What will you #ReadInRamadan?

With Ramadan only around the corner, we’ve compiled a list of our top reads to give you some inspiration!

Prayers of the Pious by Omar Suleiman

This inspirational collection of prayers and reminders is the perfect companion for anyone who wishes to connect to the Divine. Prayers of the Pious provides spiritual gems that serve as valuable wisdom and practical advice for the soul.

Shaykh Omar Suleiman provides us with thirty short prayers taken from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the early generations, each with a short reminder to deepen the impact of the prayer in our lives.

Light Upon Light by Nur Fadhilah Wahid

Rest. Read. Reflect.

What is He trying to tell you?

Light Upon Light is a heartfelt and sincere conversation, sprinkled with humour and self doubt, on the challenges of a modern-day Muslimah. Mostly written while she was travelling, living and studying in Malaysia, South Africa and Yemen, it combines her reflections on a life lived in the awareness of, and gratitude to, Allah.

Communicating with Allah: Rediscovering Prayer by Dr Bassem Saeh

Muslims are required to pray five times a day, but for too many of us these are little more than physical movements devoid of any spirit or divine connection In contrast, the Prophet (SAW) characterised prayer as “the spiritual ascent (mi’raj) of the believer”. In a modern world of constant distraction, how are we to achieve the communion with the Divine that prayer is supposed to be? 

Al-Adab al-Mufrad – A Perfect Code of Manners and Morality by Adil Salahi

Al-Adab al-Mufrad is the most famous collection of Prophetic traditions on manners and morals. The anthology of 1329 hadiths is a treasured work in Muslim history by one of its most respected scholars, Imam Bukhari.

This edition, newly translated by Adil Salahi, includes a contemporary commentary on each topical collection of hadiths, clearly emphasising the relevance of the Prophet’s teachings in our modern and complex societies. This pioneering addition marks it out as perhaps the first English work commenting on and explaining a full anthology of hadiths.

7 Steps to Spiritual Intelligence by Musharraf Hussain     

How do we develop a spiritual life? How do we change ourselves so that we can live by the universal spiritual values of Islam? 7 Steps to Spiritual Intelligence tells us how to come closer to God in seven steps: through genuine seeking of God, discipleship of a spiritual director, learning and understanding spiritual intelligence, simplicity and contentment, striving to practise, remembering God and praying to Him, and self-inspection and self-control.

A Treasury of Ghazali: A Companion for the Untethered Soul by Mustafa Abu Sway

This short volume, written by one of the world’s leading experts on al-Ghazālī, comprises forty gems from al-Ghazālī’s inexhaustible treasury of writings, that give the modern reader insights into both the richness of al-Ghazālī’s thought, and how they can better help us understand Islam today.

“I’m one of those people that loves a bit of wise philosophy – and when that is equipped with Islam – my heart just finds solace. This book offers guidance, practical tips and most importantly encourages one to think about themselves in a deep manner – that we often don’t get to do because of all our responsibilities. This book seeks to take the soul out of muddled-ness and give it direction.”  Gilded Dunya https://gildeddunya.com/2017/11/14/a-treasury-of-ghazali-book-review/ 

In The Early Hours by Khurram Murad

In the Early Hours is a collection of inspirational advice by a dear and beloved teacher, Ustadh Khurram Murad, on the subject of spiritual and self development.  

Revive Your Heart By Nouman Ali Khan

This collection of essays is disarmingly simple, yet it challenges us to change— to revise our actions, our assumptions, and our beliefs so we can be transformed from within, as well as externally. It aims to help modern Muslims maintain a spiritual connection with Allah and to address the challenges facing believers today: the disunity in the Muslim community, terrorists acting in the name of Islam, and the disconnection with Allah.

These challenges and more are tackled by Nouman Ali Khan, with his profound engagement with the Qur’an, in his trademark voice that is sought out by millions of Muslims on a daily basis.

Daily Wisdom: Selections from the Holy Qur’an by Abdur Raheem Kidwai

An essential companion to the first book “Daily Wisdom: Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad”. This beautiful presentation of the Holy Quran engages the reader in a moment daily reflection. With 365 verses covering the whole year, this is a must for every home.                                                            

Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship by Al-Ghazali

Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship covers the dimensions of Islamic rituals of worship which are essential to the fulfilment of inner quality. This book will be of immense help to countless young men and women of our times, who are rapidly growing in their commitment to Islam.

Tazkiyah: The Islamic Path of Self Development by Abdur Rashid Siddiqui

This anthology has been compiled to meet this need, by translating works that originally appeared in Urdu. It includes key contributions presented by well-known leaders of the Islamic Movement: Mawlana Mawdudi, Ustadh Khurram Murad and others.

There is hardly any book in English that covers self-development from an authentic Islamic perspective. Yet, tazkiyah, self-development, lies at the core of Islamic life and there is need for a practical manual in English to assist those who want to achieve self-development by purifying their souls and actions.

Happy reading and don’t forget to tweet us with your #ReadInRamadan pictures!