The Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi
A complete collection of 42 prophetic narrations that summarise the foundations of Islam, with Arabic text, English translation, Urdu and Hindi translation, and authenticated commentary by Mufti Salim Qasmi (Darul Uloom Deoband).
What is Al-Arbaeen An-Nawawiyyah?
Al-Arbaeen An-Nawawiyyah is a compilation of forty-two hadith assembled by Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi (631–676 AH / 1233–1277 CE). Imam Nawawi selected narrations that, in his view, contain the essence of Islamic teaching — each one is a foundation that a substantial portion of the religion rests upon.
The collection has been memorised by students of knowledge for over seven centuries. It is the standard first text in hadith studies at Darul Uloom Deoband, Al-Azhar, and madrasahs across the Indian subcontinent. For Muslims beginning serious study of the Sunnah, no other collection is recommended first.
This pillar page links to all 42 hadith. Each linked page contains the Arabic text, full chain references (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, etc.), English translation, Urdu translation, Hindi translation, and a short fiqh-aware commentary reviewed by Mufti Salim Qasmi.
Why 42 and not 40?
Imam Nawawi extended Ibn Salah’s collection of 26 to a working set of 40, then added two more — bringing the actual count to 42. The name “Forty” was kept because the number 40 carries traditional significance in Islamic scholarship.
Primary sources
26 hadith are drawn from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. The remaining narrations come from the four Sunan collections and the Muwatta of Imam Malik. Every chain has been verified.
Who should memorise it?
Children aged 10 and above, new Muslims, madrasah students, and any Muslim wanting a structured grounding in the Sunnah. We teach this collection in our Hadith course at IqraExpert.in.
All 42 Hadith of Imam Nawawi
Tap any hadith to read the Arabic, translation in three languages, isnad references, and commentary.
Actions Are by Intentions
The foundation of all deeds. Reward depends on niyyah.
Read hadith 02Islam, Iman, and Ihsan
The hadith of Jibril. The three levels of the religion.
Read hadith 03Islam Is Built Upon Five
Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj — the five pillars.
Read hadith 04Deeds Are by Their Final Actions
The stages of creation in the womb. Predestination and final outcome.
Read hadith 05Rejection of Innovation
Any action not from this affair of ours is rejected.
Read hadith 06The Halal and the Haram Are Clear
Doubtful matters and the role of the heart in piety.
Read hadith 07The Religion Is Sincere Advice
Nasiha to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders, and the Muslims.
Read hadith 08The Sanctity of a Muslim
The conditions under which Muslim life, property, and honour are protected.
Read hadith 09Obligations According to Ability
What is forbidden must be left. What is commanded is done as you can.
Read hadith 10Allah Accepts Only the Pure
Haram earnings block the acceptance of duas. The duty of halal income.
Read hadith 11Leave What Causes You Doubt
Wara’ — the standard of caution in matters that are unclear.
Read hadith 12Leave What Does Not Concern You
A short hadith on the highest manner of a Muslim.
Read hadith 13Love for Your Brother What You Love for Yourself
The standard for completed faith in dealings with other Muslims.
Read hadith 14The Blood of a Muslim Is Protected
The three exceptions under which the life of a Muslim becomes liable.
Read hadith 15Speak Good or Remain Silent
Three signs of belief in Allah and the Last Day.
Read hadith 16Do Not Get Angry
The advice the Prophet ﷺ repeated when asked for guidance.
Read hadith 17Allah Has Prescribed Excellence in All Things
Ihsan even in slaughter. The standard for every action.
Read hadith 18Follow a Bad Deed with a Good One
Taqwa, the erasing of sin, and good character with people.
Read hadith 19Be Mindful of Allah, He Will Protect You
The advice to Ibn Abbas on tawakkul and the limits of creation.
Read hadith 20If You Have No Shame, Do as You Wish
Haya as a branch of faith and a restraint on the soul.
Read hadith 21Say “I Believe in Allah” and Be Steadfast
The complete instruction for the religion in one sentence.
Read hadith 22The Path to Paradise
Obligations and prohibitions sufficient for entering Jannah.
Read hadith 23Purification Is Half of Faith
Tahara, dhikr, salah, sadaqah, sabr, and the Quran as proof.
Read hadith 24The Forbiddance of Oppression
Hadith Qudsi. Allah has forbidden zulm upon Himself.
Read hadith 25Every Good Act Is Sadaqah
How the poor can match the charity of the wealthy.
Read hadith 26Charity on Every Joint of the Body
Daily forms of sadaqah that require no wealth.
Read hadith 27Righteousness Is Good Character
The simplest definition of birr and the test for sin.
