and warning. Foremost among such works is the book At-Targhib wa’l-Tarhib by the hadith scholar al-Hafiz al-Mundhiri. It is a precious compilation in which he arranged the chapters dealing with encouragement and deterrence, citing the Prophet’s ﷺ hadiths on the subject. Obtain this book and read it frequently.

Likewise, profit from Riyad as-Salihin (Gardens of the Righteous) by the Imam and hadith master an-Nawawi.

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Reading books about other religions

Question: Is it permissible to read certain books that introduce other religions besides Islam merely to be informed about them and to familiarize oneself with their contents, or to read some books about communist systems and the like—not out of admiration for them or to apply them, but for the same purpose mentioned above?

Answer: A person must first know the truth, know the sound religion, and become well-grounded in beneficial knowledge. After that he may look into conflicting ideas so that he can beware of them and refute them.

As for an ignorant individual whose learning is weak and whose store of the Islamic sciences is meager, it is not permissible for him to read false books; they might deceive him and affect his creed without his being aware of it, because he lacks the knowledge that would allow him to distinguish truth from falsehood. Therefore, one must first possess a supply of beneficial knowledge by which he can recognize right from wrong; only then is it unobjectionable—or may even become obligatory—for him to examine falsehood, in order to guard against it, warn others of it, and refute it.