Sahih Bukhari - Introduction
Bukhari's
collection is recognized by the overwhelming majority of the Muslim
world to be one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the
Prophet (SAW).
It is important to realize, however, that Bukhari's collection is not complete: there are other scholars who worked as Bukhari did and collected other authentic reports.
Sahih Bukhari - Background
Bukhari states, "There was once a time during one of our sessions when my teacher Ishaaq Ibn Rahway remarked it would be appreciated if someone could collect ahadith which held strong and reliable testimonials and write them in the form of a book." This inspired Bukhari which was later strengthened by a dream in which Bukhari met the Prophet (SAW). Upon waking, he visited several interpreters for an appropriate interpretation. They all answered that it meant he would in future cleanse the Prophet (SAW) of all lies spoken by the people through narrating misunderstood ahadith. This gave Bukhari great comfort and strength once he started the writing of his book Al-Jame-ul-Sahih. The complete name of the book is ˜Al-Jame-ul-Sahih-al-Musnad-min-ahaadeethe-Rasulillah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam-wa-sunanihi-wa-Ayyaamihi, which means a collected version of ahadith in the form of a book which relates to us the sayings, actions and the life of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (SAW).
Bukhari had taken great care in writing the ahadith and choosing those which met the standards and conditions which he set to find ahadith with only strong testimonials which included only reliable and trustworthy testifiers. He spent 16 years in writing the book, altering it a total of three times. Allaamah Ayni reports of Ibn Tahir's remark that Bukhari had written Sahih Bukhari in his hometown Bukhara. Ibn Bujair however, relates that he had started his compiling in Makkah, and some have reported of seeing him in Basra. There is still another differing remark made by others who comment on seeing him in Madinah to write his book. However, we find Bukhari relating himself that he wrote Sahih Bukhari in Masjid-e-Haraam.
Before he actually placed a hadith in his compilation he used to perform ghusl and prayed to Allah(SWT) through two rakah nafl prayers asking for guidance. Bukhari worked such that only after being completely satisfied with the hadith in question did he give it a place in his book. Due to this great care which was taken, the people were heard to say that the ahadith which Bukhari has narrated have been so carefully phrased and with such precision that it is felt that Bukhari had heard the ahadith directly through the Prophet(SAW).
Abu Zaid Marwazi reports that I was once asleep in between the ˜Black stone' and ˜Maqaam-e-Ibrahim' when the Prophet (SAW) appeared in my dream he stated, "O Abu Zaid! For how long shall you teach Imam Shafi's book ? When shall you start the teaching of my book?"
I questioned, "O Prophet (SAW)! Which book is yours?" He replied, "Mohammed Ibn Ismail's Al-Jame-ul-Sahih."
Hafiz Ibn Hajar reports that Bukhari has kept it of utmost importance to only narrate ahadith of a strong testimonial which can be proven by the name of the book. However, along with this Bukhari also made an effort to explain all points which are difficult to understand, which is the reason why he has given a plentiful host of meanings for one sentence which may include a word that is in reality difficult to understand. Bukhari has included within his book(s) the art of narrating ahadith which have been divided into eight different chapters. These chapters contain subjects which have been sub-titled and are famous for the ingenious way in which they have been phrased.
Bukhari has imposed conditions which all narrators and testifiers must meet before the hadith can be selected. One condition requires that all testifiers must have a strong memory. There are also restrictions made upon this condition:
All the Muhadditheen who possess great knowledge of ahadith must agree upon the testifiers... in question ability to learn and memorize, along with his reporting techniques.
The testimonial must be complete without any missing testifiers.
Allaamah Nawawi relates that all scholars in Islam have agreed that Sahih Bukhari has earnestly gained the reward of being the most authentic after the
Brief Biography of Imam Bukhari.
Sahih Bukhari - Teachings
Bukhari
also had a vast amount of students. It has been stated that thousands
were privileged to sit in his lessons where he taught his book Shahi
Bukhari. There were travelers amongst these from all corners of the
world in order to join these pious sittings and to be honoured with a
glimpse of the knowledge that he held and which never failed to astonish
anybody.
Bukhari's
memory was considered to be inhuman, for as soon as the praying of a
hadith would finish Bukhari would repeat it orally. It has been known
that in his childhood he had memorized many ahadiths.
There
is one spectacular incident which took place in Baghdad when Bukhari
took up temporary residence there. The people having heard of his many
accomplishments, and the attributes which were issued to him, decided to
test him so as to make him prove himself to them. In order to do that
they chose one hundred different ahaadeeth and changing the testimonials
and the text of the ahaadeeth they were then recited by ten people to
Bukhari.
There
was a crowd of gathered people from within and outside the city to
witness the outcome of such a test. When the ahaadeeth were recited
Bukhari replied to all in one manner, "Not to my knowledge." However,
after the completion of all the ahaadeeth Imam Bukhari (R.A) repeated
each text and testimonial which had been changed followed by the correct
text and testimonial, such was the memory of Bukhari.Sahih Bukhari - Special Attributes
Bukhari states himself that, "From the time of learning the prohibitions of backbiting till now, I have refrained from such an act."
There
is also one incident when Bukhari was involved in Zohar prayers. After
completing his salaah he started to pray his Nafl. On finishing this he
turned towards his companions and lifting the bottom of his shirt said,
Is there anything inside this?" Suddenly a wasp fell out leaving 17
places which were swelling due to the violent stings of the wasp. One
companion asked why the salaah was not discontinued. He replied, "I felt
a certain pleasure from my salaah which I was reluctant to let go of."
His abstinence was also an attribute which was incomparable and undauntless. He had been left a considerable amount of wealth by his father however, due to his generosity he spent it all in the path of Allah so that at the end he had been left with no money forcing him to spend his day on one or two almonds. He never took advantage from the generosity of any king or ruler, although many occasions arose.
The
Governor of Bukhara made a special request for Bukhari to make daily
visits to his home in order to teach his children. Bukhari declined
stating that, "I give greater respect to knowledge rather than to
people, for it is they who are in need of the knowledge and it is they
who should seek it."
