Recommended Readings from the Classics of Islamic Civilization

1.  The Story of Layla and Majnun.  By Nizami.   Translated by Rudolf Gelpke.  Available from Amazon.  The classic story of two people who loved each other but who were kept apart by ignorant people and tribal customs.  This is our 'Romeo and Juliet' that was written 600 years before Shakespeare was even born.  Almost all of the 'Ulema, scholars, students and literate people of Islamic civilization read this book at some point or another. 

2.  The Conference of the Birds.  Faridud-Din Attar.  Translated by Afkha  Darbandi and Dick Davis.  Available from Amazon.  The lyrical story of the birds and their search for a new king.  It is a grand parable of our own human condition.

3.  The Island of Animals.  Authored by a group of Muslim scholars from 10th century Basra.  Translated by Denys Johnson-Davies.  Available from barnesandnoble.  The great debate is on and its animals vs. man.  "Why should man have control over the animals?" the animals ask.  This classic contains many lessons and opens our eyes to animal rights in Islam.

4.  The Book of Misers.  Al Jahiz.  An excellent anthology of tales, anecdotes about life and observations about everyday occurrences.  Read the perspective of a writer who was living in a real Islamic state.  Available from Amazon.