https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-4gkcq-9e8f933
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem,
Book Review Podcast: “The Journey Through 50 Books”
Episode Summary
Dear respected brothers and sisters,
Today, I want to share with you a conversation I had with brother Jawaad Khan about the transformative power of reading and how it shaped my journey, both before and during my current circumstances.
https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-4gkcq-9e8f933
You know, it’s funny – I wasn’t always a reader. In fact, for many years, I was that person who’d say, “Just give me the summary, sheikh!” But Allah has a way of guiding us to what we need, when we need it.
The first five books that truly impacted me were carefully chosen for the Memorise Mentor program because they build upon each other. Starting with Jon Kabat-Zinn’s “Full Catastrophe Living,” which teaches us about being present in our moments – both the beautiful and the challenging ones. SubhanAllah, how relevant that became in my current situation!
One question that often comes up is: “Sheikh, how can we read non-Islamic books for guidance while staying true to our deen?” This is where the concept of giving a book its “shahadah” comes in. Just as we testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammadصلى الله عليه وسلمis His messenger, we can take beneficial knowledge from any source while filtering it through our Islamic lens.
Think about it like this – when you eat at a restaurant that serves both halal and haram food, you don’t avoid the restaurant entirely; you choose what aligns with your values. The same applies to reading. We take what benefits us and leave what doesn’t align with our faith.
Brian Tracy’s work on goal-setting, for instance, beautifully complements the Prophet’sصلى الله عليه وسلم teachings about intention and action. Deepak Chopra’s insights on mind-body connection can enhance our understanding of the body as an amanah (trust) from Allah.
The key is to read with discernment, always keeping our Islamic framework as the foundation. As I often say – and now remind myself daily – knowledge is like rain. Pure and beneficial in its source, but its benefit depends on the ground it falls upon.
May Allah guide us to beneficial knowledge and help us implement what we learn in ways that draw us closer to Him.
Your brother in faith,
Wisam
