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Dealing With The Books Of Knowledge
Author: Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen
Source: Fataawa ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, Kitaab al-Ilm, p. 87-91

How should he deal with the book?

Dealing with the book involves several things:

1. Knowing the subject of the book – so that he can benefit from it, because he needs to specialize. It may be a book of sihr (witchcraft) or trickery or falsehood. So he has to know the subject of the book so that he can benefit from it.
2. He has to know its terminology. Because knowing the terminology means that you will save a lot of time. This is what the scholars do in the introduction to their books, for example we know that when the author of Buloogh al Maraam says “agreed upon”, he means that the hadeeth was narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim, whereas the author of al-Muntaqaa uses this phrase in a different manner – when he says “agreed upon”, he means that the hadeeth was narrated by Imaam Ahmad, al-Bukhaari and Muslim.

Similarly in books of fiqh, the scholars use the words qawlayn, wajhayn, riwaayatayn and ihtimaalayn differently. Riwaayatayn (two reports) means two reports from the imaam; wajhayn (two views) means two views among the companions, i.e., the companions of the leaders of the madhhab; ihtimaalayn (two possibilities) is used in cases of uncertainty as to which of the two views is correct; and qawlayn (two opinions) is more general in meaning than that.

Similarly, we also need to know what an author means if he says ijmaa’ (consensus) or wifaaq (agreement). If he says ijmaa’, he means consensus among the ummah, and if he says wifaaq he means agreement with the three imams, as is the usage of the author of al-Furoo concerning Hanbali fiqh. Similarly the followers of each madhhab all have their own terminology, so it is essential to know the terminology of the author.

1. Knowing the style and phrases used in the book. Hence you will find that when you read a book for the first time, especially the academic books which are filled with knowledge, you will come across a phrase whose meaning you will have to ponder over, because you are not familiar with it. But if you read the book again you will become familiar with it.

There is also something which needs to be added to the book, which is writing comments in the margins and at the foot of the pages. This is something which the seeker of knowledge needs to make the most of. If he comes across something which needs further explanation or evidence, and he is afraid that he may forget it, then he should make a note either in the margin or at the foot of the page. Often a person misses out on such benefits because he does not make notes which take no more than a minute or two to do. Then when he comes back he may or may not remember it.

The seeker of knowledge has to pay attention to that, especially in books of fiqh. In some books you may come across a matter and its rulings which causes you to be confused and have doubts. If you refer to books which are more comprehensive than the book you are reading and you find something which explains the matter, then you should make a note of it so that you can refer to it again if you need to, without having to refer to the original book from which you have quoted it. This will save you time.

Reading books is of two types

1. Reading in depth to ponder and understand. This necessarily takes time.
2. A quick reading to get an idea of the subject of the book, the topics covered and the content of the book. This is done by thumbing through the book and skimming it. This does not involve the same level of thinking as the first method. The best way to read books is to ponder the meanings and seek help from scholars who have understanding. It comes as no surprise that the book which is most deserving of such a reading is the Book of Allaah. You must be patient and persist in reading, for man has not been given any greater gift than patience.

Collecting books

The seeker of knowledge should be keen to collect books, but he should prioritize. If a person does not have much money, then it is not good and is not wise to buy a lot of books and have to pay for them, because this is bad management. If you cannot buy books with your own money, then you can borrow them from any library.

Being keen to read important books

The seeker of knowledge must be keen to read the most important reference books, not modern works, because some of the modern writers do not have deep knowledge, so if you read what they have written you will find that it is superficial. They may quote things verbatim, or they may distort them to make them longer, but it is all waffle. So you have to read the most important reference works written by the salaf (pious predecessors), because they are better and more blessed than many of the books of the later generation.

Most of the books of the later writers are short on meanings but long-winded. You may read a whole page which could have been summarized in one or two lines. But you will find the books of the salaf to be easy, straight forward and well written, with not even one word that has no meaning.

Among the best books that the seeker of knowledge must be keen to read are the books of Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah – rahimahullaah – and his student Ibn al-Qayyim – rahimahullaah. It is known that the books of Ibn al-Qayyim are easier, because the style of Ibn Taymiyyah is strongly-worded because of his abundant knowledge and alert mind, and Ibn al-Qayyim saw the knowledge of Ibn Taymiyyah as a well-built house, and his own role as that of organizing and adorning.

