Jul
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Book Review 6: Commentary of Sahih Muslim by Imam al Nawawi
Posted (Anwar alAwlaki) in Book Reviews on July-13-2008

Imam al Nawawi is a fascinating scholar. He led an exemplary life. He lived exclusively for knowledge; he dedicated his whole life to it. The diversity of his knowledge made him an expert in many fields. His writings on fiqh are so important that when there is a difference of opinion among Shafi’i jurists, it is his opinion that becomes the official opinion of the Shafi’i School.

His book, Riyadh al Saliheen, (Gardens of the Righteous) is the most widespread book of hadith in the Muslim world. The Nawawi Forty Hadith is a household name. His book on the remembrance of Allah, al Athkaar, (The Remembrances) is one of the most famous books on the subject and his Commentary of Sahih Muslim is the standard in the field. He had begun writing a book on comparative fiqh, but died before its completion.

Isn’t it amazing that all of this knowledge came from a man who died at the age of forty-five?

He was a pious, ascetic, and unpretentious man. It has been mentioned that he lived in the library of Damascus for two years and read continuously. During that period he would not sleep on a bed but instead put his head down over a book and take a nap and then continue reading.

He started writing at the age of 30. One of the scholars said that the way Imam al Nawawi wrote all of these books in such a short time was that he would combine studying with writing. While he was studying, he would write notes about what he had learned. These notes would later become a published book. Without this methodology, it is hard to imagine how it would be possible for him to have authored such a large number of books.

The impression I have of Imam al Nawawi, is that he was a very serious person who was always doing what would draw him closer to Allah. He was a person who was not affected by temptations and did not slack-off or waver. He was someone who was consistent and deliberate. He was not diseased with jealousy or envy.

In his commentary, he described the isnaad, (i.e., chain of narration), then explained the meanings of words and phrases in the hadith and then gave a brief summary of rulings derived from the hadith.

Nawawi’s commentary of Sahih Muslim is brief, which may be the reason it is preferred by some Islamic universities for their curriculum despite the fact that Imam Ibn Hajar’s commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari, the most important book of hadith, is regarded as the best commentary ever written on any book of hadith.

Comparing the methodology of the two, Ibn Hajar elaborated on details of the hadith, much like an encyclopaedia, and Nawawi was concise. When defining terms in the hadith, Ibn Hajar would elaborate on the language used and Nawawi would define the meaning of selected vocabulary. Ibn Hajar would mention all existing narrations of the hadith, and Nawawi would not generally include other narrations. Ibn Hajar referred to fiqh derived from the hadith with quotations from various scholars of different schools of Islam and Nawawi would usually quote from scholars who had written commentaries on Muslim such as al Qadhi Iyadh, al Maziri, and al Khatibi. Both would mention the various benefits to be deduced from the hadith but Ibn Hajar would do so on a larger scale than Nawawi. At the end, Nawawi’s commentary leaves the reader with a clear understanding of the hadith and Ibn Hajar’s commentary leaves the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the hadith and all that relates to it from the other books of hadith.

May Allah reward our beloved Imam and grant him al Firdaws.

Next: Nail al Awtaar by al Shawkaani
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Comments:
Shaid Malik on July 13th, 2008 at 2:49 pm #

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuhu.
Alhamdulillah!
Imam Nawawi compiled such vast amount of books in such a short matter of time Subhanallah, Allah bless him with firdaws and allah bless you ya sheikh.

Abu Hammaad on July 13th, 2008 at 3:26 pm #

Assalamu Alaikum Wr Wb,

Sub’hanAllahu, Imam Nawawi’s time was indeed blessed. His works are recognized by the Muslims the world over. Allah Bless are beloved Shaykh with Jannat-ul Firdaws.

Allahu Barak Feek Shaykh for your excellent review.

al-Razi on July 13th, 2008 at 3:36 pm #

al-salamu `alaykum

al-hamdulillah, one of my favourite scholars. I would definitely recommend Kitab al-Adhkar, soon to be published into the english language by Turath Publishing, as well as “Bustan al-Arifin” - Meadows of the Rightoues… a book of pure Shari’a Tasawwuf.

another excellent review - Jazakallahu Khayran

Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum on July 13th, 2008 at 10:04 pm #

Assalamu alaykum

Dear Shaykh, barakAllaahu feek for sharing all this reviews with us.
I have a very short question and that is; Do you accept students in Jemen?
Please answer it dear shaykh, as it is very important for me.
May Allah preserve you.

