Question: What are the books that your eminence recommends reading in the field of 'Aqidah (Islamic creed)?
Answer: The best, greatest, and most truthful book that must be read to learn creed, rulings, and ethics is the Book of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, which falsehood cannot approach from before it or behind it, a revelation from One who is Wise and Praiseworthy.
Allah Almighty said about it: "Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward." [Al-Isra: 9].
He also said: "Say, 'It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure.'" [Fussilat: 44]. And He said: "This is a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded." [Sad: 29].
And He said: "And this is a Book We have revealed, blessed, so follow it and fear Allah that you may receive mercy."* [Al-An'am: 155]. And He also said: "And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims." [An-Nahl: 89]. There are many similar verses.
The Prophet ﷺ said about it in an authentic hadith during his sermon on the Farewell Pilgrimage: "I am leaving among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah." He also said in his sermon at Ghadir Khumm when he returned from the Farewell Pilgrimage to Madinah: "I am leaving among you two weighty things, the first of which is the Book of Allah, in it is guidance and light. So take the Book of Allah and hold fast to it."* He encouraged holding to the Book of Allah and urged it, and then said: "And my family, I remind you of Allah regarding my family." This was reported by Muslim in his Sahih, the first narration from Jabir ibn Abdullah, and the second from Zaid ibn Arqam.
The Prophet ﷺ also said: "The best among you is the one who learns the Qur'an and teaches it." This was reported by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih.
He also said: "Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make a path to Paradise easy for them. No group of people gathers in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those near Him. Whoever is slowed down by their deeds will not be sped up by their lineage." This was reported by Muslim in his Sahih from Abu Hurairah. There are many similar hadiths.
After the Qur'an, the best books are the books of prophetic hadith, which include the books of the Sunnah such as the two Sahihs (Bukhari and Muslim), the four Sunan (Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah), and other reliable books of hadith. It is recommended to fill study sessions and gatherings with recitation of the Qur'an, teaching it, understanding it, studying the books of hadith, focusing on them, and teaching people about them. This should be done by knowledgeable, trustworthy scholars who are known for their knowledge, guidance, sincerity, and uprightness.
Among the suitable books for this are: "Riyadh as-Salihin," "At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib," "Al-Wabil As-Sayyib," "Umdat al-Hadith," "Bulugh al-Maram," "Muntaqa al-Akhbar," and other beneficial books of hadith.
Regarding books authored in 'Aqidah, some of the best are: "Kitab at-Tawhid" by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab, and the commentaries on it by his two grandsons, Shaykh Sulayman ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad and Shaykh Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan ibn Muhammad, which are "Taysir al-Aziz al-Hamid"* and "Fath al-Majid."
Other books include: "Majmu'at at-Tawhid" by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab, "Kitab al-Iman," "A Magnificent Principle on Tawassul and Its Means," "Al-Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah," "At-Tadmuriyyah," and "Al-Hamawiyyah"—all five by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah.
Other works include: "Zad al-Ma'ad fi Hady Khayr al-'Ibad," "As-Sawa'iq al-Mursalah 'ala al-Jahmiyyah wal-Mu'attilah," "Ijtima' al-Juyush al-Islamiyyah," "Al-Qasidah an-Nuniyyah," and "Ighathat al-Lahfan min Makayid ash-Shaytan"—all five by Al-'Allamah Ibn al-Qayyim.
There is also: "Sharh al-Tahawiyyah" by Ibn Abi al-Izz, "Minhaj as-Sunnah" by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, "Iqtida as-Sirat al-Mustaqim" also by him, "Kitab at-Tawhid" by Ibn Khuzaymah, "Kitab as-Sunnah" by Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal, "Al-I'tisam" by Ash-Shatibi, and other books of the Ahl as-Sunnah that clarify the creed of Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah.
Among the most comprehensive works are: "Fatawa of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah" and "Ad-Durar as-Saniyyah fil-Fatawa an-Najdiyyah" compiled by Shaykh Abdul-Rahman ibn Qasim.