But Ibn al-Qayyim was free minded; if he thought that his shaykh’s view differed from what he thought was correct, he would speak up. When he thought that the pilgrim should go out of ihraam for Hajj then re-enter ihraam for ‘Umrah, because Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiAllaahu ‘anhu) thought that if the person who has not brought an animal for sacrifice enters ihraam for Hajj or Qiraan, he must go out of ihraam for Hajj then enter ihraam for ‘Umrah, whereas Ibn Taymiyyah thought that this applied only to the Sahaabah, he [Ibn al-Qayyim] said,

“I am more inclined towards the opinion of Ibn ‘Abbaas than to the opinion of my shaykh.”

He clearly stated that he was of a different view, so he was independent in his thinking. But it comes as no surprise that he followed his shaykh – rahimahullaah – in matters which he thought were true and correct. Undoubtedly if you think about most of the opinions of Ibn Taymiyyah you will find that they are correct. This is something which anyone who ponders his books will know.

Evaluating books

Books may be divided into three types:

1. Good books
2. Bad books
3. Books which are neither good nor bad.

Try to make sure that your bookshelf is free of books which have bad content. There are books which are described as literature, but they simply kill time without producing any benefit. And there are harmful books which contain specific ideas or promote incorrect ideology. These also should not be allowed on your bookshelf, whether that is because the methodology they use is wrong, or because of their wrong understanding of ‘aqeedah, and revolutionary books which promote a harmful ideology.

In general, no harmful book should be allowed on your bookshelf, because books nourish the soul just as food and drink nourish the body. If you nourish it with books such as those it will cause you a great deal of harm and you will follow a methodology which goes against the methodology of the seeker of sound knowledge.

Question:We would like some advice about the books which the seeker of Islamic knowledge should obtain, study and refer to

Answer:

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)

Praise be to Allaah.

