Hadith #1 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Actions are judged by intentions Narrator(s): Umar ibn al-Khattab (Abu Hafs Amirul Mu'minin) Grade: Sahih I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-1/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #2 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Islam, Iman, Ihsan (the visit of Jibril) Narrator(s): Umar ibn al-Khattab Grade: Sahih While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down close by the Prophet (ﷺ) rested his knees against the knees of the Prophet (ﷺ) and placed his palms over his thighs, and said: “O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: “Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger (ﷺ), that you should perform salah (ritual prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah), if you can find a way to it (or find the means for making the journey to it).” He said: “You have spoken the truth.” We were astonished at his thus questioning him (ﷺ) and then telling him that he was right, but he went on to say, “Inform me about Iman (faith).” He (the Prophet) answered, “It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects.” He said, “You have spoken the truth.” Then he (the man) said, “Inform me about Ihsan.” He (the Prophet) answered, “It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you.” He said, “Inform me about the Hour.” He (the Prophet) said, “About that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner.” So he said, “Well, inform me about its signs.” He said, “They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings.” Thereupon the man went off. I waited a while, and then he (the Prophet) said, “O `Umar, do you know who that questioner was?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better.” He said, “That was Jibril. He came to teach you your religion.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-2/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #3 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: The five pillars of Islam Narrator(s): Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab Grade: Sahih I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the salah (prayer), paying the zakat (obligatory charity), making the hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadhan.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-3/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #4 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: The creation of mankind and divine decree (qadar) Narrator(s): Abdullah ibn Masood Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he is the truthful, the believed, narrated to us, “Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days in the form of a nutfah (a drop), then he becomes an alaqah (clot of blood) for a like period, then a mudghah (morsel of flesh) for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows his soul into him and who is commanded with four matters: to write down his rizq (sustenance), his life span, his actions, and whether he will be happy or unhappy (i.e., whether or not he will enter Paradise). By the One, other than Whom there is no deity, verily one of you performs the actions of the people of Paradise until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him, and so he acts with the actions of the people of the Hellfire and thus enters it; and verily one of you performs the actions of the people of the Hellfire, until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him and so he acts with the actions of the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-4/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #5 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Rejection of innovations (bid'ah) Narrator(s): Aisha bint Abi Bakr Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not of it will have it rejected (by Allah).” In another version in Muslim it reads: “He who does an act which we have not commanded, will have it rejected (by Allah).” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-5/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #6 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: The halal and haram are clear; avoiding doubtful matters Narrator(s): an-Nu'man ibn Basheer Grade: Sahih I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters [eventually] falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-6/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #7 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Religion is sincere advice (nasihah) Narrator(s): Tameem ibn Aus ad-Daree Grade: Sahih The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The deen (religion) is naseehah (advice, sincerity).” We said, “To whom?” He (ﷺ) said, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-7/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #8 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Fighting until people testify the shahadah Narrator(s): Abdullah ibn Umar Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the salah and pay the zakat. And if they do that then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property, unless [they commit acts that are punishable] in Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-8/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #9 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Obey commands and avoid prohibitions Narrator(s): Abu Hurairah Grade: Sahih I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “What I have forbidden for you, avoid. What I have ordered you [to do], do as much of it as you can. For verily, it was only the excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets that destroyed [the nations] who were before you.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-9/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #10 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Allah is good and accepts only what is good; lawful earnings Narrator(s): Abu Hurairah Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah the Almighty is Good and accepts only that which is good. And verily Allah has commanded the believers to do that which He has commanded the Messengers. So the Almighty has said: ‘O (you) Messengers! Eat of the tayyibat [all kinds of halal (legal) foods], and perform righteous deeds.’ [23:51] and the Almighty has said: ‘O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you.’ [2:172]” Then he (ﷺ) mentioned [the case] of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying “O Lord! O Lord!”, while his food is haram (unlawful), his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can [his supplication] be answered? Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-10/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #13 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Loving for one's brother what one loves for oneself Narrator(s): Abu Hamzah Anas ibn Malik Grade: Sahih None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself. Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-13/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #14 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: The sanctity of Muslim blood; three cases permitting capital punishment Narrator(s): Ibn Masood Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “It is not permissible to spill the blood of a Muslim except in three [instances]: the married person who commits adultery, a life for a life, and the one who forsakes his religion and separates from the community.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-14/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #15 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Good speech, honoring neighbors and guests Narrator(s): Abu Hurairah Grade: Sahih Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day speak good, or keep silent; and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour; and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his guest. Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-15/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #16 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Do not become angry Narrator(s): Abu Hurairah Grade: Sahih A man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “Counsel me,” so he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do not become angry.” The man repeated [his request for counsel] several times, and [each time] he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do not become angry.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-16/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #17 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Allah has prescribed excellence (ihsan) in all things Narrator(s): Abu Ya'la Shaddad ibn Aws Grade: Sahih Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (proficiency, perfection) in all things. So if you kill then kill well; and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters. Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-17/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #20 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Modesty (haya) is part of faith Narrator(s): Abu Masood Uqbah ibn Amr al-Ansaree al-Badree Grade: Sahih Verily, from what was learnt by the people from the speech of the earliest prophecy is: If you feel no shame, then do as you wish. Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-20/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #21 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Say: I believe in Allah, then be steadfast Narrator(s): Abu Amr Sufyan ibn Abdullah ath-Thaqafee Grade: Sahih I said, “O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about al-Islam which I can ask of no one but you.” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Say I believe in Allah — and then be steadfast.