15 Best Islamic Books Every Muslim Should Read

Best Islamic Books To Read. Reading books gives you an incomparable pleasure by keeping us occupied in a good perspective. For most of the people it is the significant source of happiness. It also has strong positive effects on our brain. Books impart knowledge and increase the depth of our knowledge, as they have been written for centuries. Reading Islamic books is very important as they give you a closeness to Islam. Below is a list of best Islamic books that every Muslim should intend to read in their life.

The Meaning of the Glorious Qur’an

Marmaduke Pickthall was a British Muslim writer and novelist famous for his English translation of the Quran, published in 1930. He took almost two years to complete the translation of the meaning of Quran. It was among the first English translations of the Quran by a Muslim whose native language was English. This book is among the most popular translations.

Best Islamic Books to Read (2)

The Sealed Nectar: Ar-Raheeq- ul-Makhtum

Whoever wants to study the whole life of Muhammad PBUH then It is a complete authoritative book on the life of Prophet Muhammad PBUH written by Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarikpuri. The book was published in 1976 and was awarded first prize by World Muslim League.

Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources

Published in 1983 this book is a biography of Hazrat Muhammad PBUH by Martin Lings. The Book revolves around old Arab sources that go back to the 9th century, and some of the chapters are translated for the first time. So the book offers new insights and details. The biography contain 85 chapters and is translated into many languages.

Tafsir Ibne Kathir

The book is the comprehensive interpretation of the Noble Quran by Imam Ismail ibn Umar (known as Ibn Kathir). It is a widely respected classical commentary that explains the Quran primarily through other verses, hadith and the sayings of the Companions.

No God but God ,The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam

The book is written by Iranian-American author and religion scholar Reza Aslan (first published in 2005). Some of his conclusions are debated by Muslim scholars, so read it critically. The book is about the history of islam and argues for the liberty of the religion. The book comprises 310 pages has received a notable response in the Muslim World. The different chapters in the book cover the issues of Jihad. Author mainly focuses on the early practices of Islam and also discusses life within the Abbasid Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and in the modern Muslim World.

The Road to Mecca

This book is the autobiography of Muhammad Asad who is an intellectual Muslim scholar, political theorist and spiritual writer. Published in 1954, Muhammad Asad (born Leopold Weiss) tells of his journey from a Jewish Austrian background, through years of travel in the Middle East as a journalist, to his embrace of Islam. The book is a combination of adventure and scenic beauty of travel.

After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam

Authored by Lesley Hazleton in 2009, it is the story about two rivals between Sunni and Shia in Islam. This book is a popular historical narrative of what happened after the death of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. In the whole narration Sunni Shia split revolves around Muhammad PBUH, Ali R.A and Hussein R.A. Note that the author is a non-Muslim journalist and the book follows one particular historical narrative, so compare it with classical Sunni sources and ask a qualified scholar about contested events, and always speak of Aisha (RA), the Mother of the Believers, with respect. When you read the book, you feel you are standing in the middle of each event of Islam.

The Great Theft, Wrestling Islam from the Extremists

Khaled Abou El Fadl is one of the powerful Islamic scholars, narrates that Islam is passing through a transformation phase like the movements that swept through Europe Reformation. This book is in defensive favor of Islam against the extremists power. As an accomplished Islamic jurist, Abou El Fadl make a vital vision for a moderate Islam from the role of women in Islam to the jihad nature, from human rights and democracy to terrorism and warfare.

The Meadows of the Righteous, Riyadh as-Salihin

Written by Imam Nawawi, the book is a compilation of roughly 1,900 hadiths arranged in chapters, each introduced by verses of the Quran. See also our list of the 40 hadith every Muslim should learn.

Tales of the Prophets,Qisas Al-Anbiya

Composed by Muhammad al-Kisai, the book is collection of stories of Prophets from Quran. Following the stories of Adam A.S the stories of Prophets Idris, Noah, Shem, Hud, Salih, Abraham, Ismaiel, Lot, Isaac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph, Shuayb, Moses, Aaron, Khidr, Joshua, Elijah, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, Jonah and Jesus. Scholars caution that al-Kisai’s work includes many unreliable narrations (Isra’iliyyat); for a more reliable account, read Ibn Kathir’s Stories of the Prophets.

The Declaration of Faith

Authored by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan, the subject of discussion in the book is the great declaration of ‘laa ilaaha illallaah’ that no one has the right to be worshipped except Allah, its status in the life of Muslims; its excellence, its virtues, its meaning and requirements, how it benefits the one who declares it and when it does not, its effects upon the individual.

Blissful Marriage

Written by Ekram Beshir and Rida Beshir the book provides the guidelines to achieve successful marriage from the Quranic perspective.

Muqaddimah

The book written in 1377 by historian Ibn Khaldun tells the universal history. The book deals with historiography, Islamic theology, the philosophy of history, political theory, and the natural sciences of chemistry and biology.

Nahj al-Balagha

The book is collection sermons, letters and narrations of Hazrat Ali R.A. The material was collected by Sharif Razi a Shia scholar famous for his eloquent content of literature in Shia Islam. Sunni and Shia scholars differ on the authenticity of some of its attributions, so read it with that in mind.

Loving our Parents

(see also our Islamic quotes on parents) The book is a collection of stories from the people regarding treating our parents with respect and honor. Abdul Malik Mujahid details our duties and obligations to our parents in the light of Sunnah who have sacrificed to raise and educate us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Islamic book should I read first?

A good start is a reliable translation of the Quran with commentary, then a trusted seerah such as The Sealed Nectar and a hadith collection like Riyadh as-Salihin. Choose books recommended by qualified scholars.

Are all books on this list accepted by every Muslim school of thought?

No. Some are classical Sunni works, some are Shia, and some are modern works by authors whose views are debated. Read them critically and ask a qualified scholar about contested material.

Should I rely on translations alone?

Translations help, but they cannot fully capture the Arabic. Use a reputable translation together with tafsir, such as Tafsir Ibn Kathir, for context.

Where can I find authentic hadith to read?

Read the major collections like Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim with explanation, or compilations such as Riyadh as-Salihin. See also the 40 hadith every Muslim should learn.

Is it better to study books with a teacher?

Often yes. A knowledgeable teacher explains context and prevents misunderstandings, especially for tafsir, fiqh and creed.