Al-Nawawi
Shafi'i jurist and hadith scholar, author of Riyadh as-Saaliheen.
Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi (October 1233 – 21 December 1277) was a jurist and hadith scholar, best known for compiling *The Meadows of the Righteous* and a commentary on Sahih Muslim. He is regarded, alongside Abu al-Qasim al-Rafi‘i, as one of the Two Shaykhs of the Shafi‘i school of jurisprudence. Despite dying at age 45, he produced numerous lengthy works on hadith, theology, biography, and law that remain widely read. Born in Nawa near Daraa, Syria, his name reflects his hometown. As a child, he avoided games to recite the Qur’an, and a visiting scholar, Yasin bin Yusuf Marakashi, told his teacher that the boy would become a great religious scholar. At age seven, on the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan, he awoke claiming the house was filled with light; his father concluded it was Laylat al-Qadr. Al-Nawawi studied in Damascus from age 18, made the pilgrimage in 1253, and settled there as a private scholar. In 1267, he was appointed head of the Ashrafiyya Dar al-Hadith, a prestigious hadith institution, a post he held until his death. He was known for extreme asceticism: eating only one meal daily after the late evening prayer, ignoring clothing and comforts, and never marrying. He studied under more than twenty teachers. Al-Nawawi performed *ta’wil* on certain Qur’anic verses and hadiths concerning Allah’s attributes. He twice confronted Mamluk Sultan Baybars, once over heavy taxation during a drought, warning that Allah would tax his misdeeds in the afterlife, and again when Baybars sought a fatwa to redirect waqf funds. Baybars accepted his counsel, reportedly fearing to imprison him. Al-Nawawi died on 21 December 1277 and was buried the next morning. His *Forty Hadiths* and *Riyadh as-Saaliheen* earned him respect across all madhabs.
- field
- Jurisprudence, hadith, theology, biography
- nationality
- Syrian (born in Nawa, lived in Damascus)
- known_for
- Authoring Riyadh as-Saaliheen, Sharh Sahih Muslim, Forty Hadiths; leading Shafi'i jurist
Lore & Background
Al-Nawawi was born at Nawa near Daraa, Syria. As a youth of ten, he avoided play and devoted himself to reciting the Qur'an. His teacher, warned by a visitor that the boy would become a great scholar, informed al-Nawawi's father, who decided to dedicate his son's life to Islam. At age seven, al-Nawawi awoke on the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan and asked his father about a light filling the house; his father concluded it was Laylat al-Qadr. He was renowned for extreme asceticism: eating one meal daily, ignoring personal comforts, never marrying, and devoting all time to learning, writing, and teaching. Al-Nawawi twice drew the ire of Mamluk Sultan Baybars. Once, after a drought, he warned Baybars that taxing the people abusively would bring divine punishment. When threatened with expulsion, al-Nawawi replied that threats did not harm him, as advising the ruler was obligatory. In another encounter, he scolded Baybars for wanting to redirect waqf funds, and the Sultan accepted his counsel.
Reader's Guide
Al-Nawawi's significance lies in his prolific output and lasting influence across Islamic scholarship. Despite dying at 45, he authored at least fifty books, writing over forty pages daily from age 18. His works include Riyadh as-Saaliheen, a collection of hadith on ethics and conduct still widely read; Sharh Sahih Muslim, considered one of the best commentaries on that hadith collection; and al-Arba'in al-Nawawiyya (Forty Hadiths). He also wrote Minhaj al-Talibin, a classical manual of Shafi'i law, and al-Majmu', a comprehensive legal manual. His legacy extends beyond the Shafi'i school: his hadith collections are respected in all madhabs. Al-Dhahabi called him 'the master of the hadith scholars.' His tomb in Nawa was demolished in 2015 during the Syrian Civil War by rebels belonging to Al Nusra.
Did You Know?
- Al-Nawawi never married, believing it would distract him from scholarship and worship.
- He ate only one meal a day, after the late evening prayer.
- His tomb was demolished in 2015 by Syrian rebels belonging to Al Nusra.
- He wrote over 40 pages daily from age 18 until his death.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Al-Nawawi?
Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi was a 13th-century Syrian scholar who specialized in Islamic jurisprudence, hadith, and theology. He is most commonly identified as one of the two leading authorities of the Shafi'i legal school.
What are Al-Nawawi's most famous works?
His best-known texts include Riyadh al-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous), a detailed commentary on Sahih Muslim, and a widely circulated collection of forty hadiths. These writings continue to be studied and referenced across the Muslim world.
Why is Al-Nawawi considered so important?
Alongside Abu al-Qasim al-Rafi'i, he is recognized as one of the Two Shaykhs of the Shafi'i school, a title that marks him as a peak authority whose legal rulings and hadith scholarship carry exceptional weight in that tradition.
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