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-21/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #22 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Performing obligations is sufficient for Paradise Narrator(s): Abu Abdullah Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansaree Grade: Sahih A man questioned the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “Do you think that if I perform the obligatory prayers, fast in Ramadhan, treat as lawful that which is halal, and treat as forbidden that which is haram, and do not increase upon that [in voluntary good deeds], then I shall enter Paradise?” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “Yes.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-22/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #23 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Purity is half of faith; virtues of remembrance and worship Narrator(s): Abu Malik al-Harith ibn Asim al-Asharee Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Purity is half of iman (faith). ‘Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah)’ fills the scales, and ‘subhan-Allah (how far is Allah from every imperfection)’ and ‘Al-hamdulillah (praise be to Allah)’ fill that which is between heaven and earth. And the salah (prayer) is a light, and charity is a proof, and patience is illumination, and the Qur’an is a proof either for you or against you. Every person starts his day as a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or causing its ruin.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-23/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #24 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Divine hadith (hadith qudsi) on Allah's mercy and justice Narrator(s): Abu Dharr al-Ghifaree Grade: Sahih O My servants! I have forbidden dhulm (oppression) for Myself, and I have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. O My servants, all of you are astray except those whom I have guided, so seek guidance from Me and I shall guide you. O My servants, all of you are hungry except those whom I have fed, so seek food from Me and I shall feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked except those whom I have clothed, so seek clothing from Me and I shall clothe you. O My servants, you commit sins by day and by night, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you. O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and you will not attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me. O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, and the humans of you and the jinn of you, were all as pious as the most pious heart of any individual amongst you, then this would not increase My Kingdom an iota. O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, and the humans of you and the jinn of you, were all as wicked as the most wicked heart of any individual amongst you, then this would not decrease My Kingdom an iota. O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, and the humans of you and the jinn of you, were all to stand together in one place and ask of Me, and I were to give everyone what he requested, then that would not decrease what I Possess, except what is decreased of the ocean when a needle is dipped into it. O My servants, it is but your deeds that I account for you, and then recompense you for. So he who finds good, let him praise Allah, and he who finds other than that, let him blame no one but himself. Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-24/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #25 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Every act of goodness is charity; reward in lawful marital relations Narrator(s): Abu Dharr al-Ghifaree Grade: Sahih Some people from amongst the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “O Messenger of Allah, the affluent have made off with the rewards; they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give [much] in charity by virtue of their wealth.” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Has not Allah made things for you to give in charity? Truly every tasbeehah [saying: ‘subhan-Allah’] is a charity, and every takbeerah [saying: ‘Allahu akbar’] is a charity, and every tahmeedah [saying: ‘al-hamdu lillah’] is a charity, and every tahleelah [saying: ‘laa ilaha illAllah’] is a charity. And commanding the good is a charity, and forbidding an evil is a charity, and in the bud`i [sexual act] of each one of you there is a charity.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, when one of us fulfils his carnal desire will he have some reward for that?” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do you not see that if he were to act upon it [his desire] in an unlawful manner then he would be deserving of punishment? Likewise, if he were to act upon it in a lawful manner then he will be deserving of a reward.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-25/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #26 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Every joint owes charity daily; acts of kindness as charity Narrator(s): Abu Hurairah Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Every joint of a person must perform a charity each day that the sun rises: to judge justly between two people is a charity. To help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it, is a charity. And the good word is a charity. And every step that you take towards the prayer is a charity, and removing a harmful object from the road is a charity.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-26/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #34 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Changing evil with the hand, tongue, or heart Narrator(s): Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree Grade: Sahih I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-34/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #35 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Brotherhood, avoiding envy and hatred; sanctity of a Muslim Narrator(s): Abu Hurairah Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do not envy one another, and do not inflate prices for one another, and do not hate one another, and do not turn away from one another, and do not undercut one another in trade, but [rather] be slaves of Allah and brothers [amongst yourselves]. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he does not oppress him, nor does he fail him, nor does he lie to him, nor does he hold him in contempt. Taqwa (piety) is right here [and he pointed to his chest three times]. It is evil enough for a man to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. The whole of a Muslim is inviolable for another Muslim: his blood, his property, and his honour.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-35/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #36 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Relieving a believer's distress; aiding one's brother; seeking knowledge Narrator(s): Abu Hurairah Grade: Sahih Whoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever alleviates the need of a needy person, Allah will alleviate his needs in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever shields [or hides the misdeeds of] a Muslim, Allah will shield him in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah will aid His slave so long as he aids his brother. And whoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the Houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that sakeenah (tranquility) descends upon them, and mercy envelops them, and the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them amongst those who are with Him. And whoever is slowed down by his actions, will not be hastened forward by his lineage. Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-36/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #37 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Allah's recording of good and evil deeds and intentions Narrator(s): ibn Abbas Grade: Sahih Verily Allah ta’ala has written down the good deeds and the evil deeds, and then explained it [by saying]: “Whosoever intended to perform a good deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended to perform it and then did perform it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, up to many times multiplied. And if he intended to perform an evil deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended it [i.e., the evil deed] and then performed it, then Allah writes it down as one evil deed.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-37/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #38 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Drawing close to Allah through obligations and voluntary deeds Narrator(s): Abu Hurairah Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Verily Allah ta’ala has said: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge.'” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-38/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #40 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: Being a stranger in this world; not being deceived by the dunya Narrator(s): Abdullah ibn Umar Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) took me by the shoulder and said, “Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.” And Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say, “In the evening do not expect [to live until] the morning, and in the morning do not expect [to live until] the evening. Take [advantage of] your health before times of sickness, and [take advantage of] your life before your death.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-40/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Hadith #41 (The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi) Book: True faith requires desires to follow the Sunnah Narrator(s): Abu Muhammad Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas Grade: Sahih The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “None of you [truly] believes until his desires are subservient to that which I have brought.” Source: https://parallelquran.com/hadith/forty-nawawi-41/