Hidden Gems  – al-Imaam al-Nawawi رضي الله عنه

by Mufti Omar Dawood

NAME – Yahya ibn (son of) Sharaf

APPELLATION – Abu Zakaria

TITLE – Muhiyudden (reviver of the Deen)

DATE OF BIRTH – 631 A.H., a report suggests that he was born in first the Ashra (period of ten days) of Muharram

PLACE OF BIRTH – In a town called Nawa (current location Syria), on the outskirts of Damascus

AREA OF SERVICE – Primarily in Damascus, Syria

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY – Imaam Nawawi رضي الله عنه completed Hifzh of the Quraan at a young age and thereafter began to study the science of Qiraat (eloquent recitation of the Quraan). A report states that he memorised the text ‘Tanbeeh’, a manual on Shaf’ee Fiqh within four and a half months.

He then learned in-depth Shaf’ee Fiqh for the remainder of the year. For two consecutive years, he attended twelve classes daily to acquire knowledge from the erudite scholars of Damascus.

Shaikh Kamaaluddeen Ishaq Maghribi رضي الله عنه was the teacher he attained the most benefit from.

Imaam Nawawi رضي الله عنه excelled in the Shaf’ee Fiqh and it is his effort which made Shaf’ee Fiqh easier for the masses to understand. He enjoys an eminent position amongst the illustrious Fuqahaa of the Shaf’ee Mazhab.

He would partake of just one meal a day after Esha and would drink just water for Sehri. Being an erudite scholar, most of his time was spent in solitude authoring works for the benefit of the Ummah.

WORKS: Amongst his notable works are –

Al-Mihaaj (an annotation on Sahih Muslim, considered by some as his magnum opus)

Arbaeen (a selection of forty Ahadeeth)

Riyaadhus Saaliheen (a collection of Ahadeeth dealing primarily with Islamic morals and value

Al-Azkaar (a selection of Prophetic litanies and Duas) and many other works which are cherished by Ulama and Mashaaikh.

He performed Hajj twice in his lifetime.

DEMISE – After his second Hajj, he returned to his hometown and passed away after a short illness at the age of forty-five years old on Wednesday, the fourteenth of Rajab 676 A.H.

LOCATION OF HIS BLESSED GRAVE – Imaam Nawawi رضي اللہ عنه  was buried in the his hometown and Muslims would vist it to make Dua.

It is very unfortunate that a mausoleum built around his grave including his grave blessed grave was desecrated in the Syrian war. (see image).

We pray that Allah جل جلاله bless us all through the pious means of Sayyiduna Imaam Nawawi رضي الله عنه.

References –

• Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah by Allamah Ibn Katheer رضي الله عنه
• Ashia’tul lam’aat
• Sharh Mishkaat by Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Haqq Muhadith Dehlwi رضي الله عنه