Biography of Imam Nawawi

Biography of Imam Nawawi - He is Yahya bin Syaraf bin Hasan bin Husain An-Nawawi Ad-Dimasyqiy, Abu Zakaria. He was born in the month of Muharram the year 631 AH, at a place called Nawa, a village in the area Dimasyq (Damascus), which is now the capital of Syria. He was educated by his father who is famous for its piety and devotion. He began studying at katatib (a place to learn reading and writing for children) and memorized the Quran before the age of baligh.

When Imam Nawawi was ten years old, Yasin Sheikh Yusuf bin Az-Zarkasyi see him forced to play by their peers, but he avoided, rejected and crying because such coercion. Shaikh says that the child is expected to be the most intelligent and most ascetic in his time and could provide great benefit to the Muslims. Attention of his father and teachers to be great.

An-Nawawi live in "Nawa" to the age of 18 years. Later in the year 649 H he started his rihlah thalabul ilmi to Dimasyq by attending scientific halaqah held by the scholars of the city. He lived in Ar-rawahiyyah madrassa near Al-Jami 'al-Umawiy. Be thalabul ilmi as the main preoccupations. Stated that he attended twelve halaqah a day. He avidly and memorize many things. He also outperformed other friends. He said: "And I write everything connected with it, good explanation of a difficult sentence or provision of a vowel in words. And Allah has given the blessings in my time. "[Syadzaratudz Dzahab 5/355].

Among Imam Nawawi's teachers were:Abul Baqa’ An-Nablusiy, Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad Al-Ausiy, Abu Ishaq Al-Muradiy, Abul Faraj Ibnu Qudamah Al-Maqdisiy, Ishaq bin Ahmad Al-Maghribiy dan Ibnul Firkah. Dan diantara murid beliau: Ibnul ‘Aththar Asy-Syafi’iy, Abul Hajjaj Al-Mizziy, Ibnun Naqib Asy-Syafi’iy, Abul ‘Abbas Al-Isybiliy dan Ibnu ‘Abdil Hadi.

Imam Nawawi was named Muhyiddin (who turn religion) and hate this title because tawadhu 'him. In addition, the religion of Islam is a religion of life and sturdy, does not require people who turn it so that the proof on those who underestimate it or leave it.

Imam An-Nawawi was an ascetic, wara 'and devoted. He is simple, qana'ah and authoritative. He uses a lot of his time in obedience. Often do not sleep nights for worship or write. He also enforce enjoin evil, including to the authorities, which have been outlined by Islam. He wrote a letter of advice to the government with a subtle language.

Once when he was summoned by the king-Zahir Azh Bebris to sign a fatwa. Come to him who were thin and very simple dress. King was despised and said: "sign this fatwa please..!!" He read it and refused to sign. The king was angry and said: "Why!?" He replied: "Because contains a real injustice." King get more angry and said: "Fire it from all positions!" The king's servants said: "He has no position at all." Raja wanted to kill him but God prevented him. The king asked: "Why do not you kill him after they were doing that to the Lord?" The King replied: "By Allah, I am very reluctant to him."

Imam Nawawi leave a lot of famous scientific papers. The amount is about forty books, including:

1. In the field of hadith: Arba'in, Riyadhush Righteous, Al-Minhaj (Sharh Saheeh Muslim), At-Taysir Taqrib wat fi Sunan al-Basyirin ma'rifat Nadzir.

2. In the field of jurisprudence: Minhajuth Thalibin, Raudhatuth Thalibin, Al-Majmoo '.

3. In the field of language: Tahdzibul Asma 'wal-Lughat.
4. In the field of morals: At-Adab fi Tibyan Hamalatil Qur'an, Bustanul Arifin, Al-Adzkar.

These books are widely known even by the layman and provide immense benefits to the people. It's all nothing because taufik of Allaah, then his sincerity and earnestness in fighting.

Imam Nawawi died on 24th Rajab 676 H - Allahummaghfirlahu.

Note: See his biography in Tadzkiratul Huffazh 147, Thabaqat ash-Syafi'iyyah Al-Kubra, and Syadzaratudz Dzahab 5/354