Hadith in Islamic Context
The term “Hadith” refers generally to any spoken word or report. In a more specific Islamic context, “Hadith” signifies the sayings, actions, tacit approvals, and characteristics—both physical and moral—attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Tacit approval refers to the Prophet’s silence regarding the words or deeds of his companions (may Allah be pleased with them); this silence constitutes an endorsement because the Prophet would not approve of anything improper. The Prophet’s physical traits, such as skin color, hair texture, height, and mannerisms, are discussed in various narrations. Additionally, the moral attributes include qualities like generosity, bravery, humility, compassion towards the needy, and forgiveness, despite his ability to punish. Notably, some scholars also consider the words and actions of the companions and subsequent generations as part of the Hadith corpus.
The field of Hadith studies is divided into two main categories: the science of Hadith comprehension (Dirayah) and the science of Hadith narration (Riwayah). The latter is considered one of the noblest sciences, as it focuses on accurately transmitting the sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to prevent errors in these transmissions. This facilitates followers in emulating the Prophet’s character and actions, in accordance with Allah’s words: “Indeed, you have in the Messenger of Allah a good example for whoever hopes for the meeting with Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.” Muhammad ibn Shihab al-Zuhri, a mentor to Imam al-Bukhari, is recognized as a pioneer in formalizing this science, being the first to document it systematically. This discipline gains further significance as it lays the foundation for deriving legal rulings and elaborating on the general principles outlined in the Qur’an.
The Forty Nawawi
The “Forty Nawawi” is one of the most renowned collections of Hadith, named after its author, Imam al-Nawawi. This compilation consists of forty prophetic traditions encapsulating essential teachings and principles of Islam, as well as legal rulings and jurisprudence. It is noteworthy that the majority of the Hadith included in this collection are authenticated, with twelve being mutually agreed upon by scholars, while thirteen are exclusively narrated by Imam Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him). The remaining traditions are reported by various compilers, including al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, al-Daraqutni, al-Bayhaqi, and al-Nasa’i. The book also includes a small proportion of good (Hasan) traditions and others. Imam al-Nawawi emphasized the significance of this work by stating, “Every seeker of the Hereafter should familiarize themselves with these Hadiths due to their critical content and guidance toward all acts of worship, a point that becomes clear upon reflection.”
Throughout history, numerous scholars from both the early and later periods have endeavored to compile collections of forty Hadith. They produced various works tailored to different objectives, compiling and organizing these traditions. Some emphasized Hadiths related to monotheism and attributes of Allah, as done by Abu Ishaq al-Harawi in his work on the evidences of Tawheed, and Imam al-Dhahabi in his collection on the attributes of the Lord of the worlds. Others focused on Hadiths pertaining to acts of worship, like the student of Imam al-Suyuti, Yusuf ibn Abdullah al-Husayni al-Armiuni al-Masri, in his compilation on acts of worship. Despite the numerous collections that exist, the “Forty Nawawi” remains the most celebrated, as Imam al-Nawawi aimed to gather forty authentic traditions reflecting the core principles of the faith. He stated in the book’s introduction: “I shall ensure that these forty Hadiths are authentic, the majority of which are found in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.” However, he faced disagreement from other Hadith scholars regarding the validation of certain traditions, notably from the commentator Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, who pointed out weaknesses in some chains of narration. Some of these Hadiths include:
- The twelfth Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): “The good of a person’s Islam is his leaving what does not concern him.”
- The twenty-ninth Hadith narrated by Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him): “What causes people to be thrown into the Hellfire on their faces or noses, except for the harvest of their tongues.”
- The thirtieth Hadith narrated by Abu Thaalabah al-Khushani: “Indeed, Allah has ordained certain obligations; do not abandon them, prescribed limits; do not transgress them, and certain matters He refrained from mentioning, out of mercy for you and not forgetfulness; hence, do not inquire about them.”
- The thirty-first Hadith narrated by Sahl ibn Sa’ad al-Saaidi: “Be ascetic concerning this world, and Allah will love you; be ascetic regarding what people possess, and they will love you.”
- The thirty-ninth Hadith narrated by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): “Indeed, Allah has excused my nation in three matters: mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do.”
- The forty-first Hadith narrated by the Prophet (peace be upon him): “None of you truly believes until his desires align with that which I have brought.”
Imam al-Nawawi
Imam al-Nawawi, whose full name is Abu Zakariya Muhyi ad-Din Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi, was a devout scholar born in 631 AH in the village of Nawa, situated in the Hauran plain of Syria. His quest for knowledge began early in his life, as he memorized the Qur’an and studied Islamic jurisprudence with knowledgeable scholars before reaching the age of ten. In 649 AH, he traveled with his father to pursue further education at the Dar al-Hadith school, where he resided at the Rawhiyah school. Imam al-Nawawi quickly distinguished himself among his peers due to his dedication to learning, quick retention, and broad understanding of diverse subjects, regularly attending twelve lessons daily from his teachers for explanation and correction.
As noted by the historian al-Ittar, “He was a memorizer of the Shafi’i school, well-versed in its principles, branches, and the differing opinions of the companions and successors. He meticulously followed the path of the righteous predecessors.” Imam al-Nawawi authored a multitude of works, including “Al-Minhaj,” “Riyad as-Salihin,” “Ar-Rawda,” “Al-Adhkar,” “Sharh Sahih Muslim,” and, of course, “The Forty Nawawi.” He dedicated his life to religious service and scholarship until his passing on the 24th of Rajab in 676 AH in his hometown, Nawa.