Books by Shaykh al-Fawzan: Where to Start

Shaykh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan was born in 1354 AH in al-Qassim. He studied at the colleges of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, where he went on to earn his doctorate in fiqh, and he took knowledge from the scholars of his time, among them Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz, Shaykh Muhammad al-Amin ash-Shinqiti and Shaykh Abdur-Razzaq Afifi. He is a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwa, and he has taught for decades, explaining the classical texts of creed and fiqh upon the way of the Salaf as-Salih.

Most of what reaches English from Shaykh al-Fawzan is explanation: he takes a short classical text and explains it line by line, with the evidence. So a guide to his books is also a guide to the texts every student of knowledge studies. If you have searched for books by Shaykh al-Fawzan and felt unsure where to begin, this guide groups the titles we carry at The Islamic Book Cafe by theme and gives you a reading order.

Al-Fawzan's Explanations of the Foundational Creed Texts

The Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles is his commentary on the treatise of Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab built around the three questions of the grave: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet? It is the first creed text most students study, and his explanation keeps it within reach of a beginner.

The next step up is Explanation of al-Aqeedat al-Waasitiyyah, his commentary on the creed Ibn Taymiyyah wrote for a judge from Wasit. It covers Allah's names and attributes, the Last Day, the Companions and the position of Ahl as-Sunnah, with each point tied to its proof. A Commentary on the Creed of al-Imam al-Tahawi explains the creed at-Tahawi wrote in the third century, and Sharh as-Sunnah carries his explanation of Imam al-Barbahari's statement of the Sunnah, written when innovation was spreading in Baghdad.

To see where these sit among other works on creed, read our guide to the best aqeedah books for beginners.

Al-Fawzan on the Unseen, Magic and the Jinn

Questions Regarding Jinn, Magic and Conjuring answers, in question and answer form, what Muslims actually ask about: magic, possession, the evil eye, amulets and astrology, with the ruling and its evidence. Majmu al-Fatawa: Regarding Life After Death and Affairs of the Unseen is a selection from Ibn Taymiyyah's fatwas on the grave, the resurrection and the Hereafter, compiled and explained by Shaykh al-Fawzan.

Hadith, Ramadan and the Status of Women

The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi's 40 Hadith takes the forty narrations that gather the foundations of the religion and explains each one. It pairs well with the creed texts above, since it covers worship, character and dealings as well as belief. Sittings in the Month of Ramadan is a set of short lessons for the nights of the month, suited to reading aloud at home. And The Status of Women in Islam sets out, from the Qur'an and Sunnah, the rights and position Islam gives to women and answers the common misrepresentations; see also our guide to the best Islamic books for Muslim women.

Where to Start with Shaykh al-Fawzan's Books

Begin with The Three Fundamental Principles. Alongside it, read the 40 Hadith explanation, a hadith or two at a time. When those are done, move to al-Aqeedat al-Waasitiyyah, and after it Sharh as-Sunnah and at-Tahawi's creed. The remaining titles can be read whenever their subject is in front of you.

Several of the texts he explains have their own guides: see books by Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab, books by Ibn Taymiyyah and books by Imam an-Nawawi. For another senior scholar of his generation, see books by Ibn al-Uthaymeen.

Browse the full Shaykh al-Fawzan book collection any time, and to plan the rest of your library, see our complete guide to the best Islamic books by topic. 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.