Apr 12
Birth of Muhammad Al-Bukhari
Saturday 13 Shawwal, 1446
Apr 12
Saturday 13 Shawwal, 1446
Muhammad Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), known commonly as Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), was born on the 13th of Shawwal in 194 AH/ 809 CE in Bukhara, located in modern Uzbekistan. His full name is Muhammad ibn Isma'il ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Mughirah al-Bukhari. He descended from a Persian family that had converted to Islam three generations before his birth.
Bukhara did not have any significant scholars before his birth. It was only after Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) contribution to preserving and compiling Hadith (the sayings and narratives of the Prophet (ﷺ) that Bukhara gained recognition in the whole of the Muslim world.
The most distinguished trait of Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), like many other esteemed Muslim scholars, is his devotion towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His Messenger (ﷺ) above all other compulsions. His entire life was devoted to seeking knowledge as he discovered peace in the existence of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was named Muhammad with the hope that he would develop affection towards the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). He certainly did as well, and it was due to this love for the Prophet (ﷺ) that Imam Al-Bukhari stood firm in his faith during a period of Islam filled with doubt.
Different sects had emerged in the Muslim territories, such as the Khawarij and Rawafidh, which had begun compromising the reputation of the Prophet's (ﷺ) companions and their shared heritage. They had started defaming and distorting hadith that knowledgeable and honest people had narrated. Without an in-depth understanding of the narrators and their accounts, the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) would not reach the believers, and Islam would collapse.
Hence, Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) became a key figure in hadith studies and played a vital role in safeguarding the tradition. He is widely recognized for collecting the most genuine and reliable hadith and compiling them in the book Sahih Al-Bukhari. He developed an efficient and in-depth method of verification for each hadith attributed to the Prophet (ﷺ) that helped preserve and protect the authenticity of the hadith forever.
To this day, the Sahih Bukhari is considered the most authentic source of hadith and is studied by students and scholars throughout the Muslim world. His teachers stated that he embraced their principles and that whenever a hadith was presented to him, he would memorize it and then apply the teachings of the hadith in his life.
Muhammad Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) father was Ismail ibn Ibrahim. He was an expert in hadith studies and had studied under Hammad ibn Zaid (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Imam Malik (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Ismail ibn Ibrahim also traveled alongside the distinguished scholar Abdullah ibn Mubarak (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). A notable quality of Muhammad Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) father was his cautious nature. When asked in what state he preferred to return to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), he replied that he was unaware of even a single coin in his possession that possessed haram characteristics.
However, the most important role in Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) rise to prominence as a scholar is played by his mother, whose name is unknown. Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) father passed away a short time after he was born, leaving his mother responsible for raising the family. At a young age, Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had poor vision that ultimately developed into complete blindness. Desperate to help her son, his mother earnestly prayed to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for a duration of two to three years.
One night, Imam Al-Bukhari's (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) mother saw Hazrat Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in her dream. He told her that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) had blessed Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) with vision due to her continuous and pure prayers. Moreover, the vision was regained to its complete power. It is said that Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) wrote books using only the moonlight without any candles.
It was also Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) mother who had encouraged him to memorize the Holy Quran. Following his memorization at the age of six, his mother made him attend hadith gatherings, which made Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) develop a passion for them.
From an early age, Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was dedicated to studying Islamic sciences. He learned from the scholars in his hometown and nearby areas and was highly interested in hadith research and fiqh (the study of Islamic law).
Since childhood, Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) showed a remarkable talent for understanding complicated legal matters. More importantly, he demonstrated the ability to recall lengthy and complex sequences of hadith without any mistakes. For a hadith to be regarded as authentic, a dependable chain of narrators must link the saying to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) excelled in this.
Imam Al-Dakhili (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was a muhaddith (one who narrates hadith) from Bukhara. He once shared a sanad (the chronological sequence of narrators for a hadith from the Prophet (ﷺ)) within his circle. Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), who was also present and was 11 at the time, disagreed with him and pointed out that the chain of narration was incorrect.
Imam Al-Dakhili (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was surprised that an 11-year-old was informing him that he had made a mistake. He subsequently reviewed his own writings and realized he was wrong and the young Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was correct.
Before Imam Al-Dakhili (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) spoke to him, he requested Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to recite the correct sanad verbally, which he did. Imam Al-Dakhili (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was very impressed and commented that the young man would hold a unique position with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
In his late teenage years, Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) finished his education in Bukhara and accompanied his mother and brother to Makkah for Hajj. Since the emergence of Islam in the 600s, Makkah has served as an important meeting point for global travelers. Since all Muslims must perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime, Makkah sees individuals from every part of the globe. For a hadith scholar, this kind of setting is ideal.
Imam Al-Bukhari (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) remained in Makkah and Madinah for many years, during which he gathered hadith from prominent hadith scholars from around the world. He memorized the text of the hadiths (matn) and the chain of narrators (isnad). Also, he enhanced his understanding of the trustworthiness of those narrators (the study of men–ilm al-rijaal).
