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Overview:
Few texts in Islamic learning have shaped everyday religious life as deeply as Imam al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith (al-Arba’in al-Nawawiyyah).
Compiled in the 13th century by the Damascene scholar Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi, this collection draws together sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that scholars consider foundational, covering belief, worship, character, law, and the inner life of the believer.
Below are the first 20 hadith from the collection, each with the actual hadith text, its source, and a simple explanation of what it teaches. Every title is linked to 40HadithNawawi.com, where you can read the full Arabic text, translation, and commentary for each one.
Hadith 1: Actions are by Intentions
“Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and His messenger, the migration will be for the sake of Allah and his Messenger. And whoever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
This is perhaps the most quoted hadith in Islamic literature, and many scholars say Islam revolves around it. It teaches that the value of any action is determined by the intention behind it — the same deed can earn reward or earn nothing at all, depending on why it was done.
Hadith 2: Islam, Iman, Ihsan
The Messenger of Allah said, “Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah, pay the Zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House, if you are able to do so.” … “[Iman] is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in qadar, both in its good and in its evil aspects.” … “[Ihsan] is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) — Muslim
Known as “Hadith Jibril,” this is the story of the Angel Gabriel (as) appearing in human form to ask the Prophet ﷺ to define Islam (outward practice), Iman (inward belief), and Ihsan (worshipping Allah Almighty with full awareness of His sight). It’s often called the mother of the Sunnah.
Hadith 3: Islam is Built Upon Five
“Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the Zakah, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
This hadith names the five pillars of Islam directly, describing them as the structural foundation that the entire practice of the religion is built upon.
Hadith 4: Deeds are by Their Final Actions
“Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days in the form of a drop, then he becomes a clot of blood for a like period, then a morsel of flesh for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows the breath of life into him and who is commanded with four matters: to write down his sustenance, his life span, his actions, and whether he will be happy or unhappy… verily one of you performs the actions of the people of Paradise until there is but an arm’s 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.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
This hadith describes the stages of creation in the womb and the angel who records a person’s sustenance, lifespan, deeds, and fate. It’s a sobering reminder of divine decree (qadar) and the need to never feel certain of one’s own end.
Hadith 5: Rejection of Evil Deeds and Innovations
“He who innovates something in this matter of ours [Islam] that is not of it will have it rejected [by Allah].”
Narrated by Sayyidatina Aisha (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
Paired with Hadith 1, scholars see these two hadith as encompassing the whole of Islam — sincerity of intention, and correctness of action according to what the Prophet ﷺ actually taught.
Hadith 6: Protecting the Heart
“The halal is clear, and the haram is clear, and between them are matters unclear that are unknown to most people… It is like a shepherd who herds his sheep too close to preserved sanctuary, and they will eventually graze in it… There lies within the body a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted. Verily this piece is the heart.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna an-Nu’man bin Bashir (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
This hadith divides matters into halal, haram, and a doubtful grey zone in between, encouraging caution around the doubtful for the sake of protecting one’s heart and integrity.
Hadith 7: The Religion is Nasihah (Sincere Advice)
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The religion is nasihah (sincerity).” We said, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Tamim al-Dari (ra) — Muslim
The Prophet ﷺ summarizes the entire religion as sincerity — owed to Allah, the Qur’an, the Prophet ﷺ himself, those in leadership, and the wider Muslim community.
Hadith 8: The Sanctity of a Muslim
“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 Zakah. And if they do so then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property, unless [they commit acts that are punishable] in accordance to Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah the Almighty.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
This hadith is tied closely to its historical context; early Muslim statecraft and matters of governance, rather than serving as a general instruction for individuals today. It establishes that once the basic pillars are upheld, a person’s life and property are protected.
Hadith 9: Obligations are According to Ability
“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 their excessive questioning and disagreeing with their Prophets that destroyed [the nations] who were before you.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
A principle of balance: avoid the forbidden completely, but fulfil what’s commanded according to your ability — and don’t lose yourself in excessive questioning the way earlier nations did.
