Classical Islamic Texts

سَفِيْنَةُ النَّجَاةِ

Safinatun Najah

✍️ Syaikh Salim bin Samir Al-Hadhrami

The book of basic jurisprudence of the Shafi'i school of thought by Syaikh Salim bin Sumair Al-Hadhrami, compiled concisely in enumeration form (pillars, terms and conditions) so that it is easy for novice students to memorize. Discusses the basics of worship: the pillars of Islam and faith, thaharah (purification, ablution, bathing, tayamum, impurity), as well as prayer complete with its conditions, pillars and sunnah. It is the first book in almost all Islamic boarding schools in the archipelago and the gateway to understanding the fiqh of daily worship.

5 chapters →

سُلَّمُ التَّوْفِيقِ

Sullam Taufiq

✍️ Syaikh Abdullah Ba'lawi Al-Hadhrami

A book by Shaykh Abdullah bin Husain Ba'alawi which combines three pillars of religion: faith, fiqh, and Sufism in one concise text. Discusses the basics of faith, obligations of worship (thaharah, prayer, zakat, fasting, hajj), as well as prohibitions and repentance. Widely read in Islamic boarding schools as a complement to Safinatun Najah because of its comprehensive but concise coverage.

58 chapters →

فَتْحُ الْقَرِيبِ الْمُجِيبِ

Fathul Qarib

✍️ Syaikh Ibnu Qasim Al-Ghazi (d. 918H)

The famous sharah of Al-Ghayah wat Taqrib by Shaykh Ibnu Qasim Al-Ghazi (d. 918 AH), explains the Syafi'i school of jurisprudence in a complete and orderly manner. Discusses all chapters of worship and muamalah: thaharah, prayer, zakat, fasting, hajj, buying and selling, inheritance, marriage, jinayah, and justice. Became the middle level of Islamic boarding school fiqh after Safinah and Sullam Taufiq.

37 chapters →

مِنْهَاجُ الطَّالِبِينَ

Minhajut Talibin

✍️ Imam An-Nawawi (d. 676H)

The book of advanced Syafi'i school of jurisprudence by Imam An-Nawawi (d. 676 H), a summary of Ar-Rafi'i's Al-Muharrar with tarjih (selection of the strongest opinion). It is the main reference for fatwas from the Shafi'i school of thought and the mother of many great sharias such as Mughni al-Muhtaj and Tuhfah al-Muhtaj. Examined senior students who have mastered basic and intermediate jurisprudence.

73 chapters →

فَتْحُ الْمُعِينِ

Fathul Mu'in

✍️ Syaikh Zainuddin Al-Malibari (d. 987H)

The book of Shafi'i jurisprudence by Zainuddin Al-Malibari (d. 987 AH), a student of Ibn Hajar Al-Haitami - his own sharah on Qurratul 'Ain. Indonesian Islamic boarding school Islamic boarding school's upper-middle school fiqh study standards; Hasyiyah parent I'anatut Thalibin.

60 chapters →

كِفَايَةُ الْأَخْيَارِ

Kifayatul Akhyar

✍️ Imam Taqiyuddin Al-Hishni (d. 829H)

Complete sharah on Matan Taqrib by Taqiyuddin Al-Hishni (d. 829 H) — Shafi'i fiqh with the arguments of the Koran and hadith on every issue, from thaharah to justice. Complete the Taqrib → Fathul Qarib level on this shelf.

160 chapters →

متن الغاية والتقريب

Matan Taqrib (Abu Syuja')

✍️ Abu Syuja' Ahmad al-Isfahani (d. 593 H)

Syafi'i Islamic jurisprudence is the most basic in Islamic boarding schools - concise, concise, being the main principle that Fathul Qarib teaches.

17 chapters →

عَقِيدَةُ الْعَوَامِّ

Aqidatul Layman

✍️ Syaikh Ahmad Al-Marzuqi Al-Maliki (d. 1281H)

The Nazham of the Ahlussunnah wal Jama'ah creed by Shaykh Ahmad Al-Marzuqi Al-Maliki (d. 1281 H), is composed in 57 verses that are easy to sing and memorize. Summarizes 50 mandatory, impossible, and jaiz characteristics for Allah and the apostles, the names of 25 prophets, angels, holy books, and the events of Isra Mikraj. Becomes the most popular reference for beginners' beliefs in the archipelago.

9 chapters →

أُمُّ الْبَرَاهِينِ

Umm al-Barahin (As-Sanusiyyah)

✍️ Imam Muhammad bin Yusuf As-Sanusi (d. 895H)

The book of faith by Imam Muhammad bin Yusuf As-Sanusi (d. 895 H), known as As-Sanusiyyah, which emphasizes proving the faith with rational arguments (burhan). Summarizes the nature of obligatory, impossible, and jaiz for Allah and the Messenger along with their rational arguments, as well as the meaning of the sentence monotheism. Becomes an important reference for the study of Ahlussunnah kalam science in Islamic boarding schools.

