18 Islamic Books For Complete Beginners: Fiction + Nonfiction
I’ve included both fiction and nonfiction books with Islamic themes, primarily from #ownvoices authors, to provide a variety of perspectives into a widespread and complex religion. Whether you’re a complete beginner when it comes to reading about Islam or you already have a lot of experience, these books are for you.
1. No God But God by Reza Aslan
Tablet and Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East is a highly readable introduction to Islam that also considers its future. Given the widespread and heterogeneous nature of the religion today, Aslan considers what an Islamic Reformation might look like.
2. The Story of Reason in Islam by Sari Nusseibeh
Nusseibeh’s book, Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life, delves into the role of reason in the early stages of Islam, describing a narrative that includes history and language but always revolves around reason.
3. Journey Into Islam by Akbar S. Ahmed
Ahmed Abdul Rauf conducted research in all three major Muslim world regions: the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia, and this book documents his findings about what people believe, how they live, and how they view the United States.
4. The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam From the Extremists by Khaled Abou El Fadl
How can one begin to answer this question when there are so many conflicting voices? El Fadl argues that Islam is going through a “transformative moment,” but such moments are never easy, he writes. Read more from the book A Search for Beauty in Islam.
5. Destiny Disrupted by Tamim Ansary
Ansary’s goal is to tell world history from a Muslim perspective, with the West appearing as a bystander at times and an antagonist at others. From the time of Muhammed to the early 2000s, the narrative is driven by the Islamic world.
6. Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think by John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed
This book aims to correct misinformation about Islam by accurately representing Muslim perspectives on issues such as democracy, extremism, feminism, and American opinions, as well as trends that shed light on contemporary Muslim perspectives. Also by John Esposito: What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam.
7. Radical Love: Teachings From the Islamic Mystical Tradition, Translated and edited by Omid Safi
Safi collects passages from classical Islamic texts that celebrate love, including the Qur’an, Rumi, and the writings of Muslim mystics. By the same author: Memories of Muhammed: Why the Prophet Matters.
8. Understanding the Qur’an: Themes and Style by Muhammed Abdel Haleem
Hareem is the translator of the Oxford World’s Classics edition of the Quran in English, and in Understanding the Qur’an, he discusses the themes, language, and structure of Islamic scripture, bringing these issues to bear on the practice of Islam today. Hareem is the translator of the Oxford World’s Classics edition of the Quran in English.
Memoirs and Personal Essays
Read on to learn more about Islam from the perspective of those who practice it in these memoirs and personal essays by Muslim writers, who explain some of the principles and concerns that guide their lives.
9. Muslims of the World by Sajjad Shah, Iman Mahoui, Ala Hamdan, and Yasmin Mogahed
Each story is as unique as the narrator whose photograph is included; essays are divided into topics, each of which is introduced with a brief explanation; even seemingly straightforward themes like “Hijab” encourage a variety of viewpoints.
11. American Radical by Tamer Elnoury (with Kevin Maurer).
Elnoury writes about his experiences as a Muslim and an American working on top-secret missions, as well as the inner workings of the FBI’s elite counter-terrorism unit, in this tense and fascinating book.
Fictional Islamic Books
These works of fiction aren’t necessarily about Islam, but they do familiarize readers with important aspects of the religion and its history through the use of Islamic characters and settings.
12. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
I first read this book ten years ago and continue to think about it constantly. Written by the same author as The Kite Runner and And the Mountains Echoed (both excellent), I highly recommend it to anyone interested in reading this author’s work.
13. Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea
This voyeuristic novel about the private lives of four wealthy Saudi women will keep you hooked from the first page, as an anonymous writer reveals everything in a series of scandalous emails.
14. The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany, Translated by Humphrey Davis.
The Yacoubian Building in Cairo is one of Egypt’s most well-known structures, with a diverse group of people passing through it representing the many and changing facets of twentieth-century Egypt.
15. The Islam Quintet by Tariq Ali
Conversations with Edward Said, by the same author, is another must-read book for historical fiction fans. Ali’s books cover a wide range of historical eras and geographical settings within the Muslim world.
What are good Islamic books to read?
The best books on Islam’s Essence
- The Way of Muhammad. by Shaykh Abdalqadir As-Sufi.
- The Noble Qur’an. by Abdalhaqq and Aisha Bewley (translators)
- Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik. by Aisha Bewley and Ya’qub Johnson.
- Ash-Shifa of Qadi ‘Iyad. by Aisha Bewley.
What are the most important books in Islam?
The Quran is widely regarded as the finest work in classical Arabic literature, and Muslims regard it as Muhammad’s most important miracle, a proof of his prophethood, and the culmination of a series of divine messages that began with the messages revealed to Adam and ended with Muhammad.
What is the main Islamic book?
The Qur’an is a holy book that contains Allah’s teachings to the Prophet Muhammad, which many Muslims believe Allah gave Muhammad because all previous religious texts were no longer reliable. The Qur’an is relevant to everyone at all times in their lives.
What should I read to learn about Islam?
Muhammad and the Quran: The Koran: A Very Short Introduction and Muhammad, both by Michael Cook, are two of the best books you’ll ever read about Muhammad and the Quran.
Who wrote Quran?
Some Shia Muslims believe Ali ibn Abi Talib was the first to assemble the Quran into a single written text, which he did shortly after Muhammad’s death.
How many different types of mosques are there?
There are two types of mosques: the masjid jmi, or “collective mosque,” which is a large state-controlled mosque that serves as the center of community worship and holds Friday prayer services, and smaller mosques run by various groups within society.
What are the 3 holy books of Islam?
The Quran (which was given to Muhammad), the Torah (which was given to Moses), the Gospel (which was given to Jesus), the Psalms (which was given to David), and the Scrolls (which were given to Abraham) are among them.
What are the 5 holy texts in Islam?
The Quran (which was given to Muhammad), the Torah (which was given to Moses), the Gospel (which was given to Jesus), the Psalms (which was given to David), and the Scrolls (which were given to Abraham) are among them.
Which is oldest holy book?
The ”Rigveda,” a Hindu scripture, is thought to have been written between 1500 and 1200 BCE and is one of the oldest complete religious texts known to have survived into the modern era.
Do Muslims believe in God?
Muslims believe Allah created the world in six days and sent prophets like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad to call people to worship only him, rejecting idolatry and polytheism.
What is the most important text in Islam?
The Quran is Islam’s central religious text, which Muslims believe is a divine revelation and is widely regarded as the finest work of classical Arabic literature.
What are the two main books of Islam?
The Hadith and the Sunnah are also important books in Islam, as they are thought to contain Muhammad’s words and deeds and provide Muslims with advice and guidance on how to live their lives.
What is the Bible called in Islam?
The term “Bible” does not appear in the Quran; rather, the Quran refers to specific books of the Bible, such as the Torah (tawrat), Psalms (zabur), and Gospel (injeel), as well as suhuf, or scrolls, and the term al-Kitb (Quran 3:23).
How can I be great in Islam?
Wishing peace to your fellow Muslim is a nice way to greet them.
- The most common greeting among Muslims is “As-Salam-u-Alaikum.” This is the bare minimum required when greeting a Muslim. It is acceptable to use the bare minimum greeting when time is limited, such as when passing each other on the street.
What are the five pillars of Islam in order?
Islam’s core beliefs and practices are known as the Five Pillars:
- Islam’s central belief is that “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is God’s Messenger.”
- Prayer (salat).
- Alms (zakat).
- Fasting (sawm).
- Pilgrimage (hajj).