Hadith 10: Restricting Oneself to the Permissible
“Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good… Then he mentioned a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty, and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying, ‘O Lord! O Lord!’ while his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he has been nourished with haram, so how can [his supplication] be answered?”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (ra) — Muslim
This hadith ties the acceptance of worship and supplication to the lawfulness of what sustains a person; their food, drink, and earnings.
Hadith 11: Being Cautious of the Doubtful
“Leave what makes you doubtful for what does not.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna al-Hasan ibn Ali (ra) — Tirmidhi & Nasai
A short, memorable principle: when something causes inner unease or doubt, the safer path is to leave it for something that doesn’t.
Hadith 12: Leaving that Which Does Not Concern You
“Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (ra) — Tirmidhi
Scholars count this among four hadith said to contain the foundation of good manners; encouraging restraint, humility, and focus on one’s own priorities instead of idle meddling in others’ affairs.
Hadith 13: Love for Your Brother What You Love for Yourself
“None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
Often compared to the Golden Rule, this hadith ties true faith to wanting good for others as sincerely as you want it for yourself.
Hadith 14: Prohibition of Blood of a Muslim
“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.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
This hadith concerns formal judicial process and governance rather than individual action, with extremely strict conditions of proof required before any of these rulings could ever be applied.
Hadith 15: Islamic Manners
“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.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (ra) — Bukhari & Muslim
Three instructions, each tied to genuine belief: guard your speech, treat your neighbour well, and be generous to your guests.
Hadith 16: The Forbiddance of Anger
A man said to the Prophet ﷺ, “Give me advice.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Do not get angry.” The man asked repeatedly and the Prophet ﷺ answered each time, “Do not get angry.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (ra) — Bukhari
A simple but demanding piece of advice, repeated three times for emphasis; anger management as a cornerstone of good character.
Hadith 17: Prescription of Ihsan (Perfection)
“Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (perfection) in all things. Thus if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Shaddad bin Aws (ra) — Muslim
Using the example of slaughtering an animal with care, this hadith establishes ihsan or excellence and thoroughness, as a standard for everything a believer does, not just acts of worship.
Hadith 18: Follow Up a Bad Deed with a Good Deed
“Be conscious of Allah wherever you are. Follow the bad deed with a good one to erase it, and engage others with beautiful character.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Dharr and Mu’adh bin Jabal (ra) — Tirmidhi
A threefold counsel for resilience: stay aware of Allah at all times, respond to mistakes with good deeds rather than despair, and treat people with good character.
Hadith 19: Be Mindful of Allah and Allah will Protect You
“Young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah, and He will take care of you. Be mindful of Him, and you shall find Him at your side. If you ask, ask of Allah. If you need help, seek it from Allah. Know that if the whole world were to gather together in order to help you, they would not be able to help you except if Allah had written so.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) — Tirmidhi
A foundational lesson in reliance on Allah Almighty (tawakkul), taught to Ibn Abbas (ra) while he was still a young man that ultimate help and harm come only from Allah Almighty.
Hadith 20: Modesty is from Faith
“Among the early prophetic teachings that have reached people is this: if you do not feel shame, do what you wish.”
Narrated by Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari (ra) — Bukhari
This hadith treats modesty, shame, an inner sense of shyness as a moral compass. When that sense is gone, a person has lost an important internal check on their behaviour.
These first 20 hadith already cover the foundations of belief, worship, character, and law that the rest of the collection builds on. Imam an-Nawawi’s compilation continues for another 22 hadith (it’s often called “the 40,” though it actually contains 42), covering subjects like charity, brotherhood, divine mercy, and the nature of this worldly life. You can read the full compilation, in Arabic and English with commentary, at 40HadithNawawi.com.
If you’d like to study this collection properly hadith by hadith, with context, scholarly explanation, and guided discussion rather than reading alone, join SimplyIslam’s 40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi course. It’s built for exactly this kind of deep, structured learning.
