Quran Study Guide and Workbook for Beginners

If you are looking for a good introduction to Islam, The Quran Study Guide and Workbook for Beginners by Muhammed Al Fakir is an excellent choice. First, the flow of the book is very natural enabling you to gain a good foundation of Islam. The explanations about how the Quran was written is helpful in understanding how to read and interpret the scripture. The author did a really nice job explaining the meaning of the Arabic words that are central to the scripture. For most Muslims, the Quran should be read in Arabic because the meaning can get lost in the translation, so it is important to be aware of the entire meaning of the word in order to understand the scripture. I found the ideas for actual study of the scripture to be very helpful. The author describes a fifteen-minute routine that would be more realistic in keeping up with in our busy schedules. It allows you to keep a small journal that you can return to when you need words of encouragement when you are in crisis as well as give you a good idea of your spiritual development. In addition, the routine allows you to make a solid goal that can help you to grow your faith instead of making a vague, unmeasurable goal. For instance, saying “Today, I will be more patient with my child when they are telling me a long story.” instead of saying, “I need to be more patient.” One thing that was odd about the book was the entire repetition of the steps at the end of the Study Guide. It was unnecessary, and I thought I had accidentally scrolled back on the book because I was reading the same thing over again. Hopefully, the author deletes the repetition in future editions. This book makes it really easy to get a good foundation in Islam and a practical study method in easy-to-understand language. The author is also well-versed in Islam evidenced by their explanations and recommendations. I rate this book a 5 out of 5.