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
Begin with knowledge, and then act on what you learn. Al-Ghazali taught that knowledge is of two kinds, and that the worthy seeker is the one who acts upon what he knows; he likened the Prophet's guidance to abundant rain falling on the earth, nourishing whatever it reaches. He also warns against thinking one must master everything: as al-Khidr told Moses, all human knowledge compared to Allah's is as nothing, for His knowledge is infinite while creation's is finite. So begin humbly, learn, and live it.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Kathir — 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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"knowledge beyond measure, for His knowledge is infinite, while the knowledge of creation is finite."
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"the knowledge of past and present generations compare to God's knowledge? His 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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"The highest knowledge is the knowledge of divine unveiling, which surpasses the 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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"he acts upon his knowledge. Furthermore, he stated, Knowledge is of two kinds, knowledge"
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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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"A person who seeks knowledge, but does not understand and a person who understands knowledge, but does not seek it"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"Al-Khidr said to Moses, My knowledge and your knowledge, compared to Allah's 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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"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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