1 chapters →

تِيجَانُ الدُّرَارِيِّ

Tijan Daruri

✍️ Syaikh Nawawi Al-Bantani— Ulama Nusantara (d. 1316H)

The book of monotheism by Indonesian scholar Syaikh Nawawi Al-Bantani (d. 1314 AH), a shariah based on Shaykh Ibrahim Al-Bajuri's treatise on monotheism. Describes the characteristics of obligatory, impossible, and jaiz for Allah and the apostles clearly and systematically. It is one of the religious books of the archipelago's pride which is widely taught in Islamic boarding schools.

1 chapters →

الْحِكَمُ الْعَطَائِيَّةُ

Al-Hikam

✍️ Ibnu Atha'illah As-Sakandari (d. 709H)

The most famous thread of Sufism wisdom by Ibn Atha'illah As-Sakandari (d. 709 H) — short sentences that penetrate the heart about monotheism, tawakal, sincerity, and ma'rifah. Regularly studied in Islamic boarding schools with various sharia.

1 chapters →

تَعْلِيْمُ الْمُتَعَلِّمِ

Ta'lim Muta'allim

✍️ Syaikh Burhanuddin Az-Zarnuji

The book of etiquette for studying by Shaykh Burhanuddin Az-Zarnuji teaches how a student of knowledge behaves so that his knowledge is blessed and useful. Discusses learning intentions, choosing knowledge and teachers, glorifying knowledge and experts, sincerity, trust, and things that strengthen and weaken memorization. It has been read from generation to generation in Islamic boarding schools as a form of morals before and during study.

7 chapters →

بِدَايَةُ الْهِدَايَةِ

Bidayatul Hidayah

✍️ Imam Al-Ghazali (d. 505H)

The book of good morals and Sufism by Hujjatul Islam Imam Al-Ghazali (d. 505 H) as the initial gateway to the path of guidance. Divides the guidance into three: obedience (adab for getting up, purifying, praying, and daily activities), avoiding immoral acts of the body, and etiquette for interacting with Allah and others. Concise, practical, and a daily provision for santri practice.

50 chapters →

النَّصَائِحُ الدِّينِيَّةُ

Nashaihud Diniyyah

✍️ Al-Habib Abdullah Al-Haddad (d. 1132H)

A book of religious advice and Sufism by Al-Habib Abdullah bin Alwi Al-Haddad (d. 1132 H), compiler of Ratib Al-Haddad. Contains advice on reviving faith, piety, muraqabah, repentance, sincerity and asceticism in language that touches the heart. Read in Islamic boarding schools and assemblies to soften the heart and strengthen spiritual deeds.

1 chapters →

قَطْرُ النَّدَى وَبَلُّ الصَّدَى

Qatrun Nada

✍️ Ibnu Hisyam Al-Anshari (d. 761H)

Matan nahwu middle level by Ibnu Hisyam (d. 761 H), a bridge between Jurumiyyah and Alfiyyah: sentences and i'rab, nawasikh, 'amil, to tawabi' — concise with very precise definitions.

17 chapters →

مُلْحَةُ الْإِعْرَابِ

Mulhatul I'rab

✍️ Al-Hariri Al-Bashri (d. 516H)

Nazham nahwu by Al-Hariri (d. 516 H), author of Maqamat: the rules of i'rab are presented in beautiful verses that are easy to memorize - a companion to nazham for memorizing students other than Imrithi and Alfiyyah.

59 chapters →

مُقَدِّمَةُ الْآجُرُّومِيَّةِ

Al-Jurumiyyah

✍️ Ibnu Ajurrum Ash-Shanhaji (d. 723H)

The basic text of the science of nahwu (Arabic grammar) by Ibn Ajurrum Ash-Shanhaji (d. 723 AH) from Morocco, is concise but includes the main principles of i'rab. Discusses the division of kalam, signs of i'rab, marfu'at, manshubat, and makhfudhat as the foundation for reading the yellow book. This is the first level of nahwu learning at Islamic boarding school before going up to Al-Imrithi and Alfiyah.

27 chapters →

نَظْمُ الْإِمْرِيطِيِّ

Al-Imrithi

✍️ Syaikh Syarafuddin Yahya Al-Imrithi

Nazham nahwu by Syaikh Sharafuddin Yahya Al-Imrithi, the poet reworked Matan Al-Ajurrumiyyah into around 254 verses to make it easier to memorize and sing. Becoming a bridge between the concise Al-Jurumiyyah and the extensive Alfiyah in the Islamic boarding school learning ladder. Deepen the rules of I'rab while training students to memorize verses.

35 chapters →

أَلْفِيَّةُ ابْنِ مَالِكٍ

Alfiyah Ibn Malik

✍️ Imam Ibnu Malik Al-Andalusi (d. 672H)

The great nazham of the science of nahwu and sharaf by Imam Ibnu Malik Al-Andalusi (d. 672 H) which contains a thousand stanzas (alfiyah = thousand). Covers almost all Arabic grammar rules systematically, from kalam to complex sharaf problems. Becoming the pinnacle of nahwu learning in Islamic boarding schools; The students who recited it were considered to be solid in Arabic grammar.

