THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD BOOK FOR EACH OF THE ISLAMIC SCIENCES

Assalaamu ‘Alaykum Warahmatullaah Wabarakaatuh!

إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره ونستهديه والصلاة والسلام علي رسول الله وعلي آله وصحبه وسلم!

To proceed, we want to remind ourselves that having a Sound, quality and a good book for each science we have made mentioned in our previous halqahs is a very important step in Learning the Din.

We ask Allaah for His assistance, aid and guidance.

As we have stated, today’s topic is on the QUALITIES OF A GOOD BOOK FOR EACH OF THE ISLAMIC SCIENCES.

We should know that, the way it is very relevant and crucial to have a good Teacher in learning the din, likewise , having a good book in each sciences is also of paramount importance. Know verily, that it is when the book you are using for learning is good and sound that you will be able to attain sound knowledge.

Otherwise, you will think you have knowledge on a certain matter just because you read a book that is not quality enough on on the science you are learning, whereas you are jaahil (ignorant) of that in real sense. That type of person is unaware that there are better books out there that will feed him with what he is thirsty of concerning ilm (knowledge).

Now, how can we know that a book is good for learning or not? That is our topic of discussion for today in shaa Allah. We beseech Allah to assist us and see us through. Aameen.

Firstly, we should realise that we must seek a quality book in every sciences. And this cannot be overemphasized.

However, most of us do not want to spend money to have the quality book knowing fully that we are capable of doing that.

Mutanabbi said:

ولم أر في عيوب الناس**
كنقص القادرين على التمام

I have not seen a blameworthy behavior in people * * like the one that is capable of attaining his aims and objectives, but he declined intentionally.

That means, if you truly search for quality books and you are not after chasing dunya here and there, you will surely find it inshaa Allah.

It is so unfortunate that, most of us don’t like to spend on the Din. what about buying books? which needs little effort to attain. But regarding our dunya, we hasten for it and we are ready to sacrifice the least at our disposal to buy all sort of luxurious goods no matter how expensive it is. May Allah assist us and count us among those that prefer the hereafter compare to the dunya. Aameen.

Now, we move unto discussing the Qualities you should seek for in a book before you can be able to use the book for the knowledge you are searching for.

1. THE COUNSEL OF A TEACHER.

Firstly, one should endeavor to seek counsel of a trusted and knowledgeable scholar regarding the best book you suppose to use for learning. If the trusted teacher, confirms the quality of that book and he emphasizes on the importance of you obtaining and using the book, then, know that the book is very good and sound. This is because the Teacher has a deep knowledge and he has gone through the book and he already knows what a student of knowledge needs at that level. Unlike the one that is not rooted in that field or science, he will just brush at the surface and will not really digest a lot of matters in the book.
For instance any book that is written by Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah is always good and standard.  Then one should hasten for his books. This is because he was an authority in almost every sciences and no doubt you expect his book to be good and sound.

2. THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE AUTHOR.

If the Author is well known as a trusted, grounded and knowledgeable scholar in that science, definitely, you expect his book to be good and standard. This is because the author has a deep knowledge on what he writes. This will enable the author to be able to explain in detail and he will certainly feed you with much knowledge and benefits.

3. THE AQEEDAH OF THE AUTHOR.

It is highly painful that nowadays, students of knowledge delve into using a book without really knowing about the author; his history, aqeedah, sources of references and his mazhab. If you know the aqeedah of the author and it becomes evident or apparent to you that his aqeedah is not that of the Messenger Salallaahu alayhi wasallam and his companions, then you have to be very careful about his book on the subject of AQEEDAH.
If not, he is going to download his wrong belief on your head and you will be thereby misguided.

Therefore, since the author has a bent understanding regarding that particular science, then his book on that subject is not good for learning that particular science. However, we should know that if a scholar is having a wrong aqeedah, that does not mean you cannot read his book on other sciences apart from aqeedah.

For instance, the scholar is an authority in ADAB but he has a problem in aqeedah, then you take from him the science of ADAB NOT AQEEDAH.

4. IT SHOULD SERVE THE SUBJECT- MATTER.

The book should serve and provide you in details regarding what you need to know patterning that matter. If the book does not provide you with every Misa’il (branches) of the subject you are learning, know that, that book is not good enough for that particular subject.

5. THE BOOK SHOULD BE WRITTEN ACCURATELY .

The book should present the subject matter in such a way that, there is no fault in it or it does not contradict the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Messenger salallaahu alayhi wasallam. But if it does contradict the kitaab and sunnah, please throw away the book through the window and hasten to get another one for your self so that you will not be misguided.

6. THE BOOK SHOULD SERVE THE REQUIREMENT OF THE STUDENTS AT THAT STAGE.

The books used for higher students will not be suitable for the Mubtad’i (beginners). This is because the level of understanding differs. Nowadays, students that want to become scholars overnight and without spending much effort, stress and time, rush for those big and marvelous books so that people can call them scholars. And that is why most of them falls under JAAHILUL MURAKKAB (a complex ignorant). They think they are knowledgeable, but they don’t know anything unless empty brains, bragging and jumping over people’s honour.

It was said:

تمنّيت أن تمسى فقيها مناظرا****بغير عناء والجنون فنون

You wish to become a scholar overnight * ** without you undergoing stress, difficulties, indeed! madness is of different forms.

That means, thinking that one can obtain knowledge without starting with the smaller book before the Mutawalaat (big books) is like one is out of his senses.

7. THE BOOK SHOULD CONTAIN THE OPINIONS OF OTHER SCHOLARS

This means, the book should gather the opinions of other scholars on that particular subject. Then all the opinions of the scholars are weighed base on the kitaab and sunnah. Any book that have this format, shows that the author is not considering ONLY his opinion but he also honours other scholars opinions. Such type of book, is a very good book for learning. For it gives you opportunity for you to know the opinions of other scholars on that particular matter.

Its about time. We will in shaa Allah pause here.

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Question
As salam alaykm, what if the book have no author written?
Pls what’s ur advice on books downloaded from d internet?

Answer:

Firstly, you should try to take the book to your trusted and grounded scholar, he might have come across the book and he will be able to tell you the author.

If it happens the other round, your scholar is absent for one or two reason, you can go through the book with the knowledge you have acquired to check whether the book is good for you or not.

The books downloaded from the internet also depends on the above mentioned qualities. Follow up the aforementioned point, then weigh the book on the scale, in sha Allah you will be guided.

Inshaa Allah we will be pausing here.

الحمد لله أولا وآخرا

May Allah enable us to witness many more blessed Halqah and grant us His pleasure.

Subhanakallahumma wa bi hamdik ash adu an La ilaha illa anta astagfurka wa atuubu ilayk.