The Forty Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi

There were some scholars who collected forty hadiths on the fundamentals, while others did so on derived matters, others on jihad, others on indifference to worldly things, others on conduct, others on speeches, etc., and all of them are sound directions; may Allah be pleased with those who followed them. But I have considered collecting forty more important than all of those, and they would be forty hadiths inclusive of all that, but each hadith would be a great precept from those of the religion - one that scholars had described as being the 'axis' of Islam or 'half' of Islam or 'a third' of it or something similar.

Furthermore, Imam al-Nawawi would commit himself, regarding these forty, to their being authentic, and most of them are found within the two Sahih's of al-Bukhari and Muslim. He cites them with the chains of narration deleted in order to make their memorisation easy and their benefit widespread, 

The present selection is generally regarded as the most popular anthology and the best introduction to the study of prophet Muhammad's sayings which together with the Quran contain the essential teachings of Islam.

1. Importance of intention
2. Definition of Islam, Iman and Ihsan
3. Pillars of Islam
4. Man's development and final deeds
5. Prohibition of innovation in religion
6. Avoidance of doubtful matters
7. Religion is sincerity
8. Protection of Muslims
9. Obedience to the Prophet
10. Limiting oneself to what is lawful
11. Adherence to what is certain
12. Refining the soul
13. Consideration for others
14. Legal execution
15. Good character
16. Anger
17. Proficiency in slaughter
18. Avoiding sins
19. One's relationship with Allah
20. Shame and shyness
21. Upright conduct
22. Religious obligations lead to Paradise
23. Good deeds
24. Some attributes of Allah
25. Rewards
26. Charity
27. Righteousness and wrongdoing
28. Instruction
29. Ways to Paradise
30. Rights of Allah (swt)
31. Indifference to worldly things
32. Prohibition of all harm
33. Evidence
34. Prohibiting wrong
35. Social behaviour
36. Relieving a Muslim brings aid from Allah
37. Allah's generosity
38. Allah's anger and approval
39. Errors overlooked by Allah
40. Reducing worldly aspirations
41. Faith is love of obedience
42. Allah's capacity for forgiveness