40 Books every Muslim Teen should read in 4 years of High School

****source: http://youthlyhub.com/40-books-every-muslim-youth-must-read-40/*****

There is no doubt, reading is a gateway to learning & personal development. It enriches your knowledge, stimulates the mind and helps to conceptualize ideas in deeper ways. For those curious minds, books will help you explore history, travel & new trends, learn about different cultures & various sciences and generally keep your mind alert.

In today’s world of pings and chats; social media networking with its instant gratification, it is very easy to neglect this important learning habit. A little time dedicated to regular reading can change your life forever.

With some priority setting including a better sleep habit, you can incorporate a healthy dose of reading into your daily schedule.

What do you say? Let’s dig into our ”40 before 40”.

Worship Shelf (On Living Islam & Boosting Eeman)

1. Dua Weapon of the Believers by Yasir Qadhi. All you need to know about Dua (supplication) as a tool for your worldly and hereafter success.

2. “The Declaration of Faith” by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan. It is about the declaration of “Laa ilaaha illallaah (kalimah), how it stands out amongst the various types of remembrances and how it is merely not something that is uttered by the tongue rather it has certain conditions and meanings attached to it.

3. Reclaim Your Heart by Yasmin Mogahed. Described as a manual on how to protect your most prized possession, your heart. This book looks at love, pain, loss & happiness from a unique perspective.

4. Youth’s problems by Sheikh Muhammad Saalih Al-Uthaymeen. It discusses problems facing the youth and how to overcome them in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

5. 15 Ways to Increase Your Earnings from the Quran and Sunnah by Yasir Qadhi. A short treatise explaining the Islamic manner in which Allah (swt) and His Messenger described how Muslims could increase their money. The book gives clear encouragement to Muslims to seek only halaal earnings and shun haraam means & gains.

6. Peace and conflict resolution in Islam by Abdul Fatah Bello. The author looks at practical ways to foster peace & understanding between individuals, families and communities. He stresses on virtues such as forgiveness, tolerance and reconciliation, drawing from the Qur’an and sunnah.

7. The Music Made Me Do It: An In-Depth study of Music through Islam and Scienceby Dr. Gohar Mushtaq. A well researched book looking at effects of Music on the body, mind and soul from a balanced perspective. The studies of Muslims and non Muslims alike are included. You need to have this in your library – seriously!

8. A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam by I.A Ibrahim. A short but concise book written in simple English with clear illustrations on general information about Islam & Islamic beliefs.

It provides reminders of the various signs and miracles mentioned in the Qur’an & a call to the truth of Islam & Prophet hood of Muhammad (saw). This book makes a perfect gift for Muslims and non Muslims alike.

9 – 18. Golden Advice series by Darussalam. A family series focusing on important advice for different times & situations from authentic sources.  It looks at basic morals, character building blocks and pure creed and worship of Allah (swt) alone. The series includes:

9. Part 1 ~ The Concise Legacy
10.Part 2 ~ O My Son! ( The Advice of Luqmaan)
11.Part 3 ~ Do not Become Angry
12. Part 4 ~ Guard the Tongue
13. Part 5 ~ Be patient and Paradise will be Yours
14. Part 6 ~ Rizq and Lawful Earning
15. Part 7 ~ Do not be Envious
16. Part 8 ~ The Muslim Home
17. Part 9 ~ O Young Man!
18. Part 10 ~ Be Steadfast!

Personal Development Shelf (On Productivity, Leadership & Skills Building)

19. Enjoy your life by Dr. Muhammad ‘Abd Rahman Al -‘Arifi is a book that cites exemplary situations from the life of the noble Messenger (saw) on how to balance between worship and worldly affairs; it gives insights into the art of interacting with people drawn from the Prophet’s life. Boost your positive emotions from this great read.

20. Don’t be Sad by Dr. Aid Al Qarni. It is a book full of wise words and inspiration that every youth needs to accompany them in times of need and ease. The author’s words draw you close just like a sincere friend would pull you close.

21. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell.  A book which combines facts, figures and real stories to get you thinking about success in a new light. There’s a lot to learn and so much more you can relate to, from the Outliers’ stories citied. So the wise Muslim youth can focus high achievement, success & excellence not only for worldly reasons but also remembering the hereafter.

22. 7 Habits of Highly effective people by Stephen. R  Covey. A book for all seasons and times. In seven chapters, the author shares lessons and  habits you need to develop to improve your self-worth. It is a book to read over and over again.

23. How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie. The title says it all. This book delves into practical skills you need in your personal and professional life for great communication and uplifting your  interpersonal interactions.

24. Eat That Frog!: Get More of the Important Things Done – Today! by Brian Tracy. Even if you don’t like frogs, there is enough to take away from this book. It teaches about a technique that can help you get much more done in life. Just what you need to manage your time & life.

