Al-Maqasid: Imam Nawawi's Manual of Islam

tr. Nuh Ha Mim Keller

Revised and expanded edition

“Ask those who know well if you know not” al-Qur’an 16:43 ”

In this volume, Imam Nawawi gives a concise and eminently lucid and practical exposition of Islamic knowledge in its three dimensions of Islam, Iman, and Ihsan. The precision of translation and notes make the book invaluable.” Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi

Famous fiqh books like al-Maqasid have stood the test of time because of their sheer usefulness. Compact enough to be memorised (as a matn) by students becoming scholars, al-Maqasid contains hundreds of rulings of personal Islamic law distilled from the most commonly asked and answered questions in schools and mosques from the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) down to Imam Nawawi. (Imam Nawawi is an Imam of the Shafi’i Madhab)

Widely considered the best medium-size handbook available in English for teaching, this work by Shaykh Nuh can be divided into two parts, the first part is a translation of the al-Maqasid, and the second part is a collection of essays and notes by Shaykh Nuh on topics that are of dire importance to Muslims today, such as the need for madhabs, the qualifications of mujtahid imams (such as Imam Shafii), and the importance of tasawwuf (Sufism) in Islam.

This book is highly recommended by all at Wardah Books.