A L - H I D A Y A H S E R I E S

______________________________________________________________________________

IMAM BUKHARI
______________________________________________________________________________

and the Love of the

PROPHET
______________________________________________________________________________

V O L U M E 1
n

Compiled from the lectures of

SHAYKH-UL-ISLAM

Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri

M IN H A J - UL- QUR A N I NT ER NA T IO NA L
 5

O Lord send endless blessings & peace,

Upon your beloved, the best of creation...
Muhammad, Master of both Worlds, and Both Species [human & sprite]
and both Assemblages - Arabs and all others
EXCERPT FROM IMAM BUSIRIS RENOWNED POEM OF THE CLOAK
1268 C.E

%

^
Abundant Peace and blessings of Allah the Exalted be upon the Prophet,
his Family, and his Companions
 TRANSLITERATION KEY

alif a
(long vowel)
b b ayn
t t ghayn gh
th th f f
jm j qf q
kf k
kh kh lm l
dl d mm m
dhl dh nn n
r r h h
zy z ww w (consonantal)
sn s (long vowel)
shn sh y y (consonantal)
d (long vowel)
d hamza

Short vowels:
CCP KEY (CLASSICAL --- (fata) = a
COMMENTRY PARADIGM)

H = Hadith ------ (kasra) = i

C = Commentary
------ (amma) = u
E.g., C1 = Commentry 1
 CONTENTS
o

INTRODUCTION 8

PART 1a
The Life and Travels of Imam al-Bukhari
__________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction: The Early Life of Sayyidun Imm Bukhr 20

2. Imm Bukhr was a Student of Imm Ab anfa
through his Fathers Chains of Authority 22
3. The Sublime Status of the Holy Prophet (Blessings & Peace be upon him) 24
4. The Hadithic link between Imam Bukhari and Imam Abu Hanifa 27
5. Imm Bukhr received his Thulthiyt through the Students
of Imam Ab Hanfa 30
6. Imm Bukhrs Journeying in Pursuit of Hadth 33
7. Imm Bukhr completed his collection at the Blessed Grave of the Prophet
(Blessings & Peace be upon him) 38
8. Lessons From the Life of the Noble Imm 40
9. The Number of Narrators in Sahih al-Bukhr 43
10. The Students of Imm Bukhr 45
11. Two of the Five Main Transmitters of Sahh al-Bukhr were Hanafi 46
12. Imm Bukhr Studied the Works of the Hanafis 50
13. The Necessity of Combining Exoteric and Esoteric knowledge 54
14. Imm Bukhr Sought Blessings from the Prophets Blessed Hair 58

PART 1b
1. The First Chapter of Sahih Bukhari 58
H1. THE HADTH OF INTENTION 60
COMMENTARY 61
C1. Imam Bukhari was an Ocean of Adab 63
C2. The Link between the Hadth of Intention and the Beginning of Revelation 65
C3. The Secrets of Jalwa (unveiling) & Khalwa (seclusion) 66
C4. The Stages of Spiritual Migration (hijra) 69
C5. Allah Always Conjunctions His Name with the Holy Prophets Name 72
C6. Actions Have an Apparent Form (zhir) and a Hidden Meaning (btin) 74

PART 2
Imam al-Bukhari and the Ahadith on Love
__________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction 78

H2 & H3. LOVE OF THE MESSENGER IS FROM FAITH 79

COMMENTARY 80
C1. True Faith Rests Upon Loving the Prophet More Than Everything Else 80
C2. Faith Springs From Love Not Action 88

H4. EXPERIENCING SWEETNESS OF FAITH 99

COMMENTARY 100
C1. The Station of the Holy Prophet in the Sight of Allah 100
C2. Love for Allah, the Prophet, and the Awliya 103

H5. TO LOVE THE MADINAN HELPERS 110

COMMENTARY 110

CONCLUSION 112
BIBLIOGRAPHY 113
 IMAM BUKHARI & THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET

INTRODUCTION

The fabric of our civilisation is woven

out of the example set by our Prophet
(Blessings and Peace be upon him).
MARTIN LINGS

