Explanation Concise Advices of Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah By Shaykh Sulayman ar-Ruhayli

When the scholar Abul-Qasim as-Sabti — a man who had traveled the Islamic world from East to West — met a 36-year-old Ibn Taymiyyah, he declared him the most knowledgeable person he had encountered in all his travels. He then wrote to him requesting four things: advice for his religion and worldly life, a comprehensive book that would suffice him in knowledge, the best supererogatory acts of worship, and the most profitable of earnings. Ibn Taymiyyah's response became a concise masterpiece — one of his shortest works and among his most beloved.

Explanation of the Concise Advices of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah presents that foundational text with a full explanation by Shaykh Sulayman ar-Ruhayli, one of the leading contemporary scholars of fiqh and aqeedah, expanding on Ibn Taymiyyah's answers across all four dimensions and drawing out the practical lessons for the Muslim student and worshipper.

What This Book Covers

Advice for the Religion and Worldly Life

Ibn Taymiyyah's response to this question touches the foundations of a Muslim's relationship with Allah — sincerity of intention, adherence to the Sunnah, and the internal states of the heart that make outward acts of worship accepted. Shaykh ar-Ruhayli unpacks each point with the depth it deserves.

A Comprehensive Book for Knowledge

Ibn Taymiyyah's recommendation for a single comprehensive book is explained in its context — what it reveals about his approach to Islamic learning, the sequence in which knowledge should be sought, and the relationship between transmitted knowledge and understanding.

The Best Supererogatory Acts of Worship

Which voluntary acts of worship are most beneficial, and why — grounded in the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the practice of the Salaf. The explanation addresses how a Muslim should structure their extra worship for maximum benefit.

The Most Profitable Earnings

Ibn Taymiyyah's answer on lawful earning and its relationship to worship and tawakkul — with Shaykh ar-Ruhayli's commentary drawing out the fiqh, the aqeedah, and the practical guidance for the Muslim navigating work and religious life together.

About the Authors

Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH) was one of the greatest scholars in Islamic history, a master of every Islamic science and a tireless defender of the Sunnah. Shaykh Sulayman ar-Ruhayli is a contemporary Saudi scholar and professor at the Islamic University of Madinah, widely regarded for his clarity in fiqh and aqeedah. Published by Authentic Statements Publications.

Who This Book Is For

Students of knowledge who want to benefit from Ibn Taymiyyah's guidance in a form that is explained and accessible, and any Muslim who wants practical, rooted advice on knowledge, worship, earning, and the life of the heart — from one of Islam's greatest scholars, explained by one of today's foremost teachers.