1. ‘Aqeedah (basic tenets of faith):
   • Shaykh al-Islam Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy on him).
     • Thalaathat al-Usool – The Three Fundamental Bases of Islamic Theology (pdf)
     • Al-Qawaa’id al-Arba’ah – Four Principles of Tawheed (pdf)
     • Kashf al-Shubahaat – Removal of Doubts ( pdf )
     • Al-Tawheed
   • Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah.
     • Al-‘Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah (Principles of Islamic Faith ) which deals with Tawheed al-Asmaa’ wa’l-Sifaat
       • This is one of the best books written on this topic, and it is worth reading and studying.
     • Al-Hamawiyyah
     • Al-Tadmuriyyah – These two books are more comprehensive than al-Waasitiyyah
   • Al-Tahhaawiyyah
     • Al-‘Aqeedah al-Tahhaawiyyah, by Shaykh Abu Ja’far Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Tahhaawi
     • Sharh al-‘Aqeedah al-Tahhaawiyyah by Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Abi’l-‘Izz
   • Al-Durar al-Saniyyah fi’l-Ajoobah al-Najdiyyah, compiled by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Qaasim
   • Al-Durrah al-Madiyyah fi ‘Aqeedah al-Firqah al-Mardiyyah by Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Safaareeni al-Hanbali. –
     • This book contains some general statements which go against the madhhab of the salaf, such as his saying, “Our Lord is not an essence or an attribute or a physical entity, exalted be He.” Therefore the seeker of knowledge has to study it with a shaykh who is well versed in the ‘aqeedah of the salaf, so that he can explain the general statements in it that go against the ‘aqeedah of the righteous salaf.
2. Hadeeth
   • Fath al-Baari Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhaari, by Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqallaani
   • Subul al-Salaam Sharh Buloogh al-Maraam, by al-San’aani,
     • his book combines between hadeeth and fiqh.
   • Nayl al-Awtaar Sharh Muntaqaa al-Akhbaar by al-Shawkaani
   • ‘Umdat al-Ahkaam by al-Maqdisi.
     • This is an abridged book; most of its ahaadeeth are narrated in al-Saheehayn so their authenticity does not need to be researched.
   • Al-Arba’een al-Nawawiyyah, by Abu Zakariyya al-Nawawi.
     • This is a good book because it includes etiquette and a good methodology, and important basic principles, such as the hadeeth, “Part of a person’s being a good Muslim is his leaving alone that which does not concern him.” (Narrated by Imaam Ahmad, 1 – 201; al-Tirmidhi, 2318; classed as hasan by al-Nawawi in Riyaadh al-Saaliheen, 73; classed as saheeh by Ahmad Shaakir in al-Musnad, 1737). This principle – if one made it the path upon which one walks – would be sufficient.
     • Another principle is given concerning when one should speak, “Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, let him say something good or else
       remain silent.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Adab; Muslim, Kitaab al-Luqtah, Baab al-Diyaafah).
   • Buloogh al-Maraam, by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqallaani.
     • This is a very useful book, especially because it mentions the narrators, and quoted the opinions of others scholars, who said whose hadeeth is saheeh and whose is da’eef, and he comments on the hadeeth to say whether they are saheeh or da’eef.
   • Nukhbat al-Fikr by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqallaani.
     • This is considered to be a comprehensive work. If the seeker of knowledge understands it completely then he will have no need of many other books of mustalah (the science of hadeeth). Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) has a useful way of writing, which involves examining every issue in depth and categorizing the topics he discusses. If the seeker of knowledge reads it he will find it stimulating, because it is based on making one think. I say: it is good for the seeker of knowledge to memorize it because it is a useful summary of the science of mustalah (science of hadeeth).
   • The Six Books (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Sahih Muslim, al-Nasaa’i, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah and Tirmidhi).
     • I advise the seeker of knowledge to read them often, because that will serve two purposes: reviewing the main sources of Islam and reviewing the names of hadeeth narrators. If you often review the names of hadeeth narrators, then whenever you come across the name of one of the narrators of al-Bukhaari in any isnaad, you will know that this is one of the narrators of al-Bukhaari, so you will benefit from this knowledge of hadeeth.
3. Books of fiqh
   • Aadaab al-mashiy ila’l-Salaah by Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab
   • Zaad al-Mustaqni’ fi Ikhtisaar al-Muqni’ by al-Hajjaawi.
     • This is one of the best texts of fiqh. It is a blessed book, brief and comprehensive. Our shaykh, ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di (may Allaah have mercy on him) told us to memorize it, even though he had memorized the text of Daleel al-Taalib.
   • Al-Rawd al-Murbi’ Sharh Zaad al-Mustaqni’ by Shaykh Mansoor al-Bahooti
   • ‘Umdat al-Fiqh by Ibn Qudaamah
   • Al-Usool min ‘Ilm al-Usool.
     • This is an abridged book which serves as an introduction for the seeker of knowledge.
4. Faraa’id (laws of inheritance)
   • Matn al-Rahbiyyah by al-Rahbi
   • Matn al-Burhaaniyyah by Muhammad al-Burhaani.
   • This is a useful and comprehensive abridged book dealing with all the laws of inheritance. I think that al-Burhaaniyyah is more comprehensive than al-Rahbiyyah in some ways, and it gives more information.
5. Tafseer
   • Tafseer al-Qur’aan al-‘Azeem by Ibn Katheer
     • This book is good for tafseer based on reports and it is useful and trustworthy. But it does pay much attention to matters of grammar and style.
   • Tayseer al-Kareem al-Rahmaan fi Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di
     • This is a good, easy and trustworthy book, and I recommend it.
   • Muqaddimah Shaykh al-Islam fi’l-Tafseer.
     • This is an important introduction.
   • Adwaa’ al-Bayaan by al-‘Allaamah Muhammad al-Shanqeeti
     • This is a comprehensive book covering hadeeth, fiqh, tafseer and usool al-fiqh.
6. General books on some subjects:
   • On (Arabic) grammar: –
     • Matn al-Ajroomiyyah. This is an abridged book.
     • Alfiyyah Ibn Maalik; this is a summary of the science of grammar.
   • On Seerah (Prophet’s biography)
     • Zaad al-Ma’aad by Ibn al-Qayyim –
       • The best book that I have seen. This is a very useful book in which he mentions the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) from all angels, then he discusses many rulings.
     • Rawdat al-‘Uqalaa’ by Ibn Hibbaan al-Busti
       • This is a useful book despite its brevity. He compiled a large amount of useful material and stories of the scholars, muhadditheen and others.
     • Siyar A’laam al-Nubalaa’ by al-Dhahabi.
       • This book is very useful and the seeker of knowledge should read and refer to it.

From Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (rahimallah), Kitaab al-‘Ilm, p. 92