the London lockdown*. Looking through my collection prompted me to think about which other Islamic books I need in my home. I’m steadily building a small collection of books written by Muslim Women where I often find myself in their words or am enlightened about the myriad of experiences we all have in this world.

There are a plethora of books about Islam alhamdulillah; from books featuring models of Muslim living, history recalled, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, women in Islam, the companions and books that every Muslim soul just needs during times of ease and hardship. There are also books on the seerah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and a range of reference books that are good to have in the home so we can use them to research and verify Islamic information we may come across about prophets, fiqh, history and so forth. I took my question to social media and asked:

“What books should every Muslim have in their home?”

As Ramadan approaches we know that seeking beneficial knowledge is important and spending our time well is crucial so a book refresh can contribute to us reaching for that which is beneficial Insha Allah. I also cannot disclose the number of books bought whilst compiling this list but alas another re-arranging will be due one weekend.

I share this list with a disclaimer that like many book collectors I have not read or even laid my eyes upon some of these titles and the sequence is nothing but a reflection of me reading through the answers that were shared.

(*We are in the year 2021, month of April and London is in continued lockdown for any historians who stumble across this, FYI)

Bismillah.

1. Who is Allah? His name and attributes and their significance to the Individual By Umm Abdurrahman Sakina HirsehFelder, recommendation from Nepa Jamillah Uddin
2. Secrets Within the Order of the Qur’an, by Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti
3. Book Volumes: Sahih Muslim Hadith collections, recommendation from Zeba Ahmed
4. Humanity Before Religiosity, by by Habib Ali al-Jifri (Author), Amin Buxton (Contributor), recommendation from Rajeh
5. Book Volumes: Bukhari Hadith collections, recommendation from Zeba Ahmed
6. Islam: Beliefs and Teachings, by Ghulam Sarwar, recommendation from Adama Juldeh Muna
7. In the early hours, By Khurram Murad, recommendation from Jamila Kossar
8. Ma’arif e mathnawi, by Maulana Hakeem Akhtar Sahib, recommendation from Faatima
9. Al-Muhaddithat: The women scholars in Islam, by Mohammad Akram Nadwi, recommendation from Selina B
10. Angels in your presence, by Omar Suleiman, recommended
11. The Sultan set featuring Ali (RA) Abu Bakr’ (RA), Ummar (RA) and Uthman (RA) by Dr Ali Muhammad as Sallabi, recommendation from Jamila Kossar
12. Surah Al Khaf, by Yasir Qadi, recommended
13. Ibn Hazm On The Lawfulness Of Women Attending Prayers In The Mosque, by Ibn Hazm Al-Andalusi (Author), Translated & Annotated By Mohammad Akram Nadwi, recommendation from Munadiah
14. Inner dimensions of Islamic worship, by Imam Al Ghazali
15. The fortress of a Muslim, Compiled by Sa’id bin Wahf Al-Qahtani, recommendation from Khadijah Khatun (“multiple copies around the home or for each family member”) 
16. The Intelligent Heart, the Pure Heart: An Insight into the Heart Based on the Qur’an, Sunnah and Modern Science By Gohar Mushtaq
17. Description of the Prophets prayer, by Imam Muhammad Nasir Al-Din al-Albani, recommended
18. The Power of Dua, by Yasir Qadhi, recommendation from Anousha Vakani
19. Patience and Gratitude, By Muhammad Ibn Abi Baku Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyah, recommendation from Nepa Jamillah Uddin
20. The Road to Makkah, by Asad Muhammad, recommendation by Abidah
21. Some Selected Supplications From The Quran By Darussalam, recommendation from Nepa Jamillah Uddin
22. The Beginner’s Book of Salah, Muslim Educational trust, recommended
23. Towards Sacred Activism, by Dawud Walid, recommendation from Munadiah
24. The Qasidah Burdah, by by Imam Sharaf ad-Din al-Busiri and Aziza Spiker, recommendation from Shereen Aziz-Williams
