Forty Hadith, an Exposition, Second Revised Edition

Book excerpt: Imam Khomeini's selection and exposition of forty ahadith that range over a broad area of Islamic philosophy, Islamic ideology, Islamic ethics, metaphysics and spirituality. In this compilation, Imam Khomeini has given the translation of the Arabic hadith and followed it up with exposition of integral aspects of the hadith that affect human life, belief or spirituality. The very first hadith is on Jihad of the self. The ahadith he has cited aim at self-improvement in terms of knowing Allah SWT, The Prophet SAWW and Aimmah AS, elevating oneself through self-control and self-discipline and shun pride (kibr), ostentation/show off (riya'), self-conceit ('ujb), envy (hasad), love of the world, anger (ghadhab), prejudice (asabiyyah) and hypocrisy (nifaq). In his collection , Imam Khomeini has included the ahadith that help us elevate our status through intellect (tafakkur), trust in God (tawakkul), man's natural instincts to seek out God, meeting with God and to fear (khawf) Him. Imam Khomeini has included ahadith that touch upon our sacred faith in Allah SWT, The Prophet SAWW and the Aimmah AS, the concepts of Attributes and Knowledge of God, The Meaning of God's Creation of Adam in His image, difference between Good and Evil. The collection has also included ahadith on the merits of the seekers of knowledge, pursuit knowledge, prayers and concentration, and Classification of Sciences.