An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 41: Following the Prophet

Readers who may Allah bless you all, our recent exploration has centered on the profound wisdom encapsulated in the An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 41. To further enrich our understanding, we have delved into the insightful explanations provided by the esteemed Sheikh Dr. Khalid Al-Juhani in his work, 'Tuhfatus Saniyah.' This hadith, concerning the crucial aspect of aligning one's desires with the teachings brought forth by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), serves as a cornerstone in comprehending the essence of true faith and adherence to divine guidance

الْحَدِيثُ الْحَادِي وَالْأَرْبَعُونَ: اتِّبَاعُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ

The forty-first Hadith: Following the Prophet ﷺ

TEXT OF AN-NAWAWI’S FORTY HADITH 41

Dear readers, this is the matan (text) of the An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith 41:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ:

From Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Ash, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ[1] حَتَّى يَكُونَ هَوَاهُ[2] تَبَعًا لِمَا جِئْتُ بِهِ One of you does not believe until his desires follow what I brought.[3]

حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ، رَوَيْنَاهُ فِي كِتَابِ «الْحُجَّةِ» بِإِسْنَادٍ صَحِيحٍ.

This is a sound Hadith, which we have narrated in the book "Al-Hujjah" with a sound chain of narrators.

مَا يُسْتَفَادُ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ:

LESSON FROM THE HADITH

١- وُجُوبُ الْانْقِيَادِ لِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ كُلِّهِ.

1 – It is a must to follow all that the Prophet ﷺ brought.

٢- لَا يَتِمُّ إِيمَانُ الْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ هَوَاهُ تَبَعًا لِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ.

2 – A person's belief is not complete until his desires follow what the Prophet ﷺ brought.

٣- الْإِيمَانُ يَزِيدُ بِالطَّاعَةِ، وَيَنْقُصُ بِالْمَعْصِيَةِ.

3 – Belief increases with obedience (doing good deeds) and decreases with disobedience (doing bad deeds).

فَوَائِدُ تَتَعَلَّقُ بِالْحَدِيثِ:

BENEFITS RELATED TO THE HADITH

A – This hadith is a confirmation to Allah’s sayings:

فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

But no, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you the judge in their disagreements. Then they will not find any discomfort in their hearts about your decisions, and they will completely accept them, (QS An-Nisa: 65).

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا

It is not right for a man or a woman who believes in Allah and His messenger to choose something different after Allah and His messenger have decided on it. And whoever does not obey Allah and His messenger has gone very far away from what is right, (QS Al-Ahzab: 36).

Imam Bukhari narrated from Anas bin Malik Radhiyallahu Anhu that the Prophet ﷺ said:

لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ

None of you truly believes until I am more loved by him than his father, his child, and all the people, (Sahih Bukhari: 15).

لَنْ يَكْمُلَ إِيمَانُ الْمُسْلِمِ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَّا إِذَا حَقَّقَ خَمْسَةَ أُمُورٍ:

B – The belief of a Muslim in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will not be complete except by fulfilling five things:

١- تَصْدِيقُهُ فِي كُلِّ مَا أَخْبَرَ بِهِ ﷺ.

1 – Believing him in everything he ﷺ told us.

٢- الِائْتِمَارُ بِمَا بِهِ أَمَرَ ﷺ.

2 – Following what he ﷺ commanded.

٣- الِانْتِهَاءُ عَنْ كُلِّ مَا نَهَى عَنْهُ، وَزَجَرَ ﷺ.

3 – Stopping from everything he ﷺ forbade and warned against.

٤- التَّشَبُّهُ بِهِ فِي أَعْمَالِهِ الظَّاهِرَةِ، وَالْبَاطِنَةِ.

4 – Imitating him in his outward and inward actions.

٥- الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيْهِ عِنْدَ ذِكْرِهِ ﷺ.

5 – Sending prayers upon him ﷺ when he is mentioned.

In conclusion, our examination of the An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith 41, illuminated by the valuable perspectives of Sheikh Dr. Khalid Al-Juhani's 'Tuhfatus Saniyah,' underscores the vital importance of harmonizing our inclinations with the Prophetic teachings. This principle of willing submission and wholehearted acceptance is not merely an intellectual acknowledgment but a fundamental requirement for the completion of one's faith. May we all strive to embody this essential guidance in our lives.

Sukoharjo, 15 May 2025

Irfan Nugroho (Teacher at At-Taqwa Quranic Boarding School and Quranic House of Bani Saimo Sukoharjo)