Books published by The Islamic Texts Society

Fakhr al-Din Razi''s Tafsir, The Great Exegesis, also known as Mafatih al-Ghayb, is one of the great classics of Arabic and Islamic scholarship. Written in the twelfth century, this commentary on the Qur''an has remained until today an indispensable reference work. The Great Exegesis is a compendium not only of Qur''anic sciences and meanings, but also Arabic linguistics, comparative jurisprudence, Aristotelian and Islamic philosophy, dialectic theology and the spirituality of Sufism.The present volume is the first ever translation into English from The Great Exegesis and focuses on the first chapter of the Qur''an, the Fatiha. This scholarly yet accessible translation gives readers a thorough understanding of the most commonly recited chapter of the Qur''an; it also opens up for readers a window into the thought and practice of one of Islam''s greatest theologians. This volume includes a foreword by Professor M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, King Fahd Professor of Islamic Studies, University of London. 

Ibn Khaldun on Sufism: Remedy for the Questioner in Search of Answers is the first ever translation into English of Shifa' al-Sa'il li-Tahdhib al-Masa'il. The translation itself addresses the dichotomies or synergies between religious law and the Sufi path, and the particular position of the Sufi shaykh or spiritual master.

In The Book of the Lawful and the Unlawful, Abu amid al-Ghazali aims to teach his readers firstly the theory of what is lawful and what is unlawful and how to deal with dubious or ambiguous issues, and secondly how to apply the knowledge they have gained to their everyday lives.

Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti composed the Work of Day and Night (''Amal al-yawm wa''l-layla) as a guide to correct conduct and worship in accordance with the example of the Prophet and the Pious Predecessors. This book contains some of the most beautiful prayers in Islamic devotional literature, and Suyuty has provided guidance about nearly every situation that one is likely to encounter day-to-day. In it the reader will find: the prayers said upon awakening, before eating and when dressing; the acts carried out at various times of the day and between prayers; and much else. A special section is dedicated to prayers that are recommended for reading at times of need due to their widely recognised protective qualities. Work of Day and Night is invaluable for learning the Sunna of the Prophet and integrating it into one''s life, as Suyuti took great care to explain precisely how to perform each of the daily practices in accordance with the example of the Prophet Muhammad.It is hoped that this bilingual volume will enable a wider English-speaking audience to access one of the treasures of traditional Islamic knowledge and practice, and that it will provide Muslim readers with a source of inspiration in everyday life. A selection of the most beautiful and useful prayers has been transliterated and included in an appendix so that all worshippers may benefit by reciting themΓÇöregardless of Arabic ability. There is also a glossary of the most important religious terms.

A.R. Azzam narrates the life of Saladin, placing him in the context of the 10th and 11th-century Sunni revival, a powerful intellectual renaissance that transformed every field of Islamic thought. Saladin was not just the brilliant military commander of popular imagination; his true greatness lay in his political & spirit vision.

War and Peace in Islam: The Uses and Abuses of Jihad aims to reveal the real meaning of jihad and to rectify many of the misunderstandings that surround both it and Islam's relation with the 'Other'.

The Qur'an and the Prophet in the Writings of the Shaykh Ahmad al-'Alawi presents for the first time in English all the collected works of one of the most famous Sufi masters on the two guiding principles of Islam.

The author was asked by a friend to set down in writing what he considered to be the most important things that a human being can know and was also asked to make it very easy. This small book discusses the profoundest truths with remarkable simplicity and clarity.