Asin Baig on July 13th, 2008 at 10:58 pm #

Ameen, May Allah reward you for your efforts :). Your recent small series of lectures called dreams and interpretation of dreams was superb alhamdulillah! assalam 3alaykum

Jihad_4life on July 14th, 2008 at 2:47 am #

Asalam alikum brother Anwar
Since you live in Yemen. I was wondering if you can tell me if Yemen is good place to seek knowledge. If not which country is and if it is which School would you recommend.

jazzakallah kairan

May Allah meet us all in jannahtul fardos

Asalam alikum

Abu Tariq on July 14th, 2008 at 2:55 am #

….”May Allah reward our beloved Imam and grant him al Firdaws”
Ameen.
Asalam aleikhum dear respected Imam Anwar, I ask Allah Aza Wa Jall to grant you Firdaws.

Dear my beloved Muslim Brs & Sis.
Imam Anwar lectures is not only shaping our Akheda but also make us understand Qurán and Hadith better,help us to understand to implement in our daily lives. For us English being not our mother’s tongue,listening to the lestures frequently can improve one’s English and Arabic language.
Asalam Aleikhum

Talha Sumali on July 14th, 2008 at 9:31 am #

Asalam alykum all- What amazes me is how the Somali community in USA love Imam anwar more than any other scholar, coz every Muslim an relate to this brotha, May alah give him and us Firdaws–AMIN

Mustafa on July 14th, 2008 at 11:27 am #

Asalam alykum this is amazing information and a positive revealing insight to the breath taking effort and piety that laid the foundations for the Muslims of today. We should contemplate on their utter devotion and try our best to implement their focus and sincerity to the study of Islam. May Allah give them peace and protect them form the punishments of the grave and of the hereafter.

Jazakallah brother Anwar for this geat information

mahtia on July 14th, 2008 at 4:33 pm #

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh
Imam Anwar Al Awlaki, May Allah Grant you Al Firdaus. Ameen.

dailyreminders on July 14th, 2008 at 4:50 pm #

Assalamu alaikum

JazaaKAllah khairan beloved Shaykh for this inspiring review.

Wassalamu alaikum

Hani on July 14th, 2008 at 10:33 pm #

Asalam alaikum ya shaykh,

No human being can love you except for the sake of Allah and no human being can hate you except for the sake of shaytan. May Allah have mercy on you.
I would love to study with you one day as well as join you on any front.

Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki : Book Review Behind Bars 6 « Under The Shade of Swords on July 15th, 2008 at 5:27 am #

[...] Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki : Book Review Behind Bars 6 Book Review 6 : Commentary of Sahih Muslim by Imam al Nawawi [...]

Jihad_4life on July 15th, 2008 at 8:14 am #

Asalam Alaikum brothers & Sisters

I love Imam Anwar Al Awlaki for the sake
of Allah. But we have to remember the hadiths
of praising people in front of them.

A man praised another man in front of the Prophet (sws).
The Prophet said to him: Woe to you, you have cut off
Your companion’s neck

(Abū Da’ūd, Kitābu’l-Adab)

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ashari:
The Prophet heard someone praising another and exaggerating
In his praise. The Prophet said, “You have ruined or cut the
Men back (by praising him so much).

(Bukhari)

Jazakallah

Asalam Alaikum

Hani on July 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pm #

May Allah reward you for that reminder, jihad 4life. May Allah forgive us, it seems as if this blog has been abused by us. It’s hard for muslims in the west, especially the US, to get shaykhs speaking the truth and openly. Everything here is washed down except for tawheed (by the salafis. With every other group tawheed and all of Islam is washed down.) Fiqh? yep. Jihad? yep. laws of business? yep yep. All washed down!

dailyreminders on July 17th, 2008 at 2:39 pm #

Assalamu alaikum

I just remembered a saying, i think of Imam Shafie(rh) who said something to the effect, “Praise cannot harm a man who knows himself.”

