The Best Editions of Arabic Books

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

“One familiar with the Arabic publishing world knows that editions of texts can vary considerably in their accuracy and quality. Read: Understanding Arabic Book Publications: An Enlightening Conversation with Shaykh Husain Kadodia, (This is why today we have “The Sunnah Project” editions of the Sahih Sitta nearly all modern publications of the Sahih Sita, Bukhari, Muslim, Dawuud, Tirmidhi etc, contained errors or where missing ahadith found in the original hand written manuscripts, in some cases this ran into the hundreds). One thus needs to know the best available edition of each text. As a rule one generally avoids Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah (DKI), Dar al-Fikr, and Dar Ihya Turath al-Arab unless they have the only edition available. DKI in particular are infamously poor. Every single edition I have of theirs is riddled with spelling mistakes, typos, missing texts (even in hadith), etc. often beginning from the first page! This has led to them being accused of tahrif”. Source.

The best publishers are generally:

  • دار طيبة
  • دار عالم الكتب
  • مؤسسة الرسالة
  • المكتب الاسلامي
  • دار المنهاج
  • دار ابن حزم

Good editors are rare, but if you find a book edited by any of the following then usually it will be one of the best, if not the the best, available:

  • عبدالله التركي
  • محمد عوامة
  • بشار عواد
  • عبدالفتاح أبو غدة
  • شعيب الأرنؤوط
  • الأعظمي
  • محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي
  • نظر الفاريابي
  • طارق عوض الله
  • عبدالكريم الخضير

Here are what we have managed to find so far, having consulted various scholars and students alike: Qur’anic and Related Sciences

Tafsir

  • Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Dar Ibn al-Jawzi: 2010) or (Dar al-Taybah) edited by al-Salamah [السلامة]
  • Tafsir al-Tabari (Dar ‘Alim al-Kutub) edited by al-Turki
  • Tafsir al-Qurtubi (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) edited by al-Turki
  • Tafsir al-Baghawi (Dar al-Taybah)
  • Al-Durr al-Ma’thur li al-Suyuti (Dar al-Hijr) edited by al-Turki
  • Zad al-Masir li Ibn al-Jawzi (Al-Maktab al-Islami)
  • Adwa’ al-Bayan li al-Shanqiti edited by Bakr Abu Zayd
  • Ruh al-Ma’ani (Dar al-Risalah al-A’lamiyyah of Beirut in 30 volumes [2010])
  • Tafsir al-Jalalayn (Dar al-Salam)
Ulum al-Qur’an
  • Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Qur’an li al-Suyuti edited by Mustafa al-Bagha [مصطفى البغاء]
  • Manahil al-’Irfan li al-Zarqani edited by Khalid al-Sabit [خالد السبت]
  • Al-Burhan li al-Zarkashi edited by  by al-Mur’ashali [يوسف المرعشلي] et al. or Muhammad Abu al-Fadl Ibrahim
Miscellaneous
  • Al-Tibyan fi Adab Hamilat al-Qur’an li al-Nawawi (Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Qasas al-Anbiya li Ibn Kathir (Maktaba al-Rushd) edited by Salim al-Hilali (سليم الهلالي)

Sunnah and Related Sciences

Primary Sources

  • Sahih al-Bukhari (Dar al-Minhaj) edited by Dr Muhammad Zuhayr b. Nasr al-Nasr in 4 volumes
  • Sahih Muslim (Dar al-Minhaj) edited by Dr Muhammad Zuhayr b. Nasr al-Nasr in 4 volumes
  • Muwatta’ Malik (Dar al-Gharb al-Islami) edited by Bashar ‘Awad [بشار عواد] then (Al-Risalah) edited by Kilal Hasan Ali [كلال حسن علي]
  • Sunan Abi Dawud (Dar al-Minhaj) third edition by Muhammad ‘Awwamah [محمد عوامة] or the edition of Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut
  • Sunan al-Nisa’i (Al-Risalah) supervised by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut or the Dar al-Ta’sil edition
  • Al-Jami’ al-Tirmidhi (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut
  • Sunan Ibn Majah (Dar al-Sadiq/Mu’asasat al-Rayan) edited by ‘Asim Musa Hadi [عصام موسى هادي] or (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut et al. or (Mu’asasat al-Risalah Nashirun) by ‘Amad al-Tayyar et al.
  • Musnad Ahmad (Dar al-Minhaj) Maknaz al-Islami edition or (Al-Risalah) edited by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut [شعيب الأرنؤوط ]
  • Sahih Ibn Hibban (Risalah) by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut
  • Sunan al-Darimi edited by Hasan Salim Asad
  • Sunan al-Daraqutni (Al-Risalah)
  • Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah edited by al-A’zami [الأعظمي]
  • Al-Musannaf Abd al-Razaq edited by al-A’zami [الأعظمي]
  • Al-Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (Dar al-Minhaj) edited by Muhammad ‘Awwamah [محمد عوامة]

