The 40 Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi

“The 40 Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi” is a famous collection of forty-two foundational Hadiths compiled by the great 13th-century scholar Imam Yahya al-Nawawi. Each hadith in this collection is considered a key part of the religion — covering topics like intentions, faith, character, lawful and unlawful, etc. Because of the importance of these Hadiths, the collection is widely taught as a primer in Islamic studies. When people refer to “Nawawi’s 40 Hadith,” they mean this specific compilation.

Imam al-Nawawi mentioned that he chose these particular hadiths because each one conveys a significant part of the Islamic message. Many of these hadiths were described by scholars before him as being “the axis” of Islam or very comprehensive in meaning. For example, the first hadith is about intentions (“Actions are judged only by their intentions”), which affects every deed a Muslim does. Another hadith covers what is halal (permissible) and haram (forbidden) and the grey areas in between. Essentially, Nawawi wanted to create a summary of the Prophet’s teachings — a toolkit of hadiths that every Muslim should know to understand their faith better.

Yes, especially if you have a copy that includes commentary. On its own, the text of each hadith is short, but sometimes the concepts can be deep. Many editions of the 40 Hadith come with an explanation for each hadith. For instance, the ilmStore might have versions that contain commentary by scholars like Ibn Daqiq al-‘Id or contemporary scholars who explain each hadith in simple terms. With those notes, a beginner can definitely understand and appreciate the lessons. Even without commentary, the language of the hadith is generally straightforward — but you might have questions about the context or how to apply it, which a commentary would clarify.

A few famous ones:
- Hadith 1: “Actions are according to intentions” – emphasizing sincerity.
- Hadith 2: The hadith of Jibreel, where Angel Gabriel questioned the Prophet about Islam, Iman, Ihsan, and the signs of the Hour – this hadith lays out the essentials of the faith (often called the Hadith of Gabriel).
- Hadith 9: “What I have forbidden you, avoid. What I have commanded you, do as much of it as you can...” – teaches following the Prophet’s guidance and doing one’s best without unnecessary hardship.
- Hadith 13: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” – a golden rule of empathy.
- Hadith 19: “Be mindful of Allah wherever you are…” – about taqwa and following a bad deed with a good one.
- Hadith 34: “Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand…” – about enjoining good and forbidding evil, with conditions.
There are 42 in total in Nawawi’s list, touching creed, worship, dealings, social ethics, and spirituality.

A fruitful way is to take it slow, maybe one hadith at a time. You could:
- Read the text of the hadith, try to understand its basic meaning.
- Then read the commentary or explanation associated with it. Many commentaries will give background: for example, who narrated it, what scholars have derived from it (some hadiths are so comprehensive that dozens of lessons can be listed).
- Reflect on how this hadith applies to you. For instance, after learning “actions are by intentions,” you might start checking your intention before doing any good deed.
Some people try to memorize all 40 hadiths over time, which is a noble goal. If not memorizing word-for-word, at least memorize the meaning and lesson of each. There are also online lectures series for Nawawi’s 40 Hadith (some scholars have 40-part series explaining one hadith per session – you could combine reading the book with those videos for a deeper understanding).
Remember, the point of these hadiths is not just knowledge, but to implement. Each one is a call to action in some way – like improving sincerity, being kind, fulfilling obligations, etc. So studying them gradually and trying to practice each lesson is the best approach.