Al-Bukhārī (البخارى)
Definition
Al-Bukhārī (البخارى) refers to the renowned collection of Sunni hadiths compiled by the esteemed Islamic scholar, Abū ʿAbdu ʾllāh Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl ibn Ibrāhīm ibn al-Mughīrah al-Juʿfī al-Bukhārī. “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī” is the title of this collection, which is one of the most authentic books of hadith in Sunni Islam.
Etymology
The term “Al-Bukhārī” is derived from the Arabic phrase (البخارى), which means “the one from Bukhara.” This attribution points to Al-Bukhārī’s place of birth, the city of Bukhara in present-day Uzbekistan.
Arabic and Turkish Translations
- Arabic: البخارى (Al-Bukhārī)
- Turkish: Buhari
Life and Legacy
Abū ʿAbdu ʾllāh Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl al-Bukhārī was born in 194 AH (810 CE) in Bukhara, and he passed away at the village of Khartang near Samarkand in 256 AH (870 CE). His life’s work was dedicated to the collection and verification of hadiths—records of the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī is his magnum opus, comprising approximately 7,000 traditions meticulously selected from a repository of around 600,000. The compilation process took Al-Bukhārī sixteen years of rigorous validation and involved scrupulous standards to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of each hadith. It is said that he performed a prostration in worship (Sujood) before Almighty Allah before recording each tradition, symbolizing his devotion and care for his work.
Significance
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī is a cornerstone of Sunni Islamic scholarship and is among the most revered texts after the Qur’an. The exhaustive nature of Al-Bukhārī’s work and his stringent criteria for authenticity have made this collection an invaluable guide for Islamic jurisprudence, theology, and daily life.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “An Introduction to the Sciences of Hadith” by Ibn al-Salah. A comprehensive primer on hadith studies and methodology.
- “Studies in Hadith Methodology and Literature” by Muhammad Mustafa Azami. Explores hadith compilation, criticism, and literature.
- “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī” - Translation and Commentary by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. Understand the profound texts with detailed explanatory notes.
Takeaways
- Al-Bukhārī’s dedication significantly shaped Sunni Islamic tradition, providing a reliable source of the Prophet’s traditions.
- His meticulous methods set a high standard for hadith verification and compilation.
- The Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī remains one of the most crucial texts for understanding Islamic teachings and the Prophet’s life.
Conclusion
Al-Bukhārī’s contributions as a hadith scholar are invaluable to Islam. The rigorous process he employed to compile Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī ensures that the teachings within reflect the authentic sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad, offering guidance to Muslims across the world.
