. J i ? . .r--J i ? (cont.)

To proceed: We have narrated, through many chains and various narrations, from Ali ibn Abu Taalib, Abdullah ibn Masood, Muaadh ibn Jabal, Abu al-Darda, ibn Umar, ibn Abbaas, Anas ibn Maalik, Abu Huraira and Abu Saeed al­ Khudrimay Allah be pleased with all of themthat the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever preserves for my Nation forty hadith related to its religion, Allah will then resurrect him in the company of the savants and scholars." Another narration states, "Allah will raise him as an erudite and learned scholar." In the narration from Abu al-Darda, it is stated, "On the Day of Resurrection, I will be an intercessor and witness for him." In the narration from ibn Masood, it is stated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "It will be said to him, 'Enter Paradise through any door you wish."' In the narration of ibn Umar, one finds the words, "He will be recorded among the company of the scholars and will be resurrected in the company of the martyrs." The scholars of hadith agree that, although this hadith has numerous chains, it is weak. The scholars (may Allah be pleased with them) have compiled innumerable works of this nature. The first one that I know of who compiled such a work was Abdullah ibn al-Mubaarak. After him came ibn Aslam al52 Commentary on Al-Nawawi's Introduction Toosi, a pious scholar. Then came al-Hasan ibn Sufyaan al­ Nasaai, Abu Bakr al-Aajuri, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn lbraaheem al-Asfahaani, al-Daaraqutni, al-Haakim, Abu Nuaim, Abu Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami, Abu Said al­ Maleeni, Abu Uthmaan al-Saabooni, Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Ansaari, Abu Bakr al-Baihaqi and countless others both from earlier and later times. I have turned to Allah for guidance and prayed to Him while compiling these forty hadith, following the example of those Imams and guardians of Islam. The scholars have agreed that it is permissible to act in accord with weak hadith that state the virtuousness of deeds. Nonetheless, given that fact, I have not relied upon that hadith only in compiling this work. Instead, I am following the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him) found in an authentic hadith, "Let him who was present among you inform those who are absent." The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, "May Allah make radiant the man who has heard what I said, preserved it in his memory and conveyed it in the way that he heard it." Scholars have compiled forty hadith on faith and belief (usool), on practical matters Ø T j ణ :;.:.t :; -s4ਞ1 / ,,.. / ; "Verily, you (0 Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided" (al-Qasas 56). The second verse is, "And verily, you (0 Muhammad) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path" (al-Shoora 52). Al-Nawawi stated, "I praise Him for all of His bounties. I ask Him to increase His grace and generosity." This is a general characteristic that one finds in the beginning of almost all of al-Nawawi's works. Al-Nawawi lived a very austere life. However, he fully recognized that the bounties of Allah consists of faith, knowledge and contentment. For these bounties, he regularly thanked Allah. Al-Nawawi stated, "I bear witness that our leader Muhammad is His servant and messenger, His beloved and dear one." In this passage, al­ Nawawi is specifically pointing out four important qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was the servant of Allah. This is the most honored position that anyone could ever attain. Indeed, in the Quran, when Allah truly acclaims the position of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Allah refers to him as His servant. For example, at the beginning of surah al-Israa, Allah states, Commentary on Al-Nawawi's Introduction "Exalted above any imperfection be He who took His servant for a journey by night from the Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah] to the Farthest Mosque [in Jerusalem], the neighborhood whereof we have blessed, in order that We might show him of Our signs. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer" (al-Israa 1). This is how Allah refers to the Prophet (peace be upon him) during one of the greatest events of the Prophet's life. Al-Nawawi then points out that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a messenger from Allah. He was chosen by Allah to communicate Allah's final message to mankind. He is the example for all of mankind to follow. However, he stands out among the messengers as being the final messenger sent for all of mankind until the Day of Judgment. When one wants to describe the Prophet (peace be upon him), it is these two terms that one should use, the servant and messenger of Allah. This is giving the Prophet (peace be upon him) his proper respect and honoring without going beyond the proper limitsas many people do today, in particular some Sufis.1 Al-Bukhari recorded that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, J IP J. J,, ; ,,. ,,, ,,,.