Minhaj al Muslim 2 Volume Set - English

Minhaj al-Muslim (منهاج المسلم), "The Way of the Muslim", is Sheikh Abu Bakr Jabir al-Jaza'iri's guide to living as a Muslim, from what you believe to how you pray, eat, marry, trade and treat people. This Darussalam English edition runs to 1,062 pages in two hardcover volumes. If you want one book that answers most day-to-day questions about Islamic practice, this is a strong pick.

What makes this book useful

Most Islamic books cover one subject: a book on prayer, a book on belief, a book on marriage. Minhaj al-Muslim puts them in one place and in a sensible order. The full English subtitle describes it as a book of creed, manners, character, acts of worship and other deeds, and that is exactly how it is built. Creed comes first as the foundation, then manners and character, then worship in detail, and finally dealings with other people.

The author writes plainly. Each topic states the ruling, gives the evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, and moves on. That makes it easy to look something up, such as what breaks the fast or how zakat is calculated, without reading a long legal debate.

Volume 1: belief, worship and manners

The first volume lays the groundwork. It opens with belief: Tawheed, the names and attributes of Allah, and the other articles of faith. It then covers the five pillars in detail:

• the testimony of faith (shahadah)
• purification and prayer
• zakat
• fasting in Ramadan
• Hajj and Umrah

Alongside worship it covers morals and manners, such as honesty, humility, and good treatment of parents, neighbours and guests. Volume 1 runs to 496 pages.

Volume 2: family, money and society

The second volume, 566 pages, turns to life with other people. It covers marriage, divorce, and the rights of spouses and children; what food and drink is halal and haram; trade, contracts, loans and the prohibition of interest (riba); and the Islamic judicial system, from settling disputes to legal penalties. For readers in the UAE, where questions about banking, contracts and business dealings come up often, this part is where the book earns its place on the shelf.

About Sheikh Abu Bakr Jabir al-Jaza'iri

Abu Bakr Jabir al-Jaza'iri was born in 1921 in Lioua, near Biskra in southern Algeria, and later settled in Madinah. He taught at the Prophet's Mosque for around half a century and was one of the early teachers at the Islamic University of Madinah, where he stayed until he retired in the late 1980s. He died in Madinah in August 2018. Besides Minhaj al-Muslim, he wrote the Quran commentary Aysar al-Tafasir and a book on belief, Aqidat al-Mu'min. Minhaj al-Muslim is one of his most widely read works in the Arab world.

Edition details

Who this set suits

It suits English-speaking Muslims in the UAE who want a single reference for daily practice: families, new Muslims, students, and anyone who keeps asking "what is the ruling on this?" and wants to check the evidence for themselves. It is not a madhhab law manual. For fine points of your own school's rulings, ask a scholar you trust. For a clear, evidence-based overview of the whole of Islamic practice in English, it is hard to beat at this size and price.

Related books

Urdu readers can buy Minhaj al-Muslim in Urdu. To go deeper on belief, read Book of Tawheed by al-Fawzan. For prayer in detail, see Prayer According to the Sunnah or the shorter A Guide to Salat. For the Hadith behind many of the rulings, Riyad-us-Saliheen and Summarized Sahih Muslim are the natural next reads, and Fortress of the Muslim covers daily du'as. More titles are in the Fiqh collection.

Frequently asked questions

What is Minhaj al-Muslim?

Minhaj al-Muslim (منهاج المسلم), "The Way of the Muslim", is a one-stop guide to Islam by Sheikh Abu Bakr Jabir al-Jaza'iri. It covers creed, manners, character, acts of worship, and dealings with other people. It works as a single reference for everyday Islamic practice.

What does each volume cover?

Volume 1 covers belief in Allah and Tawheed, the five pillars (the testimony of faith, prayer, zakat, fasting and Hajj), and morals and manners. Volume 2 covers family life, marriage and divorce, food and drink, trade and money including the ban on interest, and the Islamic judicial system.

Who was Abu Bakr Jabir al-Jaza'iri?

An Algerian-born scholar, born in 1921 in Lioua near Biskra, who settled in Madinah. He taught at the Prophet's Mosque for about 50 years and was among the early teachers at the Islamic University of Madinah. He died in Madinah in August 2018. His other works include the Quran commentary Aysar al-Tafasir.

Is this a book of fiqh for one madhhab?

No. It is a general guide rather than a technical manual of one school. It states rulings with their evidence and does not go into every difference of opinion, so for detailed questions check with a scholar you trust.

How many pages is the set?

1,062 pages in two hardcover volumes: 496 pages in Volume 1 and 566 in Volume 2. Size 14x21 cm. ISBN 9789960899572.

Is it good for new Muslims?

Yes. It explains belief and worship step by step, which makes it a good book for reverts. Someone brand new to Islam may want to start with a short prayer guide alongside it, such as A Guide to Salat.

Is there an Urdu edition?

Yes. Minhaj al-Muslim in Urdu is also available at Darussalam UAE.

How long does delivery take in the UAE?

Orders dispatch from Sharjah. Standard delivery takes 2 to 4 working days, and delivery is free on orders over AED 300.