84 chapters →

تَفْسِيرُ الْجَلَالَيْنِ

Jalalain's interpretation

✍️ Jalaluddin Al-Mahalli & Jalaluddin As-Suyuthi (d. 911H)

A concise interpretation of the entire 30 juz of the Qur'an by two Imams Jalaluddin - Al-Mahalli (d. 864 H) starting from Al-Kahf to An-Nas plus Al-Fatihah, then As-Suyuthi (d. 911 H) perfecting Al-Baqarah to Al-Isra. The explanation style is concise word for word so that it has become the standard interpretation of Islamic boarding school recitations throughout the archipelago: students read the verses and then immediately see the meaning of each piece. The manuscript here contains 114 surahs.

114 chapters →

بُلُوغُ الْمَرَامِ مِنْ أَدِلَّةِ الْأَحْكَامِ

Bulughul Maram

✍️ Al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar Al-Asqalani (d. 852H)

A collection of around 1,500 legal hadiths by Al-Hafizh Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (d. 852 H), arranged following the fiqh chapters from thaharah to adab, and in each hadith the narrator and his/her rank are briefly mentioned. To become a bridge for students from fiqh to its propositions - the obligatory book for the study of ahkam hadith in Islamic boarding schools, with the famous Syarah Subulus Salam by Ash-Shan'ani.

106 chapters →

الأَرْبَعُونَ النَّوَوِيَّةُ

Arba'in Nawawi

✍️ Imam An-Nawawi (d. 676H)

Forty-two hadiths selected by Imam An-Nawawi (d. 676 H) which collect the main points of religion - intention, the pillars of Islam-iman-ihsan, halal-haram, asceticism, and the guardianship of Allah. The first book of hadith memorization in Islamic boarding schools and Islamic studies throughout the world, with dozens of famous sharah.

43 chapters →

السِّيرَةُ النَّبَوِيَّةُ لِابْنِ هِشَامٍ

Sirah Nabawiyah Ibn Hisham

✍️ Abu Muhammad Abdul Malik bin Hisyam (d. 213H)

The most authoritative sirah book that has come down to us: Ibnu Hisham's (d. 213 H) editing of Ibn Ishaq's Sirah, tells the life of the Prophet ﷺ from his lineage and birth, the period of his prophethood in Mecca, the hijrah, all the wars (maghazi), until his death - complete with history, poetry and genealogy. Became the parent of almost all sirah books thereafter.

264 chapters →

تَارِيخُ الْخُلَفَاءِ

Date of Khulafa

✍️ Imam Jalaluddin As-Suyuthi (d. 911H)

History of the caliphs by As-Suyuthi (d. 911 H): Khulafaur Rasyidin, Bani Umayyah, to Abbasids — biographies, priorities and important events of each period of the caliphate, continuing the history shelf after Ibnu Hisham's Sirah.

18 chapters →

تُحْفَةُ الْأَطْفَالِ

Tuhfatul Athfal

✍️ Syaikh Sulaiman Al-Jamzuri (d. 1208H)

Nazham 61 verses about the law of nun sukun & tanwin, mim sukun, and mad — the first tajwid lesson for santri throughout the world. Concise, easy to memorize, and becomes the basis before going up to Al-Jazariyyah.

1 chapters →

الْمُقَدِّمَةُ الْجَزَرِيَّةُ

Matan Al-Jazariyyah

✍️ Imam Ibnul Jazari (d. 833H)

Advanced nazham tajwid by imam qiraat Ibnul Jazari (d. 833 H): makharijul letters, nature of letters, tafkhim-tarqiq, to waqaf-ibtida. The mother of the sciences of recitation that is memorized by reciters and huffazh.

2 chapters →

الْمَنْظُومَةُ الْبَيْقُونِيَّةُ

Manzhumah Bayquniyyah

✍️ Imam Al-Bayquni (d. 1080H)

Nazham 34 stanzas which summarize the types of hadith (sahih, hasan, dhaif, marfu', maqthu', musnad, muttashil, etc.) — the entrance to the science of mustholah hadith in Islamic boarding schools and universities.

1 chapters →

نُخْبَةُ الْفِكَرِ

Nukhbatul Fikar

✍️ Al-Hafizh Ibnu Hajar Al-Asqalani (d. 852H)

The most influential mustholah hadith treatise by Ibnu Hajar (d. 852 H): classification of khabar, authentic conditions, types of defects, to the term jarh-ta'dil - concise but the mainstay of the hadith science curriculum, with his own syarah Nuzhatun Nazhar.

1 chapters →

الْوَرَقَاتُ

Al-Waraqat

✍️ Imam Al-Haramain Al-Juwaini (d. 478H)

Basic ushul fiqh treatise by Imam Al-Haramain (d. 478 H): taklifi law, amr-nahi, 'am-khash, nasakh, ijma', qiyas, ijtihad. The first step for students to understand the way Islamic law is established is the famous sharah of Al-Mahalli.

21 chapters →