Books that are recommended for the Duaat (Muslim Preachers) Advice from Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz

“…The greatest and noblest book that I advise you to study is the Book of Allah. Therein there is no falsehood contained within your hands (when you study it) or from behind you (when you are not studying it). I advise every caller to Allah, every person who enjoins the good, every person who forbids the evil, as well as the instructors, teachers, and those who guide the people. Whether one is male or female they must involve themselves in the Book of Allah and reflect upon it. They must also constantly recite it as it is the foundation to every avenue of good. It is the true teacher and the true guide to goodness as the Mighty & Majestic says: {Indeed this Quraan guides to that which is the most upright.} al-Israa’a: 89

It leads by the guidance of Allah to the upright path, to the way of correct direction..it is a must upon every caller, everyone who enjoins the good, all of the teachers, to strive in reading it and reflecting upon it’s meanings. By doing this they will greatly benefit from it.

Then I advise with the Sunnah and the knowledge and guidance revealed within it. And I advise the caller to Allah, the one who enjoins the good and forbids the evil, and the teacher, whether male or female, to review the books of Hadeeth which have been compiled by the people of knowledge so that one may benefit from them. The most important books of Hadeeth and the most authentic are Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. So therefore constantly review and benefit from them both. And as for the remaining books of Hadeeth then there are the four Sunan, the Musnad of al-Imaam Ahmad, the Muwataa of al-Imaam Maalik, and the Sunan of ad-Daarimee as well as the other well known books of Hadeeth. I also advise to review the beneficial books of the people of knowledge such as al-Muntaqaa by Majd-ud-Deen the grandfather of Ibn Taymiyyah, Riyaadh-us-Saaliheen, Buloogh-ul-Maraam, ‘Umdat-ul-Hadeeth, and Jaami-ul-‘Ilm wa Fadhlihi by Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr and Jaami’-ul-‘Uloom wal-Hukm by al-Haafith Ibn Rajab, and Zaad-ul-Ma’aad fee Hadee Khair-il-‘Ibaad by al-‘Allaamah Ibn-ul-Qayyim, and A’laam-ul-Muwaqqi’een and Tareeq-ul-Hijratayn wa at-Turuq al-Hakeemah all of which are by the same author.

He, may Allah have mercy upon him, mentions a lot of things concerning ad-Da’wah in these books and around the issue of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil.

Therefore it is befitting that the Muslim benefits from them because they are great books authored by Imams and scholars who exerted decisive influence in this way along with possessing a sound Islamic creed and many traits of experience…”

“…Likewise what has been written by Abu-l-‘Abbaas, Shaykh-ul-Islaam, Ibn Taymiyyah in as-Siyaasah ash-Sharee’ah and al-Hisbah fee al-Fataawaa and Manhaaj-us-Sunnah. He is from the great Imams who were experienced in the Islamic sciences, those who excelled in them and whom Allah caused the Ummah (the Islamic nation) to benefit from and aided in the truth while humiliating innovations and its people. May Allah reward him and his brothers from the scholars for their patience and their Jihaad (fighting in the path of Allah) with the best of rewards that those who do good can receive indeed Allah is Generous and Noble.

I advise every Muslim, every teacher, and every person who advises the people to concern themselves with these beneficial books after concerning themselves with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. Likewise I advice (reading) those books that have been written concerning this subject by the Imams of knowledge and guidance from the three schools of thought in Islamic jurisprudence; the Maalakiyyah, the Shaafi’iyyah, the Hanafiyyah as well as the other books of the well known Hanbalees of knowledge and guidance and soundness of Islamic creed.

So the objective of the caller is to seek enlightenment from the books authored specifically about this subject from the people of knowledge since these works will direct him to what he is not aware of and point him to the abundant sources of knowledge. Allah the Most High says: {Take a provision for indeed the best provision is at-Taqwaa} al-Baqarah: 197

And there is no doubt that learning and comprehension are from the various forms of at-Taqwaa (God-consciousness).”

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz
From the book, "Min Aqwaal Samaahah ash-Shaykh Abdul-Azeez Ibn Baaz fee ad-Da’wah"
pgs. 88-90
Translated by Thomas Maldonado