25. Psychology from The Islamic Perspective by Dr. Aisha Utz. The author moves beyond how numerous scientific theories typically explain the true human nature and accompanying behaviour & emotions. She delves into the spiritual nature of man and how this nature connects to our purpose in life and ultimately happiness and success in this life and the next.

Relationships Shelf (On Parenting, Marriage & Family life)

26. Nurturing Eeman in Children by Dr Aisha Hamdan. This is a good book for Muslim parents and potential parents alike. The author gives practical tips with regards focusing on the overall development of children from an Islamic point of view. The parents can  use it as a guide  for raising children with faith, strong character and Ihsaan.

27. Loving our Parents: Stories of duties and obligations by Abdul Malik Mujahid. If you think you are a loving child already, read through these stories to boost your inspiration and find even more ways of fulfilling your special role. Each story has it’s unique flavour and takeaway lesson but the main one is that you should love your parents in better ways each day; you are never too young or old.

28 – 31. The Muslim Family – The Marriage Series – Muhammad al-Jibaly  The author Muhammad Mustafa al-Jibaly created a unique series that gives details on the Muslim Family, starting from courtship stage through marriage and into the parenting stage.

28. Part 1 – The Quest for Love and Mercy (Regulations for Marriage & Wedding in Islam)

29. Part 2 – Closer than a Garment (Marital Intimacy According to the Pure Sunnah)

30. Part 3 – The Fragile Vessels (Rights and Obligations between the Spouses in Islam)

31. Part 4 – Our Precious Sprouts (Islamic Regulations for Newborns)

32. Blissful Marriage: A Practical Islamic Guide By Drs. Ekram and M. Rida Beshir. A very comprehensive & practical book based on authors’ wealth of experience, theory, case studies and examples from real marriages; albeit based on the North American society. With the research findings, Quran and Hadith references as well as scholarly opinions, you have a lot to learn not withstanding the society you live in.

33. Umar al-Ashqar Emaan series by Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar.  The author details 7 concepts of Emaan which form the entire theology of Islam: belief in Allah, Belief in the Messengers, belief in the Divine Revelation (Books), Belief in Angels and Jinns, belief in Major and Minor Resurrection, and finally Belief in Paradise and Hellfire.  The series are meant to guide young Muslims find logical and convincing proofs for Islamic theology  and strengthen their relationship with Allah in the process. 

Fiction Shelf

34 – 36. If I should speak trilogy by Umm Zakiyyah. A gripping story from start to finish.  You will most definitely relate to one or more of the characters as they go through their daily challenges, spiritual battles and emotional tides.

34. Part i. If I Should Speak: a novel

35. Part ii. A voice

36. Part iii. Footsteps

Great People’s Shelf (Biography/ Autobiography/ Memoir)

37. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings. A very different approach to the story of the greatest man who ever lived, Muhammad (saw).  It is based on Arabic sources of the eighth and ninth centuries. It is a simple narrative with a fresh, lingering style and taste.

38. The Sealed Nectar (Ar Raheeq Al Makhtoom) by  Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri. This seerah book looks at the life of Prophet Muhammad (saw) through different stages. It is deep and gripping with detailed accounts to learn from, regarding our Islamic heritage.

39. Men & Women around the Messenger (saw) by Khaalid Muhammad Khalid and Dr. Abdel-Hamid  Eliwa. A concise biography of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (saw) – both females and males. They are our ideal role models, so who better to learn about the ideal lifestyle and character from? Get motivation and aim high from these distinguished figures in history.

40. From My Sisters’ Lips by Naima. B. Roberts. This international bestseller was written as memoir and includes personal narratives of other reverts to Islam. It explores the inner struggles and private thoughts that confront new Muslims in an easy-to-digest way. Every Muslim, female or male will find inspiration from a fellow sister on her journey to faith.

FACT: Some people actually read only a book or two each year. Some even less, meaning NONE.

NEXT STEPS: You can develop a better reading habit starting with 5 minutes today.

The more you read, the easier it becomes.

Simply save or print out the list above and get book hunting.

Check out Amazon ebooks for instant downloads. Try other websites and blogs, libraries, charity stores or you can borrow from friends and family {but make sure you return in same condition you were given}.

Get a buddy or two to read the same titles with, then meet after a month to discuss what you have read. Begin with the titles that you feel will impact your life the most at this very moment.

Dedicate part of your monthly budget to buying at least one book, or saving towards a book – it could be an ebook which usually costs less. There are some free ebooks online as well. Try Kalamullah to get started.

No matter how your reading schedule looks at the present moment, you can still make it happen In Sha Allah.

Which of these titles have you read? And which others deserve to be included? Please share.