Note: [Republished from the Scholar of the House website] The books listed below were selected by Dr. Abou El Fadl from a comprehensive bibliography of Islamic Studies books compiled by Professor Patrick O'Donnell, published in 2003. Books published after 2003 are not included. [Go to the complete comprehensive bibliography by Professor O'Donnell.]
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced designations were determined by Dr. Abou El Fadl. Placement of a book within this section was determined by Professor O'Donnell.
BEGINNER:
Kahn, Muhammad Zafrulla. Muhammad, Seal of the Prophets. New York: Viking Press, 1981.
Lings, Martin. Muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources. New York: Inner Traditions International, 1983.
Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Muhammad: Man of God. Chicago, IL: Kazi Publication, 1995.
Nurbakhsh, Javad. Traditions of the Prophet: Ahadith. New York: Khaniqahi Nimatullahi Publ., 1981.
INTERMEDIATE:
Schimmel, Annemarie. And Muhammad is His Messenger: The Veneration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1985.