25. Reclaim your heart, by Yasmin Mogahed, recommendation from Munadiah
26. Muhammad, Messenger of Allah; Ash-Shifa of Qadi’Iyad, by Qadi Iyad (Author), A. Bewley (Translator), recommendation from Shereen Aziz-Williams
27. Centering Black Narrative: Ahl al-Bayt, Blackness & Africa, by by Mr Ahmad Mubarak and Mr Dawud Walid, recommendation by Selina B 
28. Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases go the Heart, by Hamza Yusuf, recommendation from Nazira Bibi
29. The Forbidden Prophecies, by Abu Zakaria, recommendation from Jimmy
30. Sea without shore: A manual of the Sufi Path, by Nuh Ha Mim Keller, recommendation from Nazira Bibi
31. With the Heart in Mind, by Mikaeel Ahmed Smith, recommendation from Mahnoor
32. The vision of Islam, by Sachiko Murata and William Chittick, recommendation from Nazira Bibi
33. The Initiatory Way to Peace, The Awakening of Consciousness, Liberation Therapy,  all by Sheikh Aly N’Daw, recommendation from Sabah Ismail
34. The lives of man, by Abdallah Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad (author) M. Al-Badawi (translator) , recommendation from Zeinab J. Sulemani
35. The Spirit of Good Morals, by Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (Author), Shaykh Hassan Cisse (Commentary), recommendation from Rakin Niasse
36. Riyad-us-saliheen, by Imam Al-Nawawi, recommendation from Mustafa Briggs
37. Al-Adab Al-Mufrad: A Code for Everyday Living, The Example of the Early Muslims, by Muhammad Ibn Ismail Bukhari, recommendation from Mustafa Briggs
38. The Book of Wisdoms: Kitab Al-Hikam, a Collection of Sufi Aphorisms, by Ibn Ata’illah al-Iskandari and Shaykh ‘Abdullah Gangohi, recommendation from Mustafa Briggs
39. We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir, Samra Habib, recommendation from Amina Aden
40. Dala’il Al-Khayrat, by Imam Muhammad Ibn Sulayman Al-Jazuli(Author), Ali Elsayed (Compiler), recommendation from Abida Suleman Khan
41. Shamaa’il Tirmidhi, by Imam Tirmidhi & Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Khandalwi, recommendation from Mustafa Briggs
42. The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary, by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Caner K Dagli, et al., recommendation from Ali Rehmatullah
43. The Book of Assistance, by by Abdallah Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad and M. Al-Badawi, recommendation from Zeinab J. Sulemani
44. The Beginning of Guidance: The Imam and proof of Islam, by Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, recommendation from Zeinab J. Sulemani
45. Ascent to Felicity (Maraqi ‘l-Sa’adat), by by Abu ‘l-Ikhlas al-Shurunbulali (Author), Faraz A. Khan, recommendation from Ali Rehamatullah
46. The Rights Of Parents : Al-Zafar Bi’l-Murad Fi’l-Birr Bi’l-Aba Wa’l-Ajdad, recommendation from Ali Rehamatullah
47. Handbooks of a Healthy Muslim Marriage, by Abdur Rahman Ibn Yusuf Mangera, recommendation from Ali Rehamatullah
48. Lost Islamic History: Reclaiming Muslim Civilisation from the Past, by by Firas Alkhateeb, recommendation from Ali Rehamatullah
49. A History of Islamic Societies,by Ira M. Lapidus , recommendation from Ali Rehamatullah
50. Kitab At Tauhid (The Book Of Monotheism), by Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, recommendation from  Maria Dee
51. Milestones : Ma’alim Fi’l Tariq, by Sayyid Qutb (Author), Editor : A B Al-Mehri, recommendation from Mohammed Owais
52. A Portrait of the Prophet: As Seen by His Contemporaries ASH-Shama’Il Al-Muhammadiyya, by Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Isa at-Tirmidhi, recommendation from Safura Houghton
53. The Quranic Phenomenon, by Malik Bennabi (Author), Mohammed El Tahir Mesawi, recommendation Razzan Safour
54. Autobiography of Malcolm X, by X Malcolm, recommended
55. Educating Children (Riyāḍatul Ṣibyān) : Classical Advice for Modern Times, by by Abdul Aziz Ahmed  & Imām Muhammad bin Ahmed al-Ramlī, recommendation from Safura Houghton
56. Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam, by A. Helwa, recommendation from Huda Thakur
