Riyad as-Salihin

The compiler of this very popular book is Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Din AlNawawi (1233-1277) who was an eminent jurist and scholar of Hadith. He wrote at least 50 books in his rather short life as he died at a relatively young age of 44. His commentary on Sahih Muslim in 18 volumes is considered to be the most authoritative commentary on this collection of rigorously-authenticated Sayings of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. However, his two short compilations: al-Arba[in (Forty Hadith) and Riyad al-Salihin (The Garden of the Righteous) have become two of the most popular anthologies of Prophetic Sayings and the best introductions to the study of the Prophet’s sayings which together with the Holy Qur’an contain the essential teachings of Islam. They have enjoyed widespread acceptance by Muslims, despite their modest size as they incorporate a comprehensive collections of wellauthenticated ahadith on most important aspects of Islamic knowledge.