How and what to study at home to learn more

subjects: (this is a condensed list for common people)

1. adab

2. aqidah

3. fiqh

4. tafsir

5. hadith

6. sirat

7. tarikh/histories

8. tasawwuf

9. biographies/manaqib

10. radd/refutations

11. miscellaneous rasayil

 

if you are able to read urdu and/or arabic there are a number of options.

madrasahs only facilitate learning, and one of the greatest teachers in the indian subcontinent (in the past 100 years) deemed madrasah learning as just the beginning.

madrasah is an opportunity to be in the company of fellow-scholars, and meet, discuss, exchange ideas among people in the same field. unfortunately, like all other fields of learning, this too is reduced to mostly exams and certificates. at least that is what i know from my interaction with madrasah grads.

people make a big fuss about sanad. indeed, sanad is important, but in our time, it is certainly not a measure of one's knowledge. i know of 'muftis' who are unable to explain basic principles of fiqh and hadith. in fact, many of them are unaware of the authorities in various branches of knowledge and which are key references!

i am not saying that you should shut madrasahs. just that, syllabii are outdated and teaching methods are outdated and competence is measured by rote-learning.

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autodidacts.

there is nothing wrong in learning from books. but it is just that one should not get carried away. if one has an open mind to correct one's mistakes when pointed out and is steadfast to the path of sunni scholars, there is no harm in reading and learning from books.

madrasah grads turn their noses up, and look down upon those who learn from books, even if they are themselves incapable of reading those books, much less having read those books. (disclaimer: as always, there is a small minority - very few people - who are different; who are both capable and learned themselves, and value learned people).

if books are not to be read by people, then why did those imams write them in the first place? and outstanding scholars from the recent past, academics and madrasah grads themselves - why did they translate these books and have them published? at least paste a notice: "only madrasah grads are capable of reading this. outsiders, excuse".

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the other point is, how many madrasah graduates (sanad-yafta) have read books cover to cover with a teacher and how many? surely, even the most diligent student would utmost will have read basic books with the teacher. thereafter, they are on their own - they read and research and keep learning the rest of their lives (diligent students, i mean).

the rest will have closed their books after final exams in the final year - and will hardly ever read books, except perhaps, those who become teachers. and even they don't go beyond standard books.

DISCLAIMER: i have not conducted a survey and collected data for the conclusions above - this is based on my observation over the years, and extrapolation. i may be wrong. feel free to disagree.

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knowledge is important. one may not be considered a scholar - or asked to sit in a panel of scholars, after reading a few books. but that should not be the aim. one should strive to gain knowledge. and there are wonderful books available today.

may Allah ta'ala elevate the ranks of ulama who made these books more accessible by translating them in our languages. particularly, in urdu.

the first and foremost clarification is that yes, one can read books and learn from books.

next: which books? (and that was the brother's q)

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Allah ta'ala knows best.

 

What books can be studied by someone who does not have a suitable place of learning accessible to them?

I know there is no substitute for a good teacher and a good course, but unfortunately not all have this available to them.

I am able to obtain almost every and any book however; hence the question.

What books should one read as a beginner or what what topics should one study, and how should one progress themselves in said topics?

I know a lot of brothers on the site are self learned and haven't been through madaaris which is why I ask.

jazakAllah