Among the works of Imam An-Nawawiyy, the "Riyad As-Salihin" occupies a prominent place. It must be said that as soon as it was published, it was crowned by all the scholars, and that it receives, until today, the satisfaction of ordinary Muslims.

The "riyad as-salihin", as its title indicates, revolves around a single matter, which is at the center of a general plan, and which can be summed up in the idea of virtue. "What must one do to be virtuous?" This is the most urgent question that every sincere believer must ask. So our faith would be manifestly incomplete if, after having discovered in the Koran and the Sunnah the theoretical basis and the general principles of virtue, we did not put it into practice. Such is precisely the general framework of this book, which, for this reason, is a veritable manual of practical morality. We will see how, in all areas of life, both in our personal behavior and in our relationships with others or with God, our activity finds its path there.

The imam was born in Nawa in the year 631 of the Hegira. His father, Sharaf, said to be very pious, directed his education and orientation. At the age of 19, after having toured the sheikhs of Nawâ and the teaching they gave, he left with his father for Damascus, the administrative and political capital of the region, but also and above all the capital sciences and arts, to extend the sphere of his knowledge there. In 665, he succeeded as rector of the Dâr Al-Hadîth Al-Ashrafiyya school after Imam Abu Shâma, and held this position until his death. He also occasionally replaced the cadi Shams Ad-Dîn Ibn Khallikân, the author of "Wafayât Al-A'yân", to replace him at the head of the school known as Al-Madrasa Ar-Rukniyya. Imam An-Nawawî wrote a great number of books. Most of his works are related to hadîth, mfîqh and Arabic lexicology. He breathed his last during the last third of the night of Tuesday, 24 Rajab of the year 676 - God have mercy on him.