English Books
Ayesha (RA)
Ayesha (RA) was a beloved wife of the Prophet Muhammad and a major figure in Islamic history. She was an exemplary wife, and played an important role in the education of Muslims. She is one of the most prominent religious women in history - a Muslim hero - and her life is a role model for women on how to lead a meaningful life both inside the house and within society.
Khalid Bin Waleed (RA)
Khalid bin Waleed is one of the greatest generals in world history. A companion of the Prophet, he fought in many early battles in Islamic history, remaining undefeated. His talents were accompanied by his superior morals, love for God, and an astonishing willingness to give up power. He stands out on the pages of history as a brilliant military mind and an example of obedience to leadership.
Umar Bin Abdul Aziz
Umar bin Abdul Aziz was an Islamic reformer in the 8th century & the 5th rightly guided caliph of Islam. Though the Umayyad rulers were largely self-absorbed & materialistic, he proved himself a God-fearing ruler wholly vested in his people’s welfare. His rule was short but brilliant, & he proved a true Muslim hero, reviving the spirit of Islam & exceeding people's expectations on good governance.
Imam Abu Haneefa
Abu Haneefa, a renowned scholar of Islamic law, is a remarkable Muslim hero from the world of learning. His juristic decisions have influenced the Muslim world for 12 centuries. His greatest feat is an unparalleled collective Islamic legislation, a futuristic effort to find Shariah solutions to everyday problems. The Hanafi school of thought has the largest following in the Islamic world today.
Imam Malik
Malik bin Anas is the founder of Maliki school of thought. He is also the author of Al-Mautah, a collection of the Prophet’s sayings and religious rulings. The Maliki school of thought gained immense influence and spread into Arabia, Africa, and Spain. He is remembered as a true Muslim hero from the world of learning.
Imam Shafai
Imam Shaafai was a famous scholar of Arabic linguistics, Quran, Hadith & Fiqh. His original work, determining the guidelines for jurisprudence by integrating the perspectives of traditionalists and rationalists, was a highly valuable contribution to the field. He was also the founder of the Shaafai school of thought dominant Egypt, Saudi Arabia and southeast Asia.
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal
Ahmed bin Hanbal was a noted scholar of Hadith (Prophet’s sayings) & Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). He authored the Musnad, a widely used collection of over 30,000 Hadith. He is the founder of the widespread Hanbali school of thought. He refused to change his rulings despite serious persecution by the ruler of the time, & is remembered as a courageous and dedicated intellectual of Islamic history.
Imam Bukhari
Imam Bukhari is the most famous scholar of Hadith. He travelled all over the Islamic world, learning from many notable scholars. His biggest contribution is his Hadith collection Sahih al-Bukhari, which is regarded by Muslims as the most authentic Hadith collection in existence. He had a brilliant mind, and knew over 300,000 Ahadith by heart. He was also a humble, generous and pious man.
Imam Ghazali
Imam Ghazali is one of the most celebrated scholars of Islam. One of the greatest jurists & mystics of the time, he changed the course of early Islamic philosophy, shifting it away from Greek influence. He is known as Al-Gazel to the West, the man who launched a devastating attack on medieval philosophical thought. His life is an inspiration to read. His most famous book is "Ahya ul Uloom".
Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi
Sultan Salahuddin was an acclaimed Muslim general who spent almost his whole life on the battlefield. He fought the Crusaders for over 20 years. Apart from his numerous victories, he also conquered Palestine back from the Crusaders, for which he is much beloved by Muslims. His achievements, his chivalry, magnanimity and sense of justice have won him respect and admiration from all over the world.
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah
Imam Ibne Taymiyyah was a scholar & a warrior. A master of the sciences, Arabic grammar & Islamic jurisprudence, he taught for many years and was greatly admired by both common people and academics. He lived in the challenging times of the Mongol invasions and played a major role in resistance. Strongly opinionated, he was jailed for his works where he died, leaving an inspirational legacy behind.
Sultan Muhammad Fateh
Sultan Muhammad Fateh was a remarkable ruler of the Ottoman Empire. At the age of 21, he conquered Constantinople which was thought to be almost impossible. His great conquests, his love of literature & education, his services to his people, his dynamic personality, and his respect & tolerance for people of all religions make him an extraordinary figure & one of the great heroes of Muslim history.
Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab
Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab was one of the greatest reformers in Islamic history. He appeared in Arabia in the 18th century, and called people back to the right path in the light of Quran and Sunnah at a time when superstitions, grave worship, & other forms of polytheism were widespread. There is much misinformation about his movement, but he was without doubt a highly influential person in history.
Khadijah (RA)
Khadija was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad. The first one to embrace Islam, she stood behind her great husband & lent him strength during his long struggle. It was she who proposed to him and they had a long & happy marriage. Her devotion as a believer, her loyalty as a wife, her success as a businesswoman & her skills as a mother make her an inspiration for Muslim women for all times to come.
Syed Jamaluddin Afghani
Jamaluddin Afghani was a political activist & ideologist in the 19th century. An advocate of Pan-Islamic unity & Islamic modernism, his influential anti-imperialist views led to his exile from multiple countries. His towering personality, sparkling ideology, & eloquence made him a highly influential Muslim of his time. His spirit lives even today through his influence on those who came after him.
Hassan Basri
Hassan Basri was an early Muslim preacher, ascetic, scholar and mystic. Born in 642 CE, he rose to become one of the most celebrated Muslims of the time. He preached against materialism, a disease that is prevalent in our times. He was considered an expert scholar of Islamic sciences. His passionate sermons often moved people to tears, and his words have relevance for Muslims of all times.
Abdullah bin Mubarak
Abdullah bin Mubarak was an early pious Muslim with a zeal for knowledge, esp in Hadith sciences. He was the most famous scholar of his time. His transformation from a youth indulged in music & leisure to a serious religious student captures imagination. What sets him apart is the balance he achieved in life; a third of his time was spent studying & doing trade, a third in Jihad & a third in Hajj.
Muhammad bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim, known as the ‘Conqueror of Sindh’ was a young Muslim warrior who showed the world what it means to win. His numerous victories were a result of his strong faith in Allah, his impeccable character and his courage and military genius on the battlefield. A conqueror loved by even the people he conquered, he is a shining example of the ultimate hero.
Nizam al-Mulk Tusi
Nizam al-Mulk Tusi was the famous vizier of the 11th century Seljuq emperors. He loved, advised & protected the king & the people & admirable dedication and sincerity. He also revolutionised the education system of the Islamic world. His book ‘Siyasatnama’ is an unparalleled political treatise that is referenced to this day, & he has left an example for any aspiring statesman that follows him.
Nasiruddin Albani
Nasiruddin Albani is a giant figure among modern scholars of hadith. Born in 1914, having never pursued a degree, his passion for Islamic & hadith sciences led him to become an expert in the field. His highest achievements were the rigorous authentication and verification of almost the entire ahadith collection and his movement to revive the Sunnah of the Prophet even in the face of persecution.
Allama Iqbal's Thought
Muhammad Iqbal, poet of the East, was a thinker, philosopher and poet. He wrote in Urdu & Persian, with translations into English & Arabic. His poetry conveys a deeply philosophical message, calling the Muslims to awake from their slumber & recognise their true place in the universe. Prominent amongst Islamic thinkers of the 20th century, the recent Islamic renaissance owes a lot to his writings.