Skip to main content

Who was Imam Al-Bukhari, the most famous Muslim to document Islamic hadiths?*

*Who was Imam Al-Bukhari, the most famous Muslim to document Islamic hadiths?*

Imam Muhammad Al-Bukhari is considered as one of the most distinguished scholars of Hadith in Islamic history. His book Sahih al-Bukhari, in which the Prophet's words, actions, or habits were collected, is one of the greatest sources of the prophetic influence in history.
His full name is Abu Abdullah Mohamed bin Ismail Al-Bukhari and was born in 194 AH (8100 AD) in Bukhara, one of the present cities of Uzbekistan. His father died when he was young, and he was raised as an orphan by his mother, who educated him well and had a role in sharpening his love and passion for science.
As a child, he had a disease in his eyes which led to fears of losing his eyesight, but he was cured. He was highly intelligent as a child and had strong memory, one of the qualities that helped him later in the collection of the Prophet's words and actions (Ahadiths).
During his youth he memorized the Holy Quran and learned the basics of religion. He had memorized thousands of Ahadiths while he was still a young boy. Bukhara's atmosphere, which was then one of the centers of science, also helped him. He attended the meetings with scientists and religious scholars frequently.
Experiencing Hajj at a young age
At the age of 16, he traveled with his mother and brother Ahmed to Mevva to perform the Hajj pilgrimage and stayed there to gain more knowledge. He would go on to stay in the holy city for six years and began to collect ahadiths.
Then, he traveled to many countries for the same reason, from Baghdad to Kufa, Damascus, Egypt, Khorasan and others, studying tirelessly and striving to collect more ahadiths. It was said that he did not write any of them until he has done wudu (Islamic procedure for washing parts of the body, a type of ritual purification) and praying two rak'ahs (single unit of Islamic prayers).
A strict approach
His followed a strict method in Hadith, inquiring of the narrators and references, he became a symbol in this section in the good classification and scrutiny.
In addition to the basic reference "Sahih al-Bukhari" of the ahadiths, he classified more than twenty books, including “the odd-literature “and “the great history”, which is a book of translations where the names of the modern narrators arranged by the letters of the lexicon, and “the small history”, a brief history of the Prophet and his companions and narrators that came after them.
The story behind the authorship of ‘Sahih al-Bukhari’ book
The story of his authorship of “Al-Jama'ah al-Sahih” or “Sahih al-Bukhari”, which is the first classified book in the correct abstract and considered as a proof of eagerness, sincerity and intelligence. It took 166 years of tough trips between countries.
As for the trigger of the idea, Bukhari mentioned it himself, saying: "I was with Ishaq Ibn Rahawi, when he said: If you collected a brief book about the correct norms of Prophet Mohamed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). So I like the idea and started to collect “Al-Jama'ah Al Sahih” Ibn Rahawi was one of the teachers and professors of Al-Bukhari, one of the scholars of Nishapur.
He did not rush out to publish the book and made a lot of reviews, revisions and investigations until he came out with the final version to include 7,275 Hadiths selected by Bukhari out the 600,000 that he received, where he worked hard on checking the narrations in a strict manner.
He set conditions to accept the story of the narrator of the hadith, which is to be contemporary to those who narrated it, and to have heard the talk out of the person himself, in addition to: trust, justice, discipline, mastery, science and honesty.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF ALLAH

 DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDERS. Yawm Arba'a. 29th day of Shaw'waal, 1445AH (Wednesday 8th May 2024). *_NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF ALLAH_*. BismilLah.  Even though feelings of Panic, stress/worries etc are part of life, they must not reduce our acts of worship or trust in ALLAH. The more a man turns to ALLAH and focuses on HIM, the more he will feel a sense of peace and comfort, to an extent that no one knows except ALLAH. Hence those who know ALLAH, are close to HIM and fear HIM are the happiest of people, to such an extent that one of them said, in a well-known expression: “If the kings and the sons of kings knew what joy we have, they would fight us for it with the sword.” This is also what is expressed in the Qur’an, as ALLAH says: “Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him ALLAH will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and ALLAH will ...

HELPING OTHERS WITH INTENTION FOR ALLAH'S HELP IN RETURN

 DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDER. Yaum Al-Khamis, 22nd day of Jumaadal Uula 1447AH, Thursday, 13th November, 2025.  *_HELPING OTHERS WITH INTENTION FOR ALLAH'S HELP IN RETURN_*. BismilLah.  When we help our brothers and sisters in Islam, in reality, we are helping ourselves. The Messenger of ALLAH (S.A.W) said: He who relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, ALLAH Azzawajallah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Judgment. He who makes easy what is difficult, ALLAH ALLAH Azzawajallah will make it easy for him in the world and the hereafter. He who conceals the faults of a Muslim, ALLAH ALLAH Azzawajallah will conceal his faults in this ALLAH Azzawajallah world and the Hereafter, for ALLAH helps the servant as long as he helps his brother. Source: Ṣaḥīḥ "Muslim 2699. AlhamdulilLah.  With this I hope with immediate effect we will all strive to help each other in any possible way such as making dua for each other, supporting our relatives and those in need in ou...

THE MUSLIM WOMAN AND HER OWN SELF

 DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDER. Yawm athalaatha, 3rd day of Rabeeul Awwal 1447AH, Tuesday, 26th August 2025. *_THE MUSLIM WOMAN AND HER OWN SELF_*. BismilLah.  Islam encourages Muslims in general to stand out among people, readily distinguishable by their dress, appearance and behaviour, so that they will be a good example, worthy of the great message that they bring to humanity. According to the hadith narrated by the great Sahabi Ibn al-Hanzaliyyah, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam ) told his Companions, when they were travelling to meet some brothers in faith: "You are going to visit your brothers, so repair your saddles and make sure that you are dressed well, so that you will stand out among people like an adornment, for ALLAH (SWT) does not love ugliness." Reported by Imam Abu Dawud, 4/83, in Kitab al-libas, bab ma ja'a fi isbal al-izar. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) considered an unkempt and careless appearance, and scruffy clothes and furnishings, to be...