Whether you are studying a book as part of an Alimiyyah programme, preparing for an exam, studying a subject independently, or simply reading to increase your knowledge, learning how to read properly is essential.
A book should not be approached simply with the goal of reaching the final page. True benefit comes from reading with purpose, concentration and reflection, understanding the author’s points, making useful notes, reviewing what you have learnt, and being able to recall and explain it later.
This is especially important when studying Islamic texts. The aim is not merely to say, “I have finished this book,” but to understand the subject, retain the knowledge and build a strong foundation for further study.
1. Know Your Purpose
Before opening a book, ask yourself: Why am I reading this? Are you reading to gain general knowledge, research a particular topic, prepare for an exam, or study a subject in depth?
Your purpose determines how you should approach the book. A book being studied for an Alimiyyah class requires a different approach from a book being read casually.
2. Quality Over Quantity
Do not make the number of books you finish your main goal. What matters is what you understood, remembered and benefited from. Reading ten books quickly without retaining their main points may be less beneficial than studying one important book properly.
Shaykh Amir Bahjat of Madinah Munawwarah would mention the valuable principle that reading one book three times is better than reading three books once.
The point is not that reading widely is unimportant, but that depth, understanding and revision are essential. Returning to the same book allows you to understand points you may have missed the first time, strengthen what you have learnt, connect different ideas and notice details that only become apparent through repeated reading.
Do not be in a rush simply to “finish the book”. A book that you have read carefully, understood and revisited can benefit you far more than several books that you have merely passed through.
The goal is not simply to say, “I have read this book,” but to be able to explain what it taught you, recall its important points and benefit from its knowledge.
3. Match Your Reading Pace to the Book
Not every book should be read at the same speed. Some books require slow and careful reading, particularly classical texts, difficult academic works and books containing detailed arguments. Other books can be read more quickly to gain a general overview or discover new ideas.
Learn to recognise how much attention each book deserves.
4. Choose Your Golden Hour
Choose a time when your mind is fresh and your concentration is strongest. For some, this may be early morning; for others, another quiet part of the day.
Try to read when you are mentally alert rather than exhausted. A short period of focused reading is often more beneficial than a long session while tired and distracted.
5. Know the Author and the Book
Before beginning detailed reading, learn about the author. Find out their full name, when and where they lived, their teachers, students, areas of expertise and position within their field. Read a brief biography if one is available.
For students of Islamic knowledge, this is particularly important. Knowing the background of an author can help you understand their terminology, methodology and the context in which the book was written.
It is also useful to know why the book was written, who it was written for, and what other works the author produced. If the book is a commentary, find out which original text it is explaining and learn something about the original author as well.
Before starting the detailed study, look through the introduction, contents page and chapter headings. Get an idea of how the author has organised the subject and which sections require the greatest attention.
This initial preparation gives you a much better framework before you begin the detailed study of the book.
6. Remove Distractions
Good reading requires concentration. Put your phone away, silence unnecessary notifications and avoid constantly checking messages or social media.
If you are studying digitally, close unnecessary apps and tabs. Protect your reading time from interruptions.
7. Be Consistent
Reading becomes much easier when it becomes part of your routine. Fix a regular time for reading and try to maintain it.
Even if you can only read for twenty or thirty minutes a day, consistency will gradually produce significant results. It is better to read a little every day than to read a large amount occasionally and then stop for weeks.
8. Divide the Book into Manageable Sections
Instead of thinking, “I need to finish this entire book,” divide it into smaller sections.
Decide what you want to complete during each session. Ideally, each session should give you a complete idea or section, rather than stopping randomly in the middle of an important discussion.
9. Highlight and Take Notes
When you come across an important definition, argument, quotation, principle or new idea, mark it.
You can use different methods to distinguish important information, questions and points you want to remember. However, avoid highlighting almost everything. If everything is important, nothing stands out.
10. Make Use of the Margins
If the book belongs to you, use the margins to write brief comments and reflections.
You might write a question, connect an idea to something you previously studied, or record a useful reference. These small notes can make the book much more valuable when you return to it later.
11. Create Mind Maps
For books with many interconnected ideas, try creating a one-page mind map.
Put the main subject in the centre and connect it to the major themes, arguments and supporting points. This allows you to see the structure of the book at a glance and makes revision much easier.
12. Organise Your Notes
Do not allow your notes to become scattered and difficult to find. Organise them according to subject or topic.
For example, you could have separate sections for Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh, Usul, Seerah and Arabic. Good organisation saves considerable time when you need to return to something you previously studied.
13. Review, Don’t Abandon
One of the biggest mistakes is reading a book once and never returning to it.
Important books deserve repeated review. Return to your notes, highlighted passages and summaries from time to time. With each review, you will often notice things you missed during your first reading.
14. Read With Someone Else
Some books become much easier when discussed with another person.
Read difficult sections together, explain them to one another and discuss areas of difficulty. Teaching someone else what you have read is itself a powerful method of learning.
15. Summarise as You Go
After completing a section or page, try to express its main point in your own words.
At the end of each chapter, write a short summary. When you finish the book, try to summarise its central message in a few paragraphs.
If you cannot explain what you have just read, it may be a sign that you need to go back and read it again.
16. Test Yourself
Do not simply ask, “Did I read it?”
Ask yourself:
* What did I learn?
* What was the author’s main argument?
* Can I explain this to someone else?
* Did the author answer the question fully?
* Are there areas I still do not understand?
* Do I need to consult another source?
Testing yourself turns passive reading into active learning.
17. Use a Simple Colour-Coding System
If colour-coding helps you, give each colour a purpose.
For example, one colour could indicate important knowledge, another something you need to memorise, and another a question or point requiring further research.
Keep the system simple so that it helps rather than distracts you.
18. Number and Title Important Points
When a book contains scattered points that belong to the same subject, number them and give them short headings.
This makes your notes easier to understand and allows you to return to a particular discussion quickly.
19. Make Chapter Summaries
At the end of every chapter, take a few minutes to write a brief summary.
Include the main points, important evidences and any questions that remain unanswered. Over time, these summaries become a valuable revision resource, allowing you to refresh your memory without rereading the entire book.
The Real Goal
A book is not merely something to finish. It is something to benefit from. The real achievement is not being able to say, “I have read many books,” but being able to say:
“What I have read has increased my knowledge, improved my understanding and changed the way I think and act.”
Read less if necessary, but read well. Read with purpose, attention, reflection and consistency.
Quba Academy
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