Ten Principles for Ten Essential Islamic Sciences – al-Mabādiʾ al-ʿAsharah | Harun Verstaen

Ten Principles for Ten Essential Islamic Sciences is a concise introduction to the classical concept of al-mabādiʾ al-ʿasharah (المبادئ العشرة) – the ten foundational principles traditionally used to introduce and understand a field of Islamic knowledge before embarking upon its detailed study.
Following his earlier Principles of Islamic Studies, Harun Verstaen presents here a refined and concise treatment of these foundational principles and applies them to ten essential Islamic sciences.
The purpose is particularly valuable for beginning students: before becoming immersed in terminology, detailed discussions and lengthy texts, the student first develops a clear understanding of the nature, subject matter, purpose and place of the science being studied.

The Ten Foundational Principles

The classical al-mabādiʾ al-ʿasharah provide students with a structured framework through which a particular science can be approached.
Rather than entering a discipline without a map, the student first learns its foundational principles. This provides orientation and helps place later details within a coherent framework.
In this book, these principles are introduced in relation to ten essential Islamic sciences, providing beginning students with a foundation for further study.
The result is a compact methodological guide for anyone seeking to approach the traditional Islamic sciences in a more systematic way.

A Special Study of Shaykh Muḥammad al-Ṣabbān

A particularly valuable feature of this edition is its extensive biographical study of Shaykh Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī al-Ṣabbān رحمه الله, the renowned Egyptian scholar associated with the famous poetic lines on al-mabādiʾ al-ʿasharah.
According to the author, this is the first in-depth English-language biography of Shaykh al-Ṣabbān.
The biography introduces English-speaking students to an important scholar whose name is familiar through his celebrated verses, but whose life and scholarly legacy remain considerably less known.
This combination of methodology, Islamic sciences and scholarly biography distinguishes the book from a simple introductory manual.

For Students of Sacred Knowledge

The book has been written especially with the beginning student of knowledge in mind. Understanding the foundations of a science before entering its detailed discussions can provide greater clarity and direction throughout one’s studies.
At only 105 pages, the book offers a concise entry point without attempting to replace the detailed study of the individual disciplines themselves.
It is particularly suitable for:
• Beginning students of the Islamic sciences
• Students following a traditional Islamic studies curriculum
• Readers interested in al-mabādiʾ al-ʿasharah
• Students seeking a structured overview before advanced study
• Teachers introducing students to the Islamic sciences
• Readers interested in Shaykh Muḥammad al-Ṣabbān

About the Author

Harun Verstaen is an independent researcher, translator and student of the Islamic sciences and Arabic language. He has pursued Islamic studies through both academic and traditional settings and has studied in several countries. He has received ijāzāt from scholars including Shaykh Mohammed Daniel and obtained a Diploma in Introduction to Classical Islamic Texts from Cambridge Islamic College. His translation work includes Our Master Muhammad by ʿAbdallāh Sirājuddīn al-Ḥusaynī and The Encompassing Epistle by Aḥmad ibn Zayn al-Ḥabashī.

BOOK DETAILS

Title: Ten Principles for Ten Essential Islamic Sciences
Author: Harun Verstaen
Subject: Islamic Studies / Islamic Sciences / al-Mabādiʾ al-ʿAsharah / Scholarly Biography
Language: English
Publication date: 2 August 2026
Pages: 105
Binding: Paperback / Perfect Bound
Interior: Colour
Dimensions: 6 × 9 in / 152 × 229 mm
ISBN: 9789090429144
Keywords: Islam / Islamic Studies / Biography
Condition: New

NEDERLANDS

Tien principes voor tien essentiële islamitische wetenschappen

Ten Principles for Ten Essential Islamic Sciences van Harun Verstaen is een compacte Engelstalige introductie tot al-mabādiʾ al-ʿasharah (المبادئ العشرة): de tien fundamentele principes waarmee klassieke geleerden een wetenschap introduceerden voordat de student de details ervan ging bestuderen.
Het boek past deze principes toe op tien essentiële islamitische wetenschappen en biedt beginnende studenten daarmee een kader om hun verdere studie beter te structureren.
Een bijzonder onderdeel is de uitgebreide biografie van de Egyptische geleerde Shaykh Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī al-Ṣabbān رحمه الله, bekend vanwege zijn beroemde verzen over de tien principes. Volgens de auteur betreft dit de eerste uitvoerige Engelstalige biografie van al-Ṣabbān.
Een compact en methodisch boek voor studenten die de islamitische wetenschappen op een gestructureerde manier willen benaderen.

العربية

Ten Principles for Ten Essential Islamic Sciences

كتاب باللغة الإنجليزية للباحث والمترجم Harun Verstaen يقدم مدخلًا إلى المبادئ العشرة وتطبيقها على عشرة من العلوم الإسلامية الأساسية.
يهدف الكتاب إلى تزويد طالب العلم المبتدئ بتصور منظم عن العلوم التي يدرسها قبل الدخول في تفاصيلها.
ومن مميزات الكتاب اشتماله على ترجمة موسعة للشيخ المصري محمد بن علي الصبان رحمه الله، صاحب الأبيات المشهورة في المبادئ العشرة، ويذكر المؤلف أنها أول ترجمة موسعة له باللغة الإنجليزية.
كتاب مختصر في 105 صفحات، مناسب للمبتدئين وطلاب العلوم الإسلامية.