Abridgements and Compilations

  • Riyadh al-Salihin (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) edited by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut [شعيب الأرنؤوط ]
  • Al-Tajrid al-Sarih Mukhtasar Sahih al-Bukhari (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) or (Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Bulugh al-Maram edited by ‘Asim Musa Hadi [عصام موسى هادي], Samir al-Zuhayri [سمير الزهيري] or Tariq ‘Awad Allah [طارق عوض الله]
  • ‘Umdat al-Ahkam (Dar al-Taybah) edited by Nazr al-Fariyani [نظر الفاريابي] or Samir al-Zuhayri [سمير الزهيري]
  • Al-Adhkar li al-Nawawi (Dar al-Minhaj) fourth edition
  • Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib edited by al-Albani, or Mistu, al-’Attar, and al-Badawi
  • Al-Adab al-Mufrad edited by al-Albani [الألباني] or Abd al-Baqi [محمد فؤاد عبدالباقي]
  • Al-Shama’il al-Nabi (Dar al-Gharb al-Islami) edited by Bashar ‘Awad [بشار عواد]
Commentaries 
  • Fath al-Bari supervised by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut [شعيب الأرنؤوط ] or (Dar al-Taybah) edited by Nazr al-Fariyani [نظر الفاريابي]; forthcoming Dar al-Ta’sil edition will be noteworthy and possibly the best
  • ‘Umdat al-Qari li al-Ayni (Al-Muniriyah)
  • Al-Minhaj li Sharh Sahih Muslim li al-Nawawi (Al-Ma’rifah)
  • Fath al-Mulhim + Takmila (Dar al-Salam)
  • Hashiyat al-Suyuti/al-Sindi ‘ala Sunan al-Nasa’i (Dar al-Ma’rifah) in 5 volumes
  • ‘Awn al-Ma’bud (Dar al-Fayha/Dar al-Salam)
  • Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi (Old Indian al-Salafiyah)
  • Badhl al-Majhud (Dar al-Basha’ir al-Islamiyah)
  • Ma’alim al-Sunan (Al-Risalah)
  • Sabul al-Salam (Dar Ibn al-Jawzi) edited by Muhammad Subhi Hallaq [محمد صبحي حلاق]
  • Ihkam al-Ahkam li Ibn Daqiq al-Id edited by Ahmad Shakir
  • Jami’ al-’Ulum wa al-Hikam edited by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut [شعيب الأرنؤوط ] or Tariq ‘Awad Allah  [طارق عوض الله]
  • Nayl al-Awtar (Dar Ibn al-Jawzi) edited by Tariq Awad Allah [طارق عوض الله], or Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut [شعيب الأرنؤوط ]
Ulum al-Hadith
  • Tadrib al-Rawi edited by Tariq ‘Awad Allah [طارق عوض الله] or Nazr al-Fariyani [نظر الفاريابي]
  • Tahdhib al-Kamil li al-Mizzi edited by Bashar ‘Awad [بشار عواد]
  • Tahdhib al-Tahdhib li Ibn Hajar (Mu’asasat al-Risalah)
  • Taqrib al-Tahdhib li Ibn Hajar (Mu’asasat al-Risalah)

