(Part No. 12; Page No. 120)  Choosing books The seventh question of Fatwa no. 4678 What are the available books, that you suggest, that a Muslim may depend on to know about religious issues? May Allah reward you with the best.

A: The basic principles a scholar should depend on to study religious matters are the evidence included in the Book (Qur'an) and the authentic Sunnah reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Ijma` (consensus of scholars), and the other sources of legal evidence such as Qiyas (analogy) and presumption of continuity unless otherwise proven. As for a learner who is not qualified to examine the evidence and deduce judgments, he is required to delve into the books of well versed scholars to benefit from their knowledge. The most important of such books are Tafsir (exegesis of the meanings of the Qur'an) by Ibn Jarir Al-Tabary, Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, Tafsir of Al-Qurtuby, jurisprudential commentary of Ibn Al-`Araby, Fath Al-Bari, a commentary on Sahih Al-Bukhari by Ibn Hajar, the commentary of Al-Nawawy on Sahih Muslim, `Ardat Al-Ahwadhy, a commentary on Sunan of Al-Tirmidhy. A learner may also refer to the key sources of Hanafi Jurisprudence like Fath-ul-Qadir, the key sources of Shafi`i Jurisprudence like Al-Majmu`, a commentary on al-Muhazab of al-Shirazi by Al-Nawawy, the key sources of the Maliki Jurisprudence like Al-Kafi by Ibn `Abdul-Bar and Al-Muqademat by Ibn Rushd, the grandfather, and Bidayet Al-Mujtahid by Ibn Rushd, the grandson, (Part No. 12; Page No. 121)  and the key source of Hanbaly Jurisprudence like the books of Al-Mughny, Al-Kafy, and `Umdat al-Fiqh by Ibn Qudamah, and Zad Al-Ma`ad by Ibn Al-Qayyim. As for books on creed, you may refer to Sharh Al-Tahawiyya by Ibn Abu Al-`Izz, Al-`Aqida Al-wasityya by shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Mukhtasar Al-Sawa`ek Al-Mursalah by Ibn Al-Qayyim and Fath Al-Majid sharh Kitab Al-Tawhid by shaykh `Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan. You should also seek the advice of the scholars you trust concerning the relevant books you may read and you should ask them about matters you do not fully understand.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.