Question 1

What is Al-Arba‘in Al-Nawawiyyah (Nawawi's 40 Hadith)?

Accepted Answer

Al-Arba‘in Al-Nawawiyyah is a celebrated 13th-century collection of 42 foundational hadiths compiled by Imam Yaḥyā ibn Sharaf al-Nawawī. Each hadith is considered a comprehensive pillar of Islamic belief, worship, ethics, and conduct.

Question 2

How many hadith are in Nawawi's Forty Hadith?

Accepted Answer

The collection actually contains 42 hadiths. Imam al-Nawawi kept the traditional title 'Forty' (al-Arba‘in) following the scholarly convention of compiling around forty foundational narrations.

Question 3

Who was Imam al-Nawawi?

Accepted Answer

Imam Yaḥyā ibn Sharaf al-Nawawī (631–676 AH / 1233–1277 CE) was a Shāfiʿī jurist and hadith scholar from Nawā, Syria. Despite a short life, he authored major works including Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn and his commentary on Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.

Question 4

What is the first hadith of Nawawi's collection?

Accepted Answer

The first hadith is the famous narration of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (RA): 'Actions are but by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended.' It is reported by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim.

Question 5

Are the 40 Hadith of Nawawi authentic (sahih)?

Accepted Answer

The vast majority are sahih (authentic), drawn primarily from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim — the two most rigorously authenticated hadith collections in Sunni tradition.

Question 6

Why should I memorise Nawawi's 40 Hadith?

Accepted Answer

Memorising these hadiths follows a long scholarly tradition of preserving forty foundational narrations. They give a structured foundation in core Islamic teachings on belief, worship, character, and society.

Question 7

Where can I read Nawawi's 40 Hadith online with audio?

Accepted Answer

You can read and listen to all 42 hadiths in Arabic and English with synchronised word-by-word audio highlighting on hadithexplore.site — completely free and works offline as a Progressive Web App.

Question 8

What is Hadith Jibreel?

Accepted Answer

Hadith Jibreel (Hadith 2 in Nawawi's collection) is the famous narration in which the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) appears in human form and asks the Prophet ﷺ about Islam, Iman (faith), and Ihsan (excellence) — providing a complete summary of the religion.

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