At the age of 18, Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) composed two writings while sitting beside the grave of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The first is titled Al-Tārīkh Al-Kabīr, which discusses the qualities of Hadith narrators. The second is called Qadaya as-Sahaba wat-Tabi’een, which praises the Prophet’s (ﷺ) companions and confirms their reliability and intellect during a period when misguided beliefs challenged the Sahaba.
In later years, Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) traveled beyond Makkah and Madinah to gather additional knowledge. During his journeys, he is said to have recorded hadith from more than 1,000 scholars. One of his most important journeys was to Baghdad. Baghdad emerged as the center for hadith studies after the passing of Imam Malik (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), with his pupil Imam Shafii (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) present at that time.
In Baghdad, Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) met many renowned scholars like Ishaq ibn Rahwayh (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). In the gathering of Ishaq ibn Rahwayh (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) learned that he desired a collection of the most authentic and trustworthy material presented as concisely as possible for the benefit of all Muslims. This desire embedded itself in the heart of Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). After studying for another sixteen years, Imam Bukhari had compiled hadith that were reported from more than 80,000 narrators.
During his adult years, Imam Al-Bukhari (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) traveled across Egypt, Syria, and Iraq to pursue his studies. He eventually settled in Basra, where he compiled his significant hadith collection, Sahih Al-Bukhari.
Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) wrote numerous texts on hadith science. Still, his most significant contribution to Islamic studies was his compilation of more than 7,000 hadiths, which he titled Al-Jaami’ Al-Sahih Al-Musnad Al-Mukhtasar min Umur Rasool Allah wa sunanihi wa Ayyamihi (The Abridged Collection of Ahadith with Connected Chains Regarding the Sayings of the Prophet). This compilation took 16 years to finish and has been regarded as the most genuine book of hadith in history, which is why it is commonly referred to as Sahih Al-Bukhari (The Authentic Hadiths of Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
What sets Sahih Al-Bukhari apart from other compilations is Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) careful focus on detail while gathering hadiths. His criteria for accepting a hadith as authentic were much stricter than compared to other hadith scholars. The chain of narrators for every hadith he compiled was checked for authenticity and reliability before it was included.
Let’s take the example of the first hadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari:
“It is reported from al-Humaydi Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr that he heard from Sufyan, who reported from Yahya ibn Sa’eed al-Ansari, who mentioned he was told by Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Taymi that he heard Alqama ibn Waqqas al-Laythi recount that he heard Umar ibn al-Khattab declare that he heard the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) say: ‘The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended’”. (Sahih Al-Bukhari: 1)
Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) conducted a thorough examination of this chain consisting of six narrators. To confirm that the hadith was authentic, he thoroughly examined the lives of everyone in the chain of transmission. He also examined the locations and time periods of the narrators to ensure that if one narrator had heard the hadith from another, they both must have been present in the same place and time and must actually have met and discussed the hadith.
Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) also examined the biographies of the narrators to confirm their reliability and make sure they had not made up or altered the phrasing of the hadith. If he found that someone in a chain openly committed a sin or was considered unreliable, that hadith was promptly rejected and not added to his compilation unless a more valid chain of narrators was available.
Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was the first hadith scholar to use a systematic method for classifying hadith according to his strict criteria for accepting a hadith.
Every hadith he examined was classified as follows:
This system for categorizing hadith subsequently established the benchmark for all hadith scholars to categorize their hadith.
Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) Sahih is more than a straightforward compilation of hadiths. He organized his compilation in a way that would also assist in making decisions within Islamic jurisprudence, which is known as fiqh.
Hence, instead of being a big compilation of scattered hadith, the Sahih consists of 97 books, each containing several chapters. Every chapter is subsequently named after a specific matter in fiqh, and that chapter will include all the hadiths that he confirmed were authentic about that particular matter.
For example, the section regarding additional prayers during Ramadan (taraweeh) is named “The Virtue of Nightly Extra Prayers in Ramadan” and includes six hadith highlighting the significance of the Taraweeh prayer. This shows that Imam Al-Bukhari (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) also cleverly structured the Sahih into a legal framework that would help an ordinary Muslim to live his or her life in a manner that closely resembles the Prophet’s (ﷺ) way of life.
Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) significant contribution would inspire generations of hadith scholars, including one of his students, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), who would compile Sahih Muslim, which is regarded as the second most authentic hadith collection after Sahih Al-Bukhari.
Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) dedication to hadith science and his immense effort in compiling the Sahih Al-Bukhari demonstrates his genuine commitment to Islam and his pure love for the Holy Prophet (ﷺ). His work is regarded as the most genuine, and there is a consensus among scholars from all Islamic sects that Sahih Al-Bukhari contains no false or unverified hadith. It is due to Imam Al-Bukhari’s (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) efforts that we can so easily access genuine hadith today and follow the way of the Prophet (ﷺ) in our daily lives.