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.
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:
- Take notes.
- Write questions or discussion points to raise later in the Post-reading Session.
- 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.
Theme
For the year 2023, the theme of the book club is a continuation of last year's theme, which is Islamic Civilisation and the Modern World. The difference is, this year, we are taking an approach framed by Maqasid al-Shariah.
Specifically we will be looking at the five preservations that are essential for human life, namely:
- Preservation of Faith
- Preservation of Life
- Preservation of Lineage
- Preservation of Intellect
- Preservation of Property
Subjects and Texts for 2023
1. Primer on Maqasid
Maqasid al-Shariah: A Beginner’s Guide by Jasser Auda
- Pre-Reading Session: 26 Feb 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
- Post-reading Session: 26 March 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
Purchase Book: Click here
2. Preservation of Life (Self)
Psychology of Personality: Islamic Perspectives by Amber Haque, Yasien Mohamed
- Pre-Reading Session: 30 May 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
- Post-reading Session: 25 June 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
Purchase Book: Click here
3. Preservation of Intellect
Al-Ghazali and Academic Excellence by M Hasanul Arifin
- Pre-Reading Session: 9 July 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
- Post-reading Session: 20 Aug 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
Purchase Book: Click here
4. Preservation of Property
Islamonomics: Islamic Finance, Trade and the Global Muslim Market by Akhtar Ismail Mohammed
- Pre-Reading Session: 27 Aug 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
- Post-reading Session: 8 Oct 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
Purchase Book: Click here
5. Preservation of Faith
The Impossible State: Islam, Politics, and Modernity’s Moral Predicament by Wael Hallaq
- Pre-Reading Session: 15 Oct 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
- Post-reading Session: 26 Nov 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
Purchase Book: Click here
6. Preservation of Lineage
Islam and the Problems of the Youth by Imam Muhammad Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti
- Pre-Reading Session: 3 Dec 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
- Post-reading Session: 31 Dec 2022, Sunday, 10:30am
Purchase Book: Click here