Also i think praise can sometimes be a good thing, for instance when Rasullullah(saw) praised Umar(ra) after the women had called him a man with a hard heart. And there are many more instances, such as when Khadijah(ra) consoled Rasullulah(saw) when he returned from the cave of Mount Hira.

However, generally it is not good to praise someone on their face as is apparent from the quoted ahadeeth, (nor too much behind their back for that matter), because the recipient of the praise might be too weak to deal with the praise and might become egoistic, considering his efforts to be his own and not from the divine grace of Allah.

But sometimes when a person has gone through so much, like what Shaykh Anwar went through, then i think it is good to let Shaykh know that we love him and we appreciate everything that he has done, and although we were not able to come and free him from his captivity, we remembered him in ours duas and were praying and longing for his release. And it is good for Shaykh to know this, so he is motivated to continue his work and continues to benefit this ummah in the way in which he has been doing, so people like ourselves can learn and advance in our religion to gain that golden ticket into Jannat ul Firdous. inshaAllah

Wasslamu alaikum

Abdul Azeez on July 18th, 2008 at 8:23 pm #

Assalamu Alaikum,

Jazakallah Khair for another excellent review. I have learned many things about Imam Nawawi. May Allah reward him and you Al Firdaws.

Kashif Amin on July 19th, 2008 at 7:02 am #

Asalaamu Alaykum,
JazakAllah to Imam Al Awlaki for another facinating insight into the lives of another great Muslim An Nawawi. His story shows us the barakah these people had in time, something that we lack in this day and age. It also shows us how to make the best use of time.
BarakAllahu Fique.

Abu Tariq on July 20th, 2008 at 1:34 am #

Asalam Aleykhum Dear Br’s & Sis,
Jihad4life, may Allah reward you for your input and reminder.
Every deed is rewarded according to the intension of the person.
Humbly, I would like to comment based on your posted comments; I think we have not reached to extend of composing poems to praise Imam Anwar. This is the simple comment section. Alhamdulilah we learn so much from Imam Anwar, no doubt, guidance comes from Allah, no doubt we love Imam Anwar for sake of Allah. I find very rare today to find a scholar who speak openly about situation of the Ummah, speak about the camp of Allah, and the camp of Shaytan.
The Ummah is hungry of a leader, we are hungry for knowledge. Not all of us we live or come from the West or previously we had opportunity to study authentic knowledge of Islam, some of us day by day we live with the heat of tribalism, nationalism and Xenophobia if not Islamophobia including economical and social challenges. Islam (the true deen of Allah) is and has been always our best tool to survive with. Allah Akbar. Today I was listening to the new Lecture of Imam Anwar “Companions of the Ditch” – this lecture took me to the next lever. Alhamdulilah.

Every person that I have come across who has already listen to the talk of Imam Anwar, would like to be close to him and ask more questions or learn more about Islam. Is this not a spirit of Muslim brotherhood?
Our intension was not to praise him but to share our comments and experiences. Should it happen that speaking about his lectures falls under category of praising him (out of the Sunnah) then may be we should find another place to post such comments?
Imam Anwar, we would love to hear from you regarding this Inshallah.
But again like what Imam said…. “…we today have all the resources at our fingertips. Modern technology has brought with it a proliferation of Islamic knowledge but where are the ones who would take advantage of that?”
Jazakkah Allah Khairan

Mahmoud on July 20th, 2008 at 4:26 am #

dailyreminders; Masallah i love your comment. Im so happy for this site.

Alhamdulillah.

Asmaa on July 29th, 2008 at 8:23 pm #

AsSalaam Alikum Brother Anwar Inshallah all is well. I just wanted to know how can i get these books and are they translated in english?

Abdullah on October 18th, 2008 at 1:23 pm #

السلام عليكم

May Allah Bless you Shiekh Anwar and reward you for your efforts,i ask you for more lectures Shiekh we are in need of weekley uptades Sheikh,i mean if we look at the media we see weekly shows of songs etc so why cant it be the opposite !!

and to everyone who commented on this site including me and the visitors who are reading the comments and who came across this comment please please spread this site to all the people you know and take part in propogating Islam…May Allah Bless you.

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