Answer: It is not permissible to read books that contain a mix of truth and falsehood. A Muslim should place their trust in the two primary sources of Islam: Al-Kitab (the Qur’an) and Al-Sunnah. The truth is not found outside the Quran and the Sunnah; it is exclusively contained within these two sources.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly prohibited reading books that could lead to confusion or deviation. For instance, when Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was seen reading a book from the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), the Prophet ﷺ became extremely angry and said:
"Are you in a state of confusion, O Ibn Al-Khattab? By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I have brought you a religion that is pure and clear."
The Prophet ﷺ then swore by Allah again, saying:
"By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, if Musa (Moses) were alive today, he would have no choice but to follow me." (Musnad Ahmad: 15156)
This narration clearly demonstrates that it is not permissible to read the books of the People of the Scripture unless one is firmly grounded in the Quran and the Sunnah.
However, there is an exception for those who have a deep understanding of Islam and are well-versed in the Quran and the Sunnah. For example, Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) read the books of philosophers and the works of the Rafidah (a sect of Shia) and the Qadariyyah.
He was able to do so because he was firmly grounded in his knowledge of Islam.
He even wrote refutations of their ideologies, such as his famous works Minhaj Al-Sunnah Al-Nabawiyyah and Al-Jawab Al-Sahih Liman Baddala Deen Al-Masih, where he responded to Christian theological claims.
Key Points to Consider:
- Priority of Learning: A Muslim must first focus on learning and understanding the Quran and the Sunnah. These are the primary sources of guidance, and one should not divert their attention to other books unless they have a strong foundation in Islamic knowledge.
- Exception for Scholars: Scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah were able to study and refute the works of other religions and sects because they had already mastered the Quran, the Sunnah, and the teachings of the early Islamic scholars. They used their knowledge to defend Islam and clarify misconceptions.
- Warning for the General Public: If a person is not well-grounded in Islamic knowledge, they should avoid reading books that contain falsehood or confusion. Instead, they should dedicate their time to studying the Quran and the Sunnah to strengthen their faith and understanding.
Conclusion:
The general rule is that it is not permissible to read books that contain both truth and falsehood unless one has a strong foundation in the Quran and the Sunnah. For those who are not well-versed in Islamic teachings, it is essential to focus on learning the Quran and the Sunnah and avoid wasting time on materials that could lead to confusion or misguidance.
As for anything I have said that is correct, it is from Allah, and anything incorrect is from myself and Shaytan.
— Answered by Ustadh Abdulrahman Hassan
