The Explanation of Imam An-Nawawi's 40 Hadith By Shaykh Saalih Al- Fawzaan

The collection of Forty Hadith by Imam al-Nawawi has been accepted and studied by Muslim scholars for over seven centuries — selected because these narrations together cover the most essential and foundational principles of Islam: aqeedah, character, fiqh, and the way of the believer in every dimension of life. Understanding them well is considered by the scholars a minimum requirement of Islamic knowledge for every Muslim.

The Explanation of Imam An-Nawawi's 40 Hadith by Shaykh Dr. Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan is a recorded commentary delivered after Fajr prayers at the Hammad As-Salamah Mosque in Riyadh — transcribed, edited, and presented here in full.

What This Commentary Covers

The Most Important Principles of the Religion — Explained

Al-Nawawi selected these forty narrations because they are what he called "ahadith al-jawami'" — hadiths of comprehensive meaning. A single hadith may contain a complete principle of aqeedah, a foundational rule of fiqh, or a guiding principle for character — in a few concise words from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Shaykh al-Fawzan unpacks each narration fully, drawing out its evidential basis, its rulings, and its implications for the believer's life.

Delivered as Lessons, Not Written as a Treatise

This commentary comes from Shaykh al-Fawzan's own lectures — delivered in the scholarly tradition of sitting with a text and explaining it directly, not writing for an academic audience but speaking to Muslims who need to understand and apply these narrations. The result is both rigorous and accessible.

Aqeedah, Fiqh, and Character Together

The forty hadiths cover multiple disciplines simultaneously — which is what makes them suited to general Islamic education. Shaykh al-Fawzan's commentary respects this breadth, addressing each narration's theological, jurisprudential, and character-related dimensions as they arise.

About the Authors

The original collection was compiled by Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi (631–676 AH). This explanation is by Shaykh Dr. Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan, who studied under Shaykh Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz and Shaykh Abd al-Razzaq al-Afifi, taught at the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, and serves on the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwa and the Council of Senior Scholars. Published by Dar Makkah International.

Who This Book Is For

Every Muslim who wants to study the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi with a reliable, detailed, contemporary Salafi commentary rather than reading the text alone. Suited to halaqahs and Islamic study circles, to students working through the foundational hadith curriculum, and to any Muslim who wants to understand what these narrations actually teach.

Continue Reading

For a far more detailed treatment of the same forty narrations, see Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo's two-volume Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi — roughly 1,800 pages against this volume's concise single-volume treatment. Browse more works by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan, see our guide to the best hadith books to start with the Sunnah, or browse the full hadith collection.