Sheikh Al-Uthaymin

Sheikh al-Uthaymin: What You Need to Know Before Reading Him

• Full name: Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Salih ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Uthaymin al-Wuhaybi at-Tamimi (محمد بن صالح العثيمين), known as Ibn Uthaymin.
• Birth: on the night of the 27th of Ramadan 1347 AH, corresponding to March 9, 1929, in Unaizah, in the Qassim region.
• Main Teacher: Abderrahman ibn Nasir as-Sa’di, under whom he was a diligent student and with whom he studied religious sciences and the Arabic language.
• Teaching career: from 1370 until the last night of Ramadan 1421—more than half a century without interruption.
• Positions: Imam of the Grand Mosque of Ounayza following the death of his teacher; professor at the Faculty of Sharia and the Fundamentals of Religion, the Qassim branch of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University.
• Honors: Member of the Council of Senior Scholars beginning in 1407; recipient of the King Faisal Award for Service to Islam in 1414.
• Death: on the 15th of Shawwal 1421, corresponding to January 10, 2001, in Jeddah, at the age of 74. Buried in Mecca.
• Major work: *Al-Sharh al-Mumti‘ ‘ala Zad al-Mustaqni‘*, his major commentary on fiqh in some fifteen volumes.

From Unaizah, without ever truly leaving

Most Saudi scholars of his generation left their province for Riyadh or Medina. Ibn Uthaymeen, however, remained. Born in Unaiza in 1347 AH to a middle-class family, he memorized the Qur’an there under the guidance of his maternal grandfather, studied there, taught there, became an imam there, and never left.

His teacher was Abderrahman ibn Nasir as-Sa’di, the author of the famous Qur’anic commentary *Taysir al-Karim al-Rahman*, who taught in that same city. The student never left his side and learned more from him than from anyone else. Upon his teacher’s death, he took over the imamate of the Grand Mosque and the teaching circle, a position he would hold until his own death. He completed his training under Sheikh Abdelaziz ibn Baz, particularly in hadith.

This loyalty to a particular place was by no means a sign of isolation. He taught at the university, preached in Mecca and Medina during the Hajj and Ramadan, gave lessons by telephone to Islamic centers outside the Kingdom, and hosted judges and preachers from the region at his home for regular meetings. He died in Jeddah on the 15th of Shawwal 1421, may Allah have mercy on him, and was buried in Mecca not far from his teacher Ibn Baz.

A faqih who went beyond the classroom

This is the trait that determines the value of his books—and one that almost no biographical entry mentions.

Ibn Uthaymeen commented on classical treatises of the Hanbali school, beginning with *Zad al-Mustaqni’*, a compendium of Hanbali fiqh studied throughout the Najd. But, following in the footsteps of his teacher as-Sa’di, he did not confine himself to the madhhab. When an examination of the evidence led him beyond where the school had stopped, he would state it, argue his case, and reach a different conclusion.

For a reader, the implications are significant. His major commentary is not merely a presentation of Hanbali positions: it is a course in methodology. Each question is addressed in three stages: what the foundational text states, what the other schools say, and what the author concludes along with his reasoning. One learns as much about reasoning as one does about the rules. This explains why his works are read far beyond the circles where one might expect them to be, including by students trained in other schools of Islamic law.

A Three-Tiered Body of Work

His body of work covers aqida, fiqh, the foundations of law, exegesis, hadith, and the Arabic language. What makes it unique is that it spans three distinctly separate levels, ranging from a thirty-page pamphlet to a fifteen-volume commentary. Few authors offer such a clear progression.

Al-Sharh al-Mumti’ ‘ala Zad al-Mustaqni’

His major commentary on fiqh, in about fifteen volumes. The definitive work of his entire body of work, and one of the most frequently consulted fiqh commentaries of the twentieth century. Best suited for those with ample time and a solid command of Arabic.

Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah

His commentary on Ibn Taymiyya’s treatise on creed. Of moderate length and with a very clear structure, this is the work through which most students of aqida begin their studies.

Al-Qawl al-Mufid ‘ala Kitab al-Tawhid

A commentary on the treatise by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, in several volumes. More dense than the previous work, with an in-depth analysis of the cited texts.

Al-Usul min ‘Ilm al-Usul

An introduction to the fundamentals of Islamic law, intentionally concise. The text is brief, with definitions presented one by one: it is the best available entry point into this discipline, which is often considered dry.

Terminology of Hadith

A short treatise on hadith terminology, in the same vein. About thirty pages are sufficient to grasp the technical vocabulary before tackling more demanding works.

Sharh Riyad al-Salihin

His commentary on an-Nawawi’s collection, in several volumes. The hadiths are short, with vowel marks in most editions, and the commentary remains practical: it is one of his most enjoyable works to read on a daily basis.

Tafsir al-Qur’an al-Karim

His commentaries on the Qur’an, published surah by surah or in collections, drawn from his teaching circles.

Collection of Fatwas and Letters

A collection of his legal rulings and epistles, spanning numerous volumes and organized by subject. The ultimate reference tool for anyone seeking his position on a specific issue.

Where to Start, Depending on Your Level of Arabic

This is where the three-tiered structure becomes a practical advantage—provided you take the right step.

If you’re still reading slowly, start with a short treatise: *Al-Usul min ‘Ilm al-Usul* or *Mustahil al-Hadith*. Thirty to eighty pages, limited and repetitive technical vocabulary, definitions provided before the terms are used. You’ll work your way through it, and that’s crucial for what comes next.

If you can get through a page without losing your place, move on to *Sharh al-‘Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah* or *Sharh Riyad al-Salihin*. The latter is particularly well-suited: each hadith forms a unit of two or three pages, allowing you to read in short sessions without ever losing your place.

The major fiqh commentary comes last, and there’s no shame in putting it off for two or three years. Fifteen volumes bought too soon remain fifteen unopened volumes. Many buyers order the complete set right away because it looks impressive on the shelf, only to never open the first volume. It’s better to have read a single book than to have an untouched collection.

Buy Sheikh al-Uthaymin’s Books in Arabic

All books sold by My Maktaba are in Arabic, in their original editions, and all are brand new. For each of the Sheikh’s titles, the product listing indicates the publisher, the year, the number of volumes, the format, the type of binding, and whether the text is vocalized.

One point deserves your attention regarding this author in particular. Much of what circulates under his name originates from his teaching circles, which were transcribed and then edited. The foundation established in Ounayza to preserve his legacy publishes a list of the works it recognizes as his, and this list serves as the authoritative source. We rely on this reference to curate this section, and we list the publish