HaReads

Reading list · History

Great Lives: Muslim History for Curious Readers

Caliphs, scholars, a sultan and remarkable women. Eight books that bring fourteen centuries of Muslim history to life.

Sun Oct 11 2026

History is full of people worth knowing. These books introduce the companions, scholars and leaders who shaped the Muslim world, and the women whose stories are too often left out. Start with a collection of short lives, then go deeper with the ones you enjoy most.

  1. Muslim 100: The Lives, Thoughts and Achievements of the Most Influential Muslims in History (Revised)

    by Muhammad Mojlum Khan

    The Muslim 100 by Muhammad Mojlum Khan, short profiles of one hundred of the most influential Muslims across fourteen centuries. A fascinating introduction to Muslim history.

  2. Builders of a Nation

    by Haifaa Younis

    The stories of thirty-seven remarkable Muslim women, from the household of the Prophet ﷺ to pioneers of Islamic history. Inspiring role models for women and girls today.

  3. Al-Rashidun: The Way of the Rightly Guided

    by Ilmforum

    The lives of the four rightly guided caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. A beautiful hardcover on the leaders who carried the Prophet's legacy ﷺ.

  4. Four Imams

    by Ali Hammuda

    The lives of Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, Imam al-Shafi'i and Imam Ahmad told in an engaging, story-like way. Learn how these great scholars shaped Islamic law.

  5. Saladin: The Sultan Who Vanquished the Crusaders and Built an Islamic Empire

    by John Man

    John Man's biography of Salahuddin, the sultan who retook Jerusalem from the Crusaders. A lively and readable history.

  6. Discovering the Ottomans

    by Ilber Ortayli

    A readable introduction to the Ottoman Empire by the renowned Turkish historian Ilber Ortayli. Fascinating and accessible.

  7. Great Muslims of the West: Makers of Western Islam

    by Muhammad Mojlum Khan

    Muhammad Mojlum Khan profiles the Muslims who helped shape Islam in the Western world, from scholars and thinkers to community builders. An inspiring look at a rich and often overlooked history.

  8. The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History - Abridged Edition

    by Ibn Khaldun

    The abridged Muqaddimah of Ibn Khaldun, one of the most important works of history ever written. A classic for anyone who loves history.

Pick one life that inspires you and share it with your family.