Riyad al-Salihin (Gardens of the Righteous) from the Sayings of the Master of Messengers

Author: Yahya al-Din al-Nawawi

Verification: Dr. Maher Yassin Al-Fahl

The book "Riyad al-Salihin from the Sayings of the Master of Messengers" was authored by Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi al-Dimashqi. In this book, he compiled authentic hadiths narrated from the Messenger Muhammad ibn Abdullah, peace and blessings be upon him, covering all matters of faith and life. He presented them arranged in chapters and sections, making the topics easy for the reader to refer to and benefit from. The book includes 1903 hadiths narrated with a concise chain of transmission, usually starting with a Companion and rarely with a Tabi'i, divided into 372 chapters. It conveys the sayings and actions of the Messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him, as narrated by the Companions, and in a few cases, it transmits some of the sayings and actions of the Companions who emulated the Messenger Muhammad or strived to follow his guidance. The hadiths are distributed into fifteen "books," and each book contains several chapters, the number of which varies according to their subject. The chapters are numbered consecutively from the beginning to the end of the book, totaling three hundred and seventy-three chapters. Since the blessed hand of al-Nawawi transcribed Riyad al-Salihin, it has traveled like light and found a place in every Muslim home, to the point that there is hardly a house without it. Its benefits, both specific and general, have spread, and people of virtue have acknowledged its excellence. Prominent scholars, both ancient and modern, have served it and elucidated some of the quality of its weaving, its good arrangement, its beautiful composition, and the selection of its content. Imam al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, was a man whose time Allah blessed, just as He blessed his writings. All his works were stamped with acceptance, which is why there was such an amazing demand for them, and benefit from them was obtained everywhere and at all times. "Riyad al-Salihin" is a book authored by Imam al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, in the noble Hadith; as advice to the Ummah, cooperation in righteousness, and guidance to good. In it, he gathered authentic hadiths that would be a path for its owner to Paradise, a means of acquiring apparent and inner manners, a compilation of encouragement and deterrence, an refinement of morals, a purification of hearts, and a safeguarding of limbs. What increased people's interest in it was the methodology the author drew and outlined for this book. He committed himself to only mentioning authentic hadiths from the Sunnah, to prefacing chapters with noble Quranic verses, and to drawing attention to what needed clarification or explanation of a hidden meaning. This book is of great importance these days because it contains Quranic texts and prophetic hadiths that encourage asceticism, urge the doing of good deeds, following the example of the Master of Creatures, adopting the morals of the discerning and successful, and joining the first generation, may Allah be pleased with all of them