How do I start learning Islam as a new Muslim?
The scholars did not expect a new Muslim to know everything. They expected one thing first: to begin. Here is what they said beginning looks like.
10 passages from 5 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"For example, there is no doubt when someone aims a needle at your eye or a sword at your body, your knowledge does not hesitate that pushing it away is better for you, and so will arises inevitably from knowledge."
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"The eternal power does not emit will except after knowledge, no knowledge except after life, and no life except after the place for life,"
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"They confined knowledge to the five senses and thus denied power, will and knowledge because they are imperceptible by the five senses."
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"Will follows knowledge that judges a thing favorable to you, and things divide into what your manifest or internal observation decisively judges favorable, without confusion or hesitation, and what the mind may hesitate over."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"he said the example of what Allah has sent me with of guidance and knowledge is like abundant rain that falls on the earth a"
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"He emphasized it is not fitting for the ignorant to remain silent about their ignorance nor for the knowledgeable to remain silent about their knowledge"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, shared that if the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was unable to perform his night prayer due to sleep or illness, he would make up for it by praying 12 units at the start of the day."
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"It is narrated that two rakahs are performed upon donning the ihram, at the start of a journey, and upon returning from a journey in the mosque before entering the house."
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
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"There was a judge there from among the virtuous and generous scholars following the Shafi'i school, named Badr al-Din al-Mabari, who also taught knowledge."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Another story a man attempted to embarrass Ubaidullah Ibn Abbas by inviting the nobleman of Quraysh to his home for lunch without his knowledge"
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