Nawawi's Forty Hadith (1-8)

Islām is built upon five (pillars):

1. The testimony that none has the right to be worshipped (in truth) but Allāh and that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh
2. Establishing the (daily) prayer(s)
3. Giving the zakāh
4. Fasting in Ramaḍān
5. Pilgrimage to the house of Allah (Ka'ba, Makkah)

• The first Stage in mother's womb over forty days as a nuṭfah
• Then he is an ʿalaqah for a like period.
• Then he is a muḍghah for a like period.
• Then an angel is sent to it and it breathes the spirit into it
• It is then commanded with four words:

1. -- the writing of its sustenance,
2. -- its lifespan
3. -- its deeds
4. ---whether happy or wretched (in the Hereafter).

The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallallāhu alayhi wasallam) said, "Whoever introduces something into this affair of ours that is not from it will have it rejected."

That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear and between the two are ambiguous matters which many people do not know of.

So whoever took caution regarding the ambiguous matters has absolved himself regarding his religion and his honor.

And whoever fell into the doubtful matters has fallen into the unlawful, just like the shepherd who grazes his flock around the sanctuary (of a king), all but grazing therein.

Indeed, every king has a sanctuary (that cannot be violated) and indeed the sanctuary of Allāh is his prohibitions.

Indeed, there is a morsel of flesh in the body which if it is sound the whole body is sound and which if it is corrupt the whole body is corrupt.

Indeed, it is the heart

The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) said

The religion is sincerity of purpose.

We said, "To whom?"

He said,

"To Allāh, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their general folk"