T
HE RECORDING OF HISTORY is often maligned by the
opinions and prejudices of its recorders. People have a
natural tendency to relate what they would like to have
happened, rather than objectively stating what actually took
place. However, the giants of the Islamic scholastic tradition,
uniquely freed humanity from the egoistic shackles of
chauvinism and prejudice. Imam al-Qastalln narrates in his al-
Mawhib that Imam Ab tim Muammad ibn Idrs ar-Rzi
said, since the beginning of creation, no nation has preserved
the traditions of their Prophet like the community of the
Prophet Muammad (blessings and peace be upon him). The
Ulema of adth and its ancillary sciences stipulated rigorous
criteria to accept or reject a narration, regardless of personal
preferences. This is one of the reasons why even the six
canonical adth collections are replete with apparently
contradictory accounts of a single event.

8
 INTRODUCTION

The early adth scholars may Allah be pleased with

them all established a sophisticated science for ascertaining
the authenticity of narrations based primarily upon the
uprightness, retentiveness and piety of its narrators. The science
of adth methodology and classification is extremely
meticulous and has successfully preserved the purity and
transparency of the Prophetic Sunna. Due to the vast and
complex nature of the science it is impossible for us to delve
into any of its intricacies here.
In light of the principles and criteria alluded to above, well
over a 100 adth collections had been compiled before Imam
al-Bukhr, initiating in the time of the Prophet (blessings and
peace be upon him) himself. Bukhrs work however, is unique
in the extensive history of adth compilation because it
consists of narrations that accomplish the highest level of
authenticity in human history. Thus his work was accepted in
all corners of the Muslim world, as the most authentic source of
legal, moral and spiritual guidance after the Book of Allah
(Exalted be He) - the Quran.

IMAM AL-BUKHR AND HIS COMPENDIUM

Imam Abu Abdullah Muammad bin Ismal bin Ibrahm al-
Bukhr (194 - 256 AH) was undoubtedly one of the greatest
and most ingenious adth scholars to have ever walked the face
of the Earth. His status as both a scholar and a saint is

9
 IMAM BUKHARI & THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET

profoundly attested to by a multitude of major adth masters.

One of his most eminent students, Imam Muammad ibn
Ysuf al-Farabr narrated that Imam al-Bukhr began to attend
the circles of the adth masters at the age of 10, and whilst still
in his adolescence, the Imam had memorised over 70,000
narrations.
The Imam was gifted with natural intelligence and a
photographic memory such that one of his fellow students,
Imam Hshid ibn Ismal states that during the transmission of
adth, Imam al-Bukhr would not write anything down. He
continued this practise for a substantial period and our
concerns about the Imam continued to grow. On one occasion,
the students advised the Imam that he should write down the
narrations that he hears, so that his knowledge is preserved and
his time is not squandered. Imam al-Bukhr requested the
scribes to check their notebooks as he recited over 15,000
narrations that he had memorised but not noted.
Imam ibn Ab tim narrates that he saw Imam al-Bukhr
in a dream. He was walking behind the Prophet (blessings and
peace be upon him) placing his feet exactly in the Prophets
footsteps.
Imam al-Bukhrs compendium, the Jmi a is widely
regarded as the most authentic source of religious teachings
after the Quran. Imam al-Qastalln stated that the work of
Imam al-Bukhr is the most authentic compilation in adth

