Many mothers look for a way to help their children memorize, understand and live the hadiths of the Prophet ﷺ. One of the most useful books for this is “Al-Arba'un al-Waldaniyya” — the book the Ghars program uses for memorizing hadiths. In this article we introduce it and share practical steps for teaching it to your child at home.
What is “Al-Arba'un al-Waldaniyya”?
“Al-Arba'un al-Waldaniyya: forty authentic hadiths with their explanation” is a book by Sheikh Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Muhanna, in which he gathered forty short hadiths of the Prophet ﷺ on a range of Islamic topics, choosing them from the authentic hadiths agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim, so that children can easily memorize and understand them.
The book is called “Waldaniyya” because it was written for the wildan — children. It has been widely welcomed and translated into many languages.
Why do short hadiths suit children?
- Easy to memorize: one or two sentences a child can learn in a few days.
- Rich in meaning: the Prophet ﷺ was given concise, comprehensive speech, so a short hadith carries a whole value or trait of character.
- Close to their life: they speak about honesty, mercy, kind words and wanting good for others — situations a child lives every day.
Here are examples of short hadiths agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim, the kind that are easy for a child to memorize:
“Actions are only by intentions.”Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim)
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim)
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.”Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Seven steps to help your child memorize and understand hadiths
- One hadith a week: five minutes a day is enough — consistency matters more than quantity.
- Meaning before memorizing: explain the difficult words first, then ask: “What do we learn from this hadith?”
- Link it to a moment in their day: when they get angry with a sibling, gently remind them: “Let him speak good or remain silent.”
- Repeat it in different ways: say it out loud together, write it on a card they can colour, and hang it in their room.
- Weekly review: before the new week's hadith, review the ones before it, and put a star on a chart on the fridge for every hadith they master.
- Recite it to the family: let them recite the hadith to their father or grandmother — encouragement boosts their enthusiasm.
- Be the example: when they see the hadith in your behaviour, it becomes a reality they live, not a text they memorize.
What suits each age?
- Ages 5 to 7: memorizing by listening and repeating, with a very simple explanation and one example from their life.
- Ages 8 to 10: reading and writing, understanding the meaning of the hadith and its lessons, and trying to apply it during the week.
Al-Arba'un al-Waldaniyya in the Ghars program
In the third level of Ghars, children (aged 5 to 10) memorize and understand forty hadiths from “Al-Arba'un al-Waldaniyya” in a fun way, alongside simple Quran explanation and the Prophet's biography. Sessions are held live online with specialized teachers, with a recording of every session and activity booklets.
Discover the Ghars programFAQ
Who wrote “Al-Arba'un al-Waldaniyya”?
It was written by Sheikh Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Muhanna, who gathered forty short authentic hadiths with their explanation for children.
Are the book's hadiths authentic?
Yes — the author chose them from the authentic hadiths agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
How long does it take a child to memorize them?
It varies from child to child. At one hadith a week with review, they can finish in about ten months — what matters most is understanding and acting on them, not speed.