57. Agenda to Change our Condition, by Hamza Yusuf (Author), Zaid Shakir, by Selina B
58. What Islam Is All About by Yahiya Emerick, recommendation from Umm Eesa Dawood Hafsah
59. Qur’an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman’s Perspective, by Amina Wadud, recommendation from Amina Tharani
60. The Sealed Nectar, by Saifiur Rahman Al Mubarakpuri, recommendation from Shabnam Makee
61. Major Themes of the Qur’an: Second Edition, by Fazlur Rahman, recommendation from Amina Tharani
62. A Scent of Sandalwood: Indo-Ismaili Religious Lyrics, Aziz Esmail, recommendation from Amina Tharani
63. Men & Women Around The Messenger, by Sa’d Yusuf Abu Aziz and Suleman Fulani, recommendation from Shabnam Makee
64. Islam and the Destiny of Man, by Gai Eaton, recommended
65. Enjoy your life, Dr. Muhammad Adb Al-Rahman Al-Arifi, recommended
66. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources, by Martin Lings, recommendation from  Aminah Jayne O’Rourke
67. Motivational Moments by Mufti Menk, recommendation from Aleesha Khaliq
68. A Taste of Honey: Sexuality and Erotology in Islam by Habeeb Akande, recommendation from Aminah Jayne O’Rourke
69. Joy Jots: Exercises for a Happy Heart by Tamara Gray, recommendation from Aminah Jayne O’Rourke
70. Being Muslim: A Practical Guide, by Dr. Asad Tarsin, recommendation from Aminah Jayne O’Rourke
71. Al-Ghazali’s Marvels of the Heart, by Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al- Ghazali and Iman Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, recommendation from Aminah Jayne O’Rourke
72. In the Shade of the Tree: A Photographic Odyssey Through the Muslim World, by Peter Sanders, recommendation from Umar Ali
73. The Accepted Whispers, by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi and Khalid Baig, recommendation from Suad Kamardeen
74. Life of the Sahaabah (RA): True companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by Sheikhul Hadeeth Hadhrat Moulana Muhamma, recommendation from Ebrahim Kadwa
75. Fazail-e-Amaal by Muhammad Zakariyyah (RA) and Nazm Sabd Zakariyya, recommendation from Ebrahim Kadwa
76. Purification of the Soul, by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, recommendation from Che Nadaquever
77. Illuminating the darkness, by Habeeb Akande, recommendation from Che Nadaquever
78. When the moon Spilt, by Safi al-Rahman Mubarakfuri, recommendation from Che Nadaquever
79. If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran, by Carla Power, recommendation from Majida
80. Muhammad (s): 11 Leadership Qualities that Changed the World, by Nabeel Al-Azami, recommendation from Majida
81. The Walking Qur’an: Islamic Education, Embodied Knowledge, and History in West Africa, by Rudolph T. Ware III
82. Show up, by N’aima B Robert, recommendation from Lalla Cissé
83. Believing Women in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur’an, by Asma Barlas
84. Don’t be sad, by Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni, recommendation from Samiirah Shykiss
85. Allah loves, by Omar Suleiman, recommendation from Safa Malik
86. Tafseer As-Sadi 10 Volumes, by Abdur Rahman Nasir As-Sadi, recommendation from Safa Malik
87. The 40 Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi, various available, recommendation from Safa Malik
88. Medicine of the Prophet, by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah, recommendation from Safa Malik
89. Stories of the Prophets, by Ibn katheer, recommendation from Safa Malik
90. The Sacred Months – Prayer and worship for the special months, by Rizwana Sayed, recommendation from Hanna Khawaja
91. The Four Traits of a Cherished Muslimah by Safa Malik, recommendation from Safa Malik
92. Green Deen: What Islam Teaches about Protecting the Planet, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin
93. Path To The Garden: Foundational Knowledge for Believing Women and Men by Shaykha Ruqayya Niasse
94. Islam and the Destiny of Man by Gai Eaton Recommended
95. A Virtue of Disobedience by Asim Qureshi Recommended
96. Enemy Combatant by Moazzam BeggRecommended

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