Read hadith 28Hold Fast to the Sunnah and Rightly Guided Caliphs
The advice given on a day of weeping. Guidance against fitnah.
Read hadith 29Tell Me a Deed That Will Enter Me into Paradise
The pillars, the gates of good, and control of the tongue.
Read hadith 30Allah Has Set Limits — Do Not Transgress Them
The four categories: obligations, prohibitions, limits, and silence.
Read hadith 31Be Detached from the World
The advice on zuhd that earns the love of Allah and people.
Read hadith 32No Harm, No Reciprocal Harm
A foundational legal maxim used across Islamic jurisprudence.
Read hadith 33The Burden of Proof Is on the Claimant
A judicial principle. The oath falls on the one who denies.
Read hadith 34Change Evil with Hand, Tongue, or Heart
The three levels of forbidding wrong and the weakness of faith.
Read hadith 35Brotherhood in Islam
Prohibitions on envy, hatred, and turning away from a Muslim.
Read hadith 36Relieving the Distress of Another Muslim
The reward for helping a brother, concealing his fault, and seeking knowledge.
Read hadith 37The Multiplication of Reward for Good Intentions
Hadith Qudsi on how Allah records intended and completed deeds.
Read hadith 38Drawing Near to Allah
Hadith Qudsi on fara’id, nawafil, and the love of Allah.
Read hadith 39Mistakes, Forgetfulness, and Compulsion Are Excused
A mercy on this ummah from the burdens of legal accountability.
Read hadith 40Be in This World As a Stranger or Traveller
Ibn Umar’s advice. The world as a passage to the next life.
Read hadith 41True Faith Means Following the Prophet ﷺ
No one believes until his desire follows what the Prophet ﷺ brought.
Read hadith 42The Expanse of Allah’s Forgiveness
Hadith Qudsi. The promise of forgiveness as wide as the earth.
Read hadithHow to Memorise the Forty Hadith
The classical method used in Deobandi madrasahs, adapted for self-study and online students.
Read the Arabic aloud
Recite each hadith in Arabic five times before looking at the translation. The ear learns the rhythm first.
Read the translation
Use Urdu or Hindi if that is your first language. Only then move to the English. Meaning anchors memorisation.
Read the commentary
One short tafsir per session. Note the chain (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, etc.) and the central legal or moral point.
Memorise one per week
Forty-two hadith over ten months. Revise the previous week’s hadith before adding a new one. Steady pace, no skipping.
Commentary Authenticated by Mufti Salim Qasmi
About Imam Nawawi’s Forty Hadith
Who was Imam Nawawi?
Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi (631–676 AH / 1233–1277 CE) was a Shafi’i jurist and hadith scholar from Nawa, near Damascus. He authored Riyad as-Salihin, Sharh Sahih Muslim, and Al-Adhkar, among other works. His Arbaeen collection became the most studied hadith primer in Sunni Islam.
How many hadith are actually in the Arbaeen?
Forty-two. Imam Nawawi titled it “The Forty” by convention, since 40 is a traditional number in Islamic scholarship, but the collection contains 42 narrations. He added the last two beyond the original forty to cover additional foundational themes.
Is the Arbaeen Nawawi authentic?
Yes. Imam Nawawi selected hadith from authenticated sources — primarily Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, with the rest from the four Sunan and Muwatta of Imam Malik. Every chain has been verified by classical and modern hadith scholars. No weak or fabricated hadith is present in the collection.
In what order should I memorise the hadith?
Start in the order Imam Nawawi compiled them. The collection opens with the hadith of intentions because every other deed depends on it. The sequence is deliberate — themes build on each other through pillars of Islam, character, jurisprudence, and finally the akhirah.
Can children memorise the Forty Hadith?
Children from age 10 upward can complete it over 10–12 months with weekly classes. We teach it as part of our Hadith course on IqraExpert.in. The Arabic is short enough for kids to memorise without becoming overwhelmed, and the meanings are within reach with proper explanation.
Which English translation does this site use?
The translation has been done in-house and reviewed by Mufti Salim Qasmi. It stays close to the Arabic without inserting interpretive additions. Where multiple valid translations exist, we note them in the commentary.
What is the difference between Sahih Bukhari and the Arbaeen Nawawi?
Sahih al-Bukhari contains over 7,000 hadith covering nearly every topic of Islamic life. It is the most authentic hadith collection but is a reference work, not a memorisation primer. The Arbaeen is a hand-picked selection of 42 foundational hadith from Bukhari, Muslim, and other sources — designed specifically to be memorised by students of knowledge.
Are the hadith in Hindi available?
Yes. Every hadith page on this site contains the Hindi translation alongside Urdu and English. Hindi-speaking Muslims in India can study the collection without depending on Roman Urdu transliterations.
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