Mastery Study Map

An-Nawawī's Forty Ḥadīth

الأَرْبَعُونَ النَّوَوِيَّة

Al-Arbaʿūn an-Nawawiyyah — Imām Yaḥyā ibn Sharaf an-Nawawī (d. 676 H)
Text with explanatory notes · commentary drawn from Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd & Ibn Rajab

Titled “the Forty” — it actually contains 42 ḥadīth, each a foundational principle

Plain-English DefinitionWhat this collection is

A compact anthology of 42 prophetic traditions (the traditional name “Forty” stuck), each chosen because it is short, comprehensive, and states a foundation of belief (ʿaqīdah) or law (sharīʿah).

Most come from the two Ṣaḥīḥs (al-Bukhārī & Muslim). An-Nawawī deliberately picked ḥadīth that scholars had each called “an axis,” “a half,” or “a third” of Islam — so the collection works as a spine of the religion.

On the count: the book states plainly it “actually contains 42 ḥadīth.” The motivating narration about “whoever preserves forty ḥadīth…” is itself weak — an-Nawawī says so, and relies instead on “Let the one present convey to the absent.”

The Pareto AnchorsThe load-bearing few ★

Ḥadīth	Why it carries the weight
#1 Intentions	“Deeds are only by intentions.” The axis of Islam and “a third of knowledge” — governs the inward validity of every act.
#2 Jibrīl	The most complete creed statement: the 5 pillars, 6 articles of faith, and iḥsān (“worship Allah as though you see Him”).
#5 Innovation	“Whoever innovates in this matter of ours… it is rejected.” The outward test — paired with #1 (inward) as the twin conditions for any deed's acceptance.
#6 Doubtful matters	The lawful & unlawful are clear; between them are doubtful matters. Foundation of scrupulousness (waraʿ); ends on “the heart.”
#32 No harm	“Let there be no harm and no harming.” Called “the basis of every fatwā.”
#34 Forbidding wrong	Change a wrong “by hand… tongue… heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” The community's working principle.

All 42 ḤadīthFilter by theme, then study each

Thematic ClustersHow the 42 group together

Cluster	Ḥadīth numbers
Intention & inward validity	1, 5, 19, 37, 38, 41
Creed & pillars	2, 3, 4, 22, 29
Ḥalāl / ḥarām & scrupulousness	6, 9, 10, 11, 27, 30
Character & brotherhood	12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 31, 35, 36, 40
Law, justice & sanctity of life	8, 14, 32, 33, 34, 39
Heart, worship & mercy	7, 17, 24, 28, 42

Common Mistakes & Confusing Parts

Trap	Keep it straight
“Forty” = 40	The title is traditional; the book explicitly contains 42. Students miscount.
One condition for acceptance	A deed needs two: sincerity (#1, inward) and conformity to the Sunnah (#5, outward). Neither alone suffices.
All are in Bukhārī/Muslim	No — most are, but several are graded ḥasan (e.g. 11, 12, 18, 19, 28–33, 39, 42). Don't assume.
Qadar cancels responsibility (#4, #19)	Read with the command to act — “a man does deeds until an arm's length,” then the decree turns him. Predestination ≠ no accountability.
Ḥadīth qudsī = Qurʾān	No — 24, 37, 38, 42 are Allah's words related by the Prophet ﷺ, distinct from the Qurʾān.

“Before You Use This” Checklist

Can I state the two conditions for a deed's acceptance (ḥadīth 1 + 5)?
Can I recite ḥadīth 1, 2, 6, 34 — the most-quoted anchors?
Do I know “Forty” really means 42?
Can I place a ḥadīth in its theme cluster?
Do I know which four are ḥadīth qudsī (24, 37, 38, 42)?

Rapid-Fire Memory QuestionsCover the answers first

1. Which ḥadīth opens the collection and is the “axis of Islam”?

Reveal

#1 — “Deeds are only by intentions” (ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb).

2. Who questioned the Prophet ﷺ in the ḥadīth of Islam, īmān & iḥsān?

Reveal

Jibrīl (Gabriel) — ḥadīth #2.

3. What are the two conditions for a deed to be accepted?

Reveal

Sincere intention (ikhlāṣ, #1) and correctness / conformity to the Sunnah (ṣawāb, #5).

4. “The lawful is clear and the unlawful is clear…” ends on which organ?

Reveal

The heart — ḥadīth #6.

5. Which ḥadīth is called “the basis of every fatwā”?

Reveal

#32 — “No harm and no harming” (Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī).

6. Which Companion narrates the most ḥadīth in the collection?

Reveal

Abū Hurayrah — around eight–nine of the 42.

Ḥadīth wordings are quoted from the book's English translation (Ṣaḥīḥ International edition). Arabic titles shown are the well-known names of the collection. Study each ḥadīth in full from the book for its complete wording and commentary.