Book

Forty Hadith of Ruhullah Khomeini

📖 Overview

Forty Hadith is a 1940 religious text by Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The work presents Khomeini's interpretations of forty traditions attributed to Muhammad and The Twelve Imams. The text emerged from Khomeini's teaching materials at Qom Seminary's Feyziyeh School, following an Islamic scholarly tradition of compiling forty hadith collections. The book includes Arabic texts of each hadith with Persian translations and extensive commentary on their meanings. Thirty-three of the selected hadith focus on Islamic ethics and the consequences of human actions, while seven address theological concepts specific to Twelver beliefs. The collection explores fundamental concepts including pride, envy, anger, hypocrisy, and the nature of divine guardianship. This work represents a significant contribution to Islamic theological literature, combining traditional hadith scholarship with philosophical and mystical interpretations. The text serves as both a religious guide and a window into Khomeini's theological worldview.

👀 Reviews

This book appears to have limited public reviews and ratings available online. On Goodreads, it has only 7 total ratings with an average of 4.14/5 stars. Readers appreciate: - The insight into Khomeini's interpretation of Islamic teachings - The clear translations of the hadiths - The mystical and spiritual perspectives offered Readers criticize: - Dense theological language that can be difficult to follow - Limited context provided for some of the hadiths - Selective choice of hadiths that align with author's views Available ratings: Goodreads: 4.14/5 (7 ratings) No ratings found on Amazon or other major book review sites Most academic reviews focus on analyzing the book's historical significance rather than its readability or general appeal. Several readers note this work is most valuable for those studying Islamic theology or Khomeini's religious philosophy specifically.

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Forty Hadith by An-Nawawi This collection presents core Islamic teachings through hadith with detailed spiritual and moral commentary.

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Divine Sayings by Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi The work presents 101 hadith qudsi with metaphysical interpretations connecting divine truth to human experience.

The Book of Assistance by Imam al-Haddad This manual outlines the fundamentals of spiritual development through chapters on religious practice and inner purification.

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🤔 Interesting facts

🔸 The number forty holds special significance in Islamic tradition - it's believed that whoever preserves forty hadith for the Muslim community will be resurrected as a scholar on Judgment Day 🔸 While teaching this collection at Qom Seminary, Khomeini incorporated elements of mystical Sufi interpretation alongside traditional Shia theology - an unusual combination for his time 🔸 The original manuscript was handwritten in beautiful Persian calligraphy by Khomeini himself, who was also known for his artistic abilities in traditional Islamic arts 🔸 Several hadith in this collection focus on the concept of "wilayah" (spiritual guardianship), which later became central to Khomeini's political theory of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) 🔸 This work gained renewed attention after 1979, when it was widely distributed throughout Iran as a way to understand the spiritual foundations of the Islamic Revolution's leadership