Summary of Maher Ameer’s Aqeedah Curriculum (Click on words in brackets/book name for the PDF)
1. Start with Core Aqeedah Texts
Begin by studying the following foundational books with essential commentaries:
- Al Lumaa (English & Arabic, Sharh by Shaykh Salih Al Al Sheikh)
- Al Wasitiyyah (English, Sharh by Ibn Uthaymeen & Arabic, Sharh by Shaykh Salih Al Al Sheikh, Sharh By Ibn Uthaymeen)
- At Tadmuriyyah (Only the sharh by Ibn Uthaymeen is in English, no matn & Arabic, )
- At Tahawiyyah (English & Arabic)
Only use the commentaries of Shaykh Salih Al Al Sheikh and Ibn Uthaymeen.
These are must-reads. Do not move to later books until you finish these properly.
2. Study Basic Logic Before At Tadmuriyyah
Learn basic logic to help understand deeper texts:
- As Sullam Al Munawraq or At Tahdhib by At Taftazani
- With commentaries by Ad Dimnahuri, Abdul Malik As Saadi, or Al Khubaysi
- Or study the commentary of Al Mudhaffar if you want only one
3. Deepen Study of At Tadmuriyyah
Use these required commentaries:
Understand and memorise the content fully before continuing.
4. Advanced Commentaries and Important Books
Study:
- Ibn Uthaymeen’s commentary on the Nuniyyah
- The book Daawa Al Munawiin
- All of Al Ghafis’s commentaries and branches
- At Tawdeehat Al Milliyyah (expands Ibn Abi Al Izz’s commentary on At Tahawiyyah)
Optional:
- Tawdihat Ibn Habreen
- Safar Al Hawali’s commentary on At Tahawiyyah
5. Read Books on Sects and Deviant Groups
Focus on books explaining Ibn Taymiyyah’s position on the Sufis, Muʿtazilah, Asharis, and philosophers.
Then read Al Usul Allati Bana Alayha Al Mubtadiah Madhhabahum Fi As Sifat (this is a key book).
6. Core Athari Books
Read these important Athari works:
- Al Ajurri – Kitab Al Shariyah
- Al Lalikaai – Sharh Usul I‘tiqad Ahl As Sunnah wa Al Jamaah
- As Sabuni – Aqidah As Salaf wa Ashab Al Hadith
- Abdullah ibn Ahmad – As Sunnah
- Maarij Al Qubul by Al Hakami (this one is required) – Maarij Al Qubul bi Sharh Sullam Al Wusul
7. Study the Aqeedah of the Asharis
Start with:
- Aqeedat Al Ashaira Dirasa Naqdiyyah by Al Jawharah
- Al Tawhiyat Al Hassan by Ar Ruwayyan by Hassan bin Ibrahim Al Radayan
Then study:
- Al Jawharah with Al Bajuri’s commentary
- As Sanusiyyah with Al Ansari’s commentary
- Idhaat Ad Dujnah by Al Maqri
Advanced:
8. Read Critiques of Their Beliefs
Books on specific issues:
- Al Qadar by Al Mahmoud
- Mahaj Al Ashaira by Safar Al Hawali
- Ar Radd Ash Shamil Ala Umar Kamil
- Books by Abdullah Al Qarni:
- Haqiqat Al Mujizah
- Usul Ahl As Sunnah Fi Al Iman
- Al Khilaf Fi Al Qadar
- Al Maarifah Fi Al Islam
- Sayh Ibn Umayyah Al Araq
9. Go Back to Early Writings of Al Ashari
Read:
- Al Ibanah (with Salih Al Usaymi’s verification)
- Al Luma fi Ar Radd ala Ahl Az Zaygh wal Bidah by Abu Al Hasan Al Ashari
- Risalah ila Ahl Ath Thaghr by Abu Al Hasan Al Ashari
- Maqalat Al Islamiyyin by Abu Al Hasan Al Ashari
This shows the change in his creed over time.
10. Study Books About Their Methods
Before reading the works of their senior imams, read about their approaches in these books:
- On Abu Al Hasan Al Subki – Ārāʾ Abī al Hasan al Subkī al iʿtiqādiyyah
- On Al Bayhaqi – al Bayhaqī wa mawqifuhu min al ilāhiyyāt
- On At Taftazani – Mawāqif al Taftāzānī al iʿtiqādiyyah
- On Ibn Hajar – Manhaj al Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar fī al ʿaqīdah
- On Ibn Hajar Al Haytami -Ārāʾ Ibn Ḥajar al Haytamī al iʿtiqādiyyah
These books show their real positions and include refutations.
11. Read Ibn Taymiyyah’s Long Aqeedah Books
After finishing the above:
- Aqeedah volumes of Majmuʿ Al Fatawa (Volume 6 & Volume 7)
- As Siyasah Ash Sharaiyyah
- Al Fatawa Al Hamawiyyah (Arabic & English with Sharh by Ibn Uthaymeen)
- At Tadmuriyyah
- Al Jawab As Sahih (Arabic & English)
- An Nubuwat
- Minhaj As Sunnah
- Darʾ Taʿarud Al Aql wa An Naql
- Bayan Talbis Al Jahmiyyah
- Ar Radd Ala Al Mantiqiyyin
Also read Ibn Al Qayyim’s main books:
- Mukhtasar As Sawaaik
- Shifa Al Aleel
- At Tatimmah
12. Study Tawheed Al Uloohiyyah
These books are required:
- Kitab At Tawheed (Arabic & English)
- Kashf Ash Shubuhat (Arabic & English)
With commentaries by: - Salih Al Al Sheikh (His sharh on Kitab At Tawheed & Kashf Ash Shubuhat)
- Ibn Uthaymeen (His sharh on Kitab At Tawheed & Kashf Ash Shubuhat)
- Ad Dubaykhi (His Sharh on Kitab At Tawheed)
- Muhammad Al Hibdaan (His sharh on Kashf Ash Shubuhat)
- Marginal notes of Ibn Qasim
Optional:
- Commentaries by Al Fawzan, Ibn Uthaymeen’s students
Then read:
13. Additional Books to Read Quickly
- Minhaj At Tasdis by Abdul Latif
- As Siraa Bayna Al Islam Wal Wathaniyyah
- Al Baruq An Najdiyyah (optional)
- Al Fasal Al Jasim (optional)
- Hayat Al Insan
- Tajrid At Tawheed by Al Maqrizi
- Tatheer Al Iitiqad by As Sanani
- Books on efforts of each madhhab on tawheed al ibadah
- Al Furqan and Al Ibadah Bayna At Tahreer Wat Tabdeel by Al Mahdi Ibn Hamdi
- Juhud Ibn Taymiyyah Fi Tawdeeh Tawheed Al Ibadah
- Shubuhat Al Mubtadiiah Fi Tawheed Al Ibadah
- Al Qawl As Sadeed by Abdul Razzaq Al Abbad
- Risalat At Tawheed by Ad Dehlawi
- Raf Al Ishtibah by Al Muallimi
14. Add These Final Works
- Al Ifadah Fi Tahqiq Mana Al Ibadah by Sultan Al Umairi
- Responses to Al Awni
- Al Ibadah Wa Miftah Al Bawwabah Al Maksurah
- Articles by Lutfillah Khawjah
- Dawaabit At Takfeer by Abdullah Al Qarni
Final Advice From Maher Ameer
This plan includes around 100 volumes.
1 book per week = 2 years
1 book every 2 weeks = 4 years
2 books per week = 1 year
Make reading part of your daily life. Then everything becomes easier.
