The Islamic Civilisation Book Club 2024

About the Book Club

Wardah Books is hosting a regular book club called The Islamic Civilisation Book Club. The book club aims to promote systematic, serious reading about Islamic Civilisation; and to introduce the scope and depth of Islamic Civilisation.

The book club is chaired by Dr Md Mubarak Habib Md. For some subjects and texts, there will be guest chairs. For participants in the book club, the pace of reading is one book in about 5 weeks. The book club is open to everyone. The book club is not a class, it’s a purposeful conversation amongst readers who are all reading the same book. All books for the book club are available at Wardah Books.

Unless otherwise stated

• All sessions are held in-person at Wardah Books
• On scheduled Sundays at 10:30am (Singapore)
• No registration required 
• If you'd like to receive reminders and updates, please join the Whatsapp group: Click here.

Sessions

Pre-reading Session

The chair introduces the text, places the text within its field of study, introduces and explains key terms to look out for in the text, introduces the author, and provides guidance on reading the text. Participants will then proceed to read the book over the next 5 weeks or until the Post-reading Session.

Reading (five weeks)

Some pointers for active reading for book club:

1. Take notes.
2. Write questions or discussion points to raise later in the Post-reading Session.
3. Plan your time and read consistently. Complete the text before the start of the Post-reading Session.

Post-reading Session

The chair summarises the main ideas of the text and leads a discussion among participants.

Subjects and Texts for 2024

A. Epistemology

The Quranic Narrative: The Journey of Life as Told in the Qur’an by Louay M. Safi

• Pre-Reading Session: 19 May 2024, Sunday, 10:30am
• Post-Reading Session: 7 July 2024, Sunday, 10:30am

Purchase book: Click here.

B. Tradition and Modernity

Islam in Liberalism by Joseph A. Massad

• Pre-Reading Session: 14 July 2024, Sunday, 10:30am
• Post-Reading Session: 1 September 2024, Sunday, 10:30am

Purchase book: Click here.

C. Tradition and Modernity

Rethinking Islam and the West by Ahmed Paul Keeler

• Pre-Reading Session: 8 September 2024, Sunday, 10:30am
• Post-Reading Session: 20 October 2024, Sunday, 10:30am

Purchase book: Click here.

D. The Self

Abu Zayd al-Balkhi's Sustenance of the Soul by Malik Badri (tr.)

• Pre-Reading Session: 27 October 2024, Sunday, 10:30am
• Post-Reading Session: 24 November 2024, Sunday, 10:30am

Purchase book: Click here.

E. Organisation of Society

The Quran and the Just Society by Ramon Harvey

• Pre-Reading Session: 8 December 2024, Sunday, 10:30am
• Post-Reading Session: 2 February 2025, Sunday, 10:30am

Purchase book: Click here.

F. Matters Unfolding

Bombing Without Moonlight: The Origins of Suicidal Terrorism by Abdal Hakim Murad

• Pre-Reading Session: 9 February 2025, Sunday, 10:30am
• Post-Reading Session: 23 February 2025, Sunday, 10:30am (one week before start of Ramadan)

Purchase book: Click here.

G. Education

A Unique Pedagogical Approach in the Quran by Imam Muhammad Sa'id Ramadan al-Buti

• Pre-Reading Session: 2 March 2025, Sunday, 10:30am (in Ramadan)
• Post-Reading Session: 23 March 2025, Sunday, 10:30am (last Sunday of Ramadan)

Purchase book: Click here.