Forty Hadith on Islam (P/B)

This classical short commentary on Imam Nawawi’s famous collection of forty-two traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and give him peace, is an authoritative introduction to key Islamic principles and teachings, Accounted as hadith master, in this collection Imam Nawawi collected together those traditions that he considered were axial to the entire Islamic faith. As the first title in Kube’s new Treasury Series in Islamic Thought and Civilization, this accessible translation is presented in a beautiful gift format.

Ibn Daqiq al-‘Id (d.1302) was a Shafi’i mujtahid imam, who was educated in Damascus, Alexandria, and Egypt. Accounted as one of the greatest scholars in Islam in the fundamentals of law and belief, he wrote extensively in the areas of law, principles of jurisprudence, hadith, and tenets of faith. Imam Nawawi (d.1277) was accounted as an Imam of the later Shafi’i school and was known for his piety and knowledge.

There was a time when the notion of Hadith rejection was inconceivable. Sad to say, it is now becoming a widespread phenomenon in many countries. The educated and the ignorant, veteran Muslims and reverts, the middle class as well as the elite are falling prey to the misleading ideas projected by the Hadith rejecters through books and other forms of publication. The Internet has, unfortunately, given them a new and effective platform. Emad Hamdeh has taken up the task of replying to these Hadith rejecters with sound and convincing arguments. The Necessity of the Hadith in Islam not only explains the need for the Hadith and the Sunnah at all times, but also presents and refutes the main arguments put forward by Hadith rejecters. Furthermore, Hamdeh has profiled the top few Hadith rejecters and summarized their ideas. This is a well-researched, well-referenced and comprehensive work, which provides useful information to those seeking more knowledge on the subject. It will also sufficiently answer many different questions which come to mind after reading some of the arguments of the Hadith rejecters. Muslims today need to read works such as these to ensure that they are not misled, especially through the Internet.

Islam is based on two major souces : the Quran and the Sunnah, and the latter is available to us in the form of hadiths. The Prophet said, “Whoever comes to know one hadith of mine should spread it.”

I have come to the realization that many youth from among the Muslims have not memorized even one hadith of the Prophet. For this reason I have chosen smaller hadiths so that they can be easily memorized by them and they can spread them to others.

I supplicate to Allah to make this book a source of light on the Day of Judgment for us.