Books by Ibn Taymiyyah: Where to Start

Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) left behind a vast body of work. An imam who followed the way of the Salaf as-Salih and defended it against the innovations of his age, he wrote on creed, jurisprudence, the diseases of the heart, refutations of misguided sects, and the path of the sincere believer — often from inside a prison cell, and often from memory. Centuries later his books are still widely read and translated across the Muslim world.

If you have searched for books by Ibn Taymiyyah in English and felt unsure where to begin, this guide will help. Below are the titles we carry at The Islamic Book Cafe, grouped by theme, so you can build a shelf that matches what you most want to study.

Aqeedah Books by Ibn Taymiyyah

Ibn Taymiyyah is known as a defender of the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaah, and his books on tawhid are the natural starting point.

A short and accessible entry is Ibn Taymiyyah on the Oneness of God, which lays out his argument that the Oneness of Allah is not merely asserted but can be demonstrated to be rationally sound. For a study of loyalty, sainthood, and the difference between the true friends of Allah and the deceptions of Shaytan, The Friends of Allah and the Friends of Shaytan is among his most widely read works.

Two further titles take his creed into deeper theological territory: Introduction to al-Fatawa al-Hamawiyyah, his answer to a question from the city of Hama on the Names and Attributes of Allah, and Ibn Taymiyyah on Creation ex Materia, a translation of his theological writing on the act of creation — we cover that one in a dedicated post. His treatise The Principle of Love and Desire examines love as the engine behind every human action — and how it must be directed to Allah alone.

Studying al-Aqeedah al-Wasitiyyah

No list of Ibn Taymiyyah's books is complete without al-Aqeedah al-Wasitiyyah, the concise statement of creed he composed in response to a request from a judge — a text still memorised and taught across the world. Because the base text rewards careful study, many readers pair it with a scholarly explanation. We carry the Explanation of al-Aqeedat al-Waasitiyyah by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzaan, which walks through the creed point by point.

Ibn Taymiyyah on Purifying the Heart

Ibn Taymiyyah wrote as powerfully about the inner life as he did about creed. His Diseases of the Hearts and Their Cures — one of our steadiest sellers — diagnoses the spiritual ailments that corrupt sincerity and prescribes their remedies from the Qur'an and Sunnah. In the same vein, Gardens of Purification is a concise treatise on the conditions of a sound heart and the means of drawing near to Allah; a passage from it is on our blog as Gardens of Purification: The Straight Path of Asceticism.

Readers who enjoy these themes may also like our Pearls from the Scholars #2: The Two Thrones of the Heart and #3: The Three Types of the Self, both drawn from the same tradition of the medicine of the hearts.

Ibn Taymiyyah on Following the Straight Path

One of his most important works of guidance is Pursuing the Straight Path and Defying the Path of the People of Hellfire — his detailed treatment of why imitating the practices of the disbelievers in worship and festivals is no minor matter, but a question that goes to the heart of a Muslim's distinctiveness. It pairs well with our reflection on The Parable of the Straight Path in Islam.

The Fatawa and Advices of Ibn Taymiyyah

Ibn Taymiyyah's Majmu al-Fatawa — his collection of essays and legal verdicts — runs to many volumes. For an accessible way in, Majmu al-Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah Regarding Life after Death and the Affairs of the Unseen, compiled and explained by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan, gathers his verdicts on the grave, resurrection, and the unseen. And for his practical wisdom, the Explanation of the Concise Advices of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah by Shaykh Sulayman ar-Ruhayli distils his counsel for the seeker of knowledge.

Where to Start with Ibn Taymiyyah's Books

If you are new to his work, a gentle path is to begin with Ibn Taymiyyah on the Oneness of God for creed and Diseases of the Hearts and Their Cures for the inner life — two short, rewarding introductions. From there, al-Aqeedah al-Wasitiyyah with al-Fawzaan's explanation gives you a firm grounding in the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah, and the larger works open up as you go.

To follow his influence forward, our companion guide to books by Ibn al-Qayyim covers his most famous student, and our guide to books by Ibn Kathir covers another of his students, the mufassir whose explanation of the Qur'an is relied upon widely in English.

Every title above is chosen upon the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah upon the manhaj of the Salaf as-Salih, and ships from our shop here in Portland. Browse the full Ibn Taymiyyah book collection any time, and if you are unsure which book suits your level, reach out on live chat — we are always glad to help you choose.

Baarakallahu feekum — The Islamic Book Cafe | Portland, Oregon.