(d. 676 H. i Nawa south of Damascus)

Muhyi al-Din Yahya b. Sharaf al-Din b. Hasan, Abu Zakariyya al-Shafi`i al-Nawawi.

Born in Nawa in Southern Syria, he spent most of his life in Damascus, engaging single-mindedly in worship, study, writing and teaching. For eleven years he was the head of the Dar al-Hadith al-Ashrafiyyah. He died at the age of 44 years, leaving behind an immense heritage.

Buried in his home village Nawa about 2 hours ride south from Damascus.

Bustan al-'Arifin - First chapter (transl. A. Bewley)
Imam al-Nawawi's 40 hadither >>