An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith

There are two main sources of Islamic knowledge: the Holy Quran and the collection of the recorded words, actions, and sanctions of the Prophet Muhammad which make up the sunnah. These are commonly referred to as hadith. While the Quran remains the foremost source of Islamic knowledge, the sunnah complements the teachings of the Quran and should be followed as the Quran indicates in the following verse: “And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it. And whatsoever he forbids, abstain (from it).” Thus, without a study of hadith, Muslims cannot complete their knowledge of their faith, and non-Muslims are unable to form a true picture of Islam and its fundamental spiritual, moral, legislative, and cultural principles.

This book contains only authentic, well-documented hadiths, which are presented in Arabic and translated into modern English.