Name
His name is Abū Zakariyyā Muḥyī al-Dīn Yaḥya b. Sharaf b. Murī b. Ḥasan b. Ḥusayn b. Muḥammad b. Jum’ah b. Ḥizām al-Nawāwi al-Shāfi’ee
He is known as al-Nawāwi as he is attributed to Nawā, a village in Syria and later on al-Dimishqi, attributed to Damascus.
Imām Nawāwi was a prominent scholar of the Shāfi madhab.
Birth
Imām Nawāwi was born in Muḥarram in 631 after Hijri in the village of Nawā. When he reached the age of ten he started the memorisation of Qur`ān. He also began studying books of fiqh and other Islamic sciences from learned scholars at a young age.
In the year 649h. he went to Damascus with his father to enrol at the Madrasah Dār al-Ḥadīth. He stayed at the Madrasah, which was adjoined to the eastern side of the Umawī Masjid, and in the year 651h. Imām Nawāwi performed the Ḥajj with his father. Thereafter he returned to Damascus.
Life
In the year 665h. Imām Nawāwi took over the teaching at Madrasah Dar al-Ḥadīth until he died at the age of 45 years.
His student, ‘Alā al-Dīn b. al-’Aṭṭār narrates regarding the zeal and commitment of Imām Nawāwi that he would study 12 lessons every day with his teachers. Two lessons on al-Wasīṭ, a third lesson on fiqh, one lesson on the aḥadīth compiled in both Bukhāri and Muslim, a fifth lesson on the Saḥīḥ of Imām Muslim, a lesson studying al-Lāmi’ of Ibn Janiy on the science of Arabic Grammar, a lesson on Iṣlāḥ al-Manṭiq by Ibn Sikkīt on Language, a lesson on Morphology, a lesson on the principles of fiqh, and thereafter sometimes a lesson studying al-Lām’ of Ibn Isḥāq otherwise a lesson on al-Muntakhab of Imām Rāzi, thereafter he would study a lesson on Asmā al-Rijāl and finally a lesson on Usūl al-Dīn. His student mentions that Imām Nawāwi would write all these lessons down along with their commentary, noting any problematic issues, clarifying the text and other difficult words.
Works
Imām Nawāwi authored many famous works of which Muslims benefit to this day. Some of his more famous writings are:
- Sharḥ Saḥīḥ Muslim
- Al-Majmū’ sharḥ al-Muhadhab
- Riyādh al-Ṣāliḥīn
- Al-Adhkār
- Tahdhīb al-Asmā’ wa al-Lughāth
- Arbaūn al-Nawāwi
- Al-Minhāj fi al-fiqh
Character
Imām Nawāwi was known to be a great ascetic, and pious individual. He was unmatched in his actions, commanding the good and forbidding the evil. There are many instances mentioned in the books of history illustrating his piety and good character.
One such example is that Imām Nawāwi was known not to eat the fruits of Damascus. When he was asked why he did not do so, he replied that many of the lands in Damascus are endowments, left to help those who are in need, the orphans and the poor. Imām Nawāwi could not be sure if the money from the trade of the fruits was being used for the correct purposes, therefore he would not eat the fruits.
Another example is that Imām Nawāwi would not accept gifts from anyone other than his close relatives and parents, unless there was a need. He would only borrow from those who seemed to be upright in religion. His mother would send him clothes to wear, and his father would send him food provisions. He would sleep in a room in the Madrasah where he studied. Imām Nawāwi was a sincere scholar who would strive in the path of Allāh ﷻ with his words and speeches. The people would flock to him, seeking advice and Islamic rulings. He would accept them gladly and strive to ease their troubles.
Death
In the year 676 h. Imām Nawāwi returned to his home town of Nawā. After returning books which he had borrowed from endowments, he visited the graves of his teachers and made du’ā` for them. After visiting his companions and his parents, he went to Bayt al-Muqaddis and thereafter returned to Nawā. He fell ill and passed away on the 24th of Rajab in 676h.
When the news of his death reached Damascus, the whole city was grieving. The supreme judge at the time ‘Iz al-Dīn Muḥammad b. Ṣā’igh and a group of Muslims went to Nawā to pray upon Imām Nawāwi in his grave.
Imām Nawāwi strived for knowledge throughout his life, and even though he died at the relatively young age of 45 years, he left behind many treasures in the form of his books and knowledge. May Allāh ﷻ have mercy upon him and raise him with those whom Allāh ﷻ has favoured from the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the pious.