Fiqh and Related Sciences

Hanafi

  • Maraqi al-Falah (Dar al-Nu’man li ‘Ulum) a.k.a. al-Khayr al-Baqi edited by Abd al-Jalil Ata in 3 volumes, or (Dar al-Quba) edited by Bakri Arrabi
  • Mukhtasar al-Quduri with Al-Lubab edited by Sa’id Bakdash in 6 volumes
  • Kanz al-Daqa’iq (Dar al-Basha’ir al-Islamiyah/Dar al-Siraj) edited by Sa’id Bakdash
  • Al-Ikhtiyar li Ta’lil al-Mukhtar (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) edited by Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut in 4 volumes; or (Dar al-Quba) edited by Bakri Arrabi in 2 volumes
  • Bada’i al-Sana’i li al-Kasani (Dar al-Hadith Cairo) or, failing that, get DKI or Dar al-Ma’rifah
  • Usul al-Shashi edited by Akram al-Nadwi for Dar al-Gharb al-Islami
Maliki 
(Dar al-Garb al-Islami are generally the best for Maliki works)
  • Al-Risalat al-Fiqhiyah li Ibn Abi Zayd (Dar al-Gharb al-Islami)
  • Muwatta’ Malik (Al-Risalah) edited by Kilal Hasan Ali [كلال حسن علي] or (Dar al-Gharb al-Islami) edited by Bashar ‘Awad [بشار عواد]
Shafi’i 
(generally go for Dar al-Minhaj or Dar Ibn Hazm)
  • Al-Umm (Dar al-Wafa) edited by Raf’at Fawzi ‘Abd al-Muttalib
  • Al-Risalah edited by Ahmad Shakir or volume 1 of Dar al-Wafa’s al-Umm above
  • Al-Muhadhab (edited by Muhammad al-Zuhayli for Dar al-Qalam)
  • Nihayat al-Matlab (edited by Abd al-Azim al-Dib for Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Minhaj al-Talibin (Dar al-Basha’ir) in 3 volumes by Ahmad b. Abd al-Aziz al-Haddad (highly recommended by al-Qawasimi); or Dar al-Minhaj then Dar Ibn Hazm
  • Nihayat al-Muhtaj with Hashiyat al-Shabramalisi (Mustafa al-Babi al-Halabi rerinted by DKI in 8 volumes)
  • Al-Majmu’ Sharh al-Muhadhab (Dar ‘Alim al-Kutub)
  • Al-Bayan (Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Tashih al-Tanbih (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) edited by Muhammad Ibrahim
  • Rawdat al-Talibin (Al-Maktab al-Islami) edited by Zuhayr al-Shawish [زهير الشاويش]; or Dar ‘Alam al-Kutub (8 volumes); or Dar al-Fikr with Hashiyat al-Bulqini in 10 volumes
  • Al-Ghayat wa al-Taqrib by Abi Shuja edited by Majid al-Hamawi(Dar Ibn Hazm)
  • Fath al-Qarib (Dar Ibn Hazm)
  • Kifayat al-Akhyar (Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Umdat al-Salik (Dar al-Minhaj or Dar Ibn Hazm)
  • Fath al-Mu’in (Dar Ibn Hazm)
  • Minhaj al-Qawim (Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Bughyat al-Mustarshidin (Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Bushra al-Karim (Dar al-Minhaj)
Hanbali 
(The Saudis, jazahum Allahu khayran, take great care in publishing these works)
  • Al-’Uddah Sharh al-’Umdah (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) edited by al-Turki or Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut [الأرنؤوط]
  • Zad al-Mustaqni’ (Dar al-Watan) edited by ‘Abd al-Rahman al-’Askar
  • Al-Rawd al-Murbi’ (Dar al-Watan)
  • Sharh al-Mumti’ li Ibn ‘Uthaymin (Dar Ibn al-Jawzi)
  • Al-Mughni li Ibn Qudamah (Dar ‘Alim al-Kutub) edited by al-Turki

Aqidah

  • Sharh Aqidah al-Tahawiyah li Ibn Abi al-’izz (Mu’asasat al-Risalah) edited by Abdullah al-Turki and Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut [الأرنؤوط]

Arabic

  • Qatr al-Nada edited by Muhammad Muhyi al-Din Abd al-Hamid
  • Shudhur al-Dhahab edited by Muhammad Muhyi al-Din Abd al-Hamid
  • Sharh Ibn Aqil  edited by Muhammad Muhyi al-Din Abd al-Hamid

History

  • Tarikh al-Tabari (Dar Ibn Kathir) edited by Muhammad Subhi Hallaq[محمد صبحي حلاق]
  • Al-Bidayat wa al-Nihayah edited by al-Turki
  • Siyar ‘A’lam al-Nubala [سير أعلام النبلاء للذهبي] (Mu’asasat al-Risalah)
  • Al-Muqaddimah Ibn Khaldun (Al-Wafi)
  • Sifat al-Safwah [صفة الصفوة ] (Dar al-Nafa’is)
  • Zad al-Ma’ad (al-Risalah) edited by al-Arna’ut
  • Tarikh al-Islam li al-Dhahabi edited by Bashar Awad

Tazkiyah

  • Ihya Ulum al-Din (Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin (Dar al-Bayan) edited by al-Arna’ut  [الأرنؤوط], or Zuhayr al-Shawish [زهير الشاويش]
  • Minhaj al-Abidin (Dar al-Minhaj)
  • Bidayat al-Hidayah (Dar al-Minhaj)

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