40 Hadith Nawawi

Read the ahadith in 40 Hadith Nawawi, a valued compilation of Hadiths by Imam Al Nawawi that will equip you with a basic understanding of the Hadith book and help you navigate it thoroughly. Nawawi's Forty (in Arabic: الأربعون النووية al-Arbaʿīn al-Nawawiyyah) is a compilation of forty hadiths by Imam al-Nawawi. This collection of Hadith, sourced mostly from Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari, is an ijma (compilation) of the 40 most significant Hadiths pertaining to the core beliefs of the Islamic law or Sharīʿah. Imam Nawawi compiled this collection for ease of access and to guide the lawmakers.

Use our platform's user-friendly features and navigation tools and explore this collection of Hadith with incredible ease! Our features at Muslim and Quran allow you to adapt the contents according to your learning style, whether you are a seasoned scholar or a budding learner. May this be your gateway to the profound guidance of Hadiths as we ease your Islamic learning of the timeless wisdom of Hadiths.

40 Hadith Nawawi

الأربعون النووية

Nawawi's Forty is a compilation of 40 hadiths by Imam al-Nawawi, most of which are from Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari. It is particularly valued because it is a distillation, by one of the most eminent authorities in Islamic jurisprudence, of the foundations of Islamic Sharīʿah.

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Hadith holds a prominent significance in the Islamic tradition and is second to the noble Quran in terms of wisdom and guidance about Islam and its practices. Scholars say that to see the Quran in practice, Muslims must refer to the life (Sunnah) and the sayings (Hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'dikarib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrates "The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Beware! I have been given the Qur'an and something like it" (Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani) Sunan Abi Dawud 4604).

By developing meticulous methods of preservation and its dedicated science, Hadiths are transmitted to the present-day Muslim through reports of an authenticated chain of narrators (Isnad). Narrated Zayd ibn ThabitI heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: May Allah brighten a man who hears a tradition from us, gets it by heart, and passes it on to others. Many a bearer of knowledge conveys it to one who is more versed than he is, and many a bearer of knowledge is not versed in it. (Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani) Sunan Abi Dawud 3660).

Taking the words of the Prophet (ﷺ) himself as the source of their motivation and inspiration, scholars have dedicated themselves to collecting, compiling, and authenticating the precious words of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Thus, emerged Forty Hadith, or Arbaʿīniyyāt, as a scholarly tradition and a subgenre of Hadith literature in the early centuries of Hijra (Islamic Calendar). The first recorded Arba'een compilation was at the hand of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mubarak (رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه). As the name indicates, Arbaʿīniyyāt (Forty Hadith) are collections containing forty Hadith related to particular subjects depending on their purpose. 

What is Hadith Nawawi?

Nawawi's Forty (in Arabic: الأربعون النووية al-Arbaʿīn al-Nawawiyyah) is a compilation of forty hadiths by Imam al-Nawawi (full name: Abu Zakaria Mohiuddin Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi). This collection of Hadith, sourced mostly from Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari, is on the subject of Islamic Law. It is an encapsulation of the most significant Hadiths on the foundations of Islamic sacred law, or Sharīʿah, by one of the most eminent and revered authorities in Islamic jurisprudence.

In putting together this collection, it was Imam al-Nawawi's explicit aim that "each hadith is a great fundament (qāʿida ʿaẓīma) of the religion, described by the religious scholars as being 'the axis of Islam' or 'the half of Islam' or 'the third of it' or the like, and to make it a rule that these forty Hadith be classified as sound (ṣaḥīḥ)." This particular work has become the most representative of the Arbaʿīniyyāt genre of Hadith.

About Imam Nawawi

Born in the town of Nawa in the area now known as Syria, Imam al-Nawawi was a prolific scholar who lived in the 13th century CE. He traveled to Damascus and later settled there, dedicating his life to the pursuit of Islamic knowledge and scholarship. Imam al-Nawawi is best known for his contributions to Hadith studies, fiqh (jurisprudence), and Tasawwuf (Sufism). His momentous works, including the compilation of "40 Hadith Nawawi" and Riyadh as-Saaliheen, continue to be An-Nawawi's lasting legacy. They are widely studied and revered by scholars and laypeople alike. He died at a relatively young age of 45, leaving behind a legacy of esteemed scholarship. 

Structure of 40 Hadith Nawawi

The 40 Hadith Nawawi are simply organized with individual hadiths organized in a thematic arrangement, each providing valuable insights into Islamic principles and practices that can be referenced for Sharīʿah (Islamic Sacred Law). The compilation has a range of topics on foundational beliefs and Islamic ethics, including worship and interpersonal relations. 

In his own words, Imam Nawawi says, "And I have made istikhārah to Allah the exalted concerning the collecting of forty ḥadīths following the example of those well-known imams and preservers of Islam." He utilized rigorous methods of verification and authentication to ensure the reliability of each Hadith he chose for this particular collection. For this, he decided to disregard weak Hadith, only establishing "reliance…upon that ḥadīth but rather on his ﷺ statement among the authentic hadiths". It is widely studied and referenced by scholars and laypeople alike for jurisprudence and moral guidance. 

As you read through the collection of Hadith, you will come across these key terms that you must know to avoid any confusion:

  • Sharīʿah: Islamic sacred law providing core ethics and values through Quran and Sunnah (ﷺ)
  • Isnad: Chain of narration tracing the transmission of a hadith back to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
  • Matan: the essential text or content of a hadith

Read 40 Hadith Nawawi with Muslim and Quran

This esteemed collection of the Arbaʿīniyyāt by Imam al-Nawawi is an authenticated source referred to by all scholars. However, it is imperative to seek the help of a qualified scholar of Islamic studies to thoroughly interpret, understand, and apply the wisdom of these Hadiths. While there are no restrictions upon the actual hadith content, make sure to respect the copyright and usage rights of the website.

Muslim and Quran application comes equipped with the most helpful navigation tools that will ease your learning of the essential Hadiths, compiled in this collection by Imam al-Nawawi. You can jot down your notes, share the individual hadiths, and save it for later referencing as well. Our application is specially designed to cater to learners and scholars across the board at all levels. Download the mobile app now to access all your Islamic resources, such as the Quran or Hadith, at the tap of your finger with our search feature!