What Are the 40 Hadith of An-Nawawi?
The 40 Hadith of Imam An-Nawawi (Al-Arba'un An-Nawawiyyah) is the most widely studied hadith collection in the Islamic world. Compiled by Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf An-Nawawi (1233–1277 CE), it actually contains 42 hadith — each one a foundational principle of Islamic faith and practice.
Imam An-Nawawi wrote in his introduction: "It has been related to us from 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Abu'l-Darda', Ibn 'Umar, Ibn 'Abbas, Anas ibn Malik, Abu Hurayrah and Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri — may Allah be pleased with them all — through many chains of transmission and in various wordings, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Whoever preserves for my community forty hadith concerning its religion, Allah will resurrect him on the Day of Resurrection in the company of jurists and scholars.'"
Why This Collection Is So Important
These 42 hadith were chosen because they represent the core foundations of Islam — scholars say that half of Islamic knowledge can be derived from them. Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali noted: "This collection is the axis around which Islam revolves."
They cover:
- The fundamentals of faith (iman)
- The pillars of Islam
- The conditions of accepted deeds
- Islamic ethics and character
- Rules of worship and daily life
- End times and accountability
The Most Fundamental Hadith
Hadith 1 — Actions Are by Intentions
"Actions are only by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This is considered by many scholars to be one-third of all Islamic knowledge. It establishes that every act of worship requires sincere intention (niyyah) to be valid and rewarded.
Hadith 2 — Islam, Iman, and Ihsan
The famous hadith of Jibreel (Gabriel), where the angel appeared to the Prophet in human form and asked about Islam, Iman (faith), and Ihsan (spiritual excellence):
"Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then know that He sees you." (Muslim)
This single hadith contains the entire framework of Islamic spirituality.
Hadith 5 — Avoiding Innovations (Bid'ah)
"Whoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not part of it will have it rejected." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This establishes the principle that acts of worship must be based on authentic evidence from the Quran and Sunnah.
Hadith 6 — Halal and Haram Are Clear
"The halal is clear and the haram is clear, and between them are matters that are doubtful which many people do not know. Whoever avoids the doubtful matters has protected his religion and his honor." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Hadith 13 — Love for Your Brother What You Love for Yourself
"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Hadith 29 — The Gates of Goodness
"Know that if the whole of mankind gathered to benefit you with anything, they would only be able to benefit you with something that Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they all gathered together to harm you, they would only be able to harm you with something that Allah had already decreed against you." (At-Tirmidhi)
Hadith 42 — Forgiveness and Mercy
"Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, says: 'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and put your hope in Me, I will forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky, and you asked for forgiveness from Me, I will forgive you.'" (At-Tirmidhi)
How to Study the 40 Hadith
For beginners: Start with hadith 1, 2, 5, 6, and 13. These five give you the essential framework.
Recommended approach:
- Read the Arabic text and memorize it if possible
- Understand the translation
- Study the brief explanation (sharh) of each hadith
- Apply one principle to your daily life before moving to the next
Time commitment: At a pace of one hadith per week, you can complete the collection in less than a year — with deep understanding rather than surface familiarity.
Scholarly Commentaries
The most accessible English commentary is "Commentary on the Forty Hadith of Al-Nawawi" by Dr. Jamal al-Din Zarabozo. For Arabic speakers, Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali's "Jami' Al-'Ulum Wal-Hikam" is the most comprehensive classical commentary.
Reading the 40 Hadith on Azkars
All 42 hadith are available on Azkars with:
- Arabic original text
- English translation
- Key lesson from each hadith
- Reading progress tracker
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it." The same spirit applies to his Sunnah — learn it, live it, share it.
