Which books should I read to increase my level of Imaan and respect?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh.

Your desire for correct reading material is commendable. The great scholar and well-known Tabi’ie, Muhammed ibn Sireen Rahimahullah mentioned:

إِنَّ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ دِينٌ، فَانْظُرُوا عَمَّنْ تَأْخُذُونَ دِينَكُمْ

Translation: Verily this knowledge (the knowledge of Islam) is (your) religion; so look from who you are taking your religion.

May Allah grant you steadfastness and accept your efforts. Ameen.

Hereunder is a list of publications and links to some books of prominent ulema of today. One should try and obtain a hard copy if possible. If it is difficult to find a hard copy then pdfs are available for majority of the books:

- Ma’ariful Quran of Mufti Shafie’ Usmani (translated in English) –

https://archive.org/search.php?query=English+Maariful+Quran+Mufti+Shafi+Usmani+%28r.a%29

- Hayaatus-Sahaabah of Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Khandlewi (R.A) (translated in English) –

https://archive.org/details/HayatUsSahabah-english-ByShaykhMuhammadYusufKandhelvir.a/HayatUsSahabah-english-Part-1ByShaykhMuhammadYusufKandhelvir.a/

- Hayaatul Muslimeen of Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (translated in English) – https://themajlis.co.za/books/Hayaatul%20Muslimeen.pdf

- Tableegh-e-deen of Imam Ghazali (translated in English) – https://ia801602.us.archive.org/32/items/EnglishBooksOfAshrawfAleeThanweeRA_201702/Tabbleegh-e-Deen%20-%2040%20Foundations%20of%20Religion.pdf

- Some books on the Seerah of Prophet Muhmmad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). Muhammad the ideal Prophet by Sulaiman Nadwi, Seerat al-Mustafa by Moulana Idrees Khandelwi –

https://daruliftaa.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/muhammad_sallallahualaihiwasallam_the_ideal_prophet_by_shaykh_syed_sulaiman_nadvi_r.a-1.pdf

https://archive.org/details/seeratemustafa_202002/Seerat%20e%20Mustafa_new/page/n5/mode/2up

- https://daruliftaa.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/the_reality_of_bayah_modified_version-1.pdf

- https://www.dua.org.za/Publications

The above-mentioned website contains many informative books and advices.

The main thing which will increase ones Imaan is doing good A’mal (actions). Reading books is just a means of creating love for carrying out those good actions, and it teaches us how our pious predecessors spent their time and lives.

We advise you to join the Tablighi Jamat of your local masjid, and involve yourself in the effort of Deen. We also recommend that you adopt the company of the pious Ulama, and connect yourself to a spiritual mentor. The company of such people will change a person’s behavior. These two methods are extremely effective in strengthening ones Iman and becoming a better person. Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ (التوبة: 119)[1]

Translation: “O you who believe, fear Allah and remain in the company of the pious.” (Quran: 9/119)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.