10
 INTRODUCTION

literature; it is widely accepted and referred to by the Scholastic

community (Ulema) of every age and it surpasses all adth
collections that precede or follow it.
Imam Abu Zayd al-Marwazi relates that he saw the Prophet
(blessings and peace be upon him) in a dream; who said to him,
for how long will you recite the book of ash-Shfi and not
recite my book? Abu Zayd asked the Prophet (blessings and
peace be upon him), o Messenger of Allah, what is your book?
The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) replied, the
compendium of al-Bukhr (is my book).
Imam ibn al-ajar records in his Fat al-Br that Imam al-
Bukhr would make Ghusl (ritual bath) and pray two cycles of
voluntary prayer before including any adth in his collection.
He led a life of scrupulousness and renunciation, oblivious to
food and drink, surviving only on a few almonds and some
water a day. The Imam travelled far and wide in pursuit of
knowledge, from the deserts of the jz to the civilisation of
Baghdad and Kufa.
Another manifestation of the acceptance of a al-Bukhr
among the scholars is the multitude of commentaries,
summarisations and marginal notes written on it by Scholars
from a wide array of scholastic fields. The total number of such
works amounts to well over a 100. Imam Zakariyyah al-
Khandelwi, in his preamble to Lmi ud-Durr provides a list
of over a 100 hundred scholars and their works on the a of
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 IMAM BUKHARI & THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET

Imam al-Bukhr. Some of the most extensive works and their

famous authors include:
Z Imam ibn ajar al-Asqaln (Fat al-Br)
Z Imam Badr ad-Dn al-Ayn (Umdat al-Qr)
Z Imam Amad bin Muammad al-Qastalln (al-Irshd
as-Sr)
Z Imam Shams ad-Dn al-Kirmn (al-Kawkib ad-Darri)
Z Imam an-Nawaw (he was unable to complete his
commentary)
Z Imam Abu Muammad ibn azam
Z Imam Ali bin Mulaqqin
Z Allmah Shams ad-Dn al-Barmwi
Z Imam ibn Kathr (He was unable to complete his
commentary)
Z Imam ibn Rajab al-anbal
Z Imam Sirj al-Bulqn
Z Imam Majd ad-Dn al-Firozabd
Z Al-rif al-Imam Abdullah bin Saad bin Ab Jamrah
(Bahjat an-Nufs)
Z Imam Amad bin Ismal bin Muammad al-Kawrn al-
anaf
Z Imam Fakhr al-Islam al-Bazdawi
Z Imam Najm ad-Din Abu afs Umar bin Muammad
an-Nasaf al-anaf
Z Fat al-Br and Umdat al-Qr

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 IMAM BUKHARI AND THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET

P A R T 1 a
_______________________________________

THE LIFE AND TRAVELS OF

IMM BUKHR
(may Allh be well pleased with him)

D
EAR TRAVELLERS ON THE PATH TO ALLH and the
Holy Prophet Muammad (blessings and peace be
upon him)! Riding on the steed of love and hoping
for some divine drops of His gnosis (marifa) and nearness, I
hope Allh Almighty, providing that you remain firm, steadfast
and continuously attached to this Prophetic mission with
piety and purity, serenity and God weariness will lead you,
by His grace and blessings, to your destination in this life and
the hereafter.

1. INTRODUCTION: THE EARLY LIFE OF

SAYYIDUN IMM BUKHR

To begin with we will concentrate on the life of Imm al-

Bukhr; presenting some important aspects and significant
events of his life, which shall, God willing, assist us in properly

20
 THE LIFE & TRAVELS OF IMAM BUKHARI

appreciating the reality of his personality and works.

Unfortunately, he is amongst those great authorities of the
Muslim Umma who have been both misunderstood and
misrepresented in some circles of the Umma.
Imm Ab Abdullh Muammad ibn Isml ibn Ibrhm
ibn Mughra was born in the famous city of Bukhr on the
13th of Shawwl 194 AH (20th July 810 CE), following the
Friday prayer. He died on the night of dul-Fir, in a village
known as Khartank, near the city of Samarqand (present-day
Uzbekistan) and was buried the following day, after Dhuhr
prayer.1
Imm al-Bukhrs academic and spiritual development
began as the result of a miraculous event. During his infancy he
lost his eyesight. His mother who a great saint of her time
prayed intensely that Almighty Allh restore her sons eyesight.
One night, she saw the Prophet Ibrhm (peace be upon him)
in a dream who brought her glad tidings of the restoration of
her sons eyesight. When she awoke in the morning, she saw
that the Imams eyesight had indeed been restored. 2 An
important note here (in light of this event) is that there are
many people who claim to know Imm Bukhr, yet they mock
dreams, rejecting their reality and meaningfulness. They do not

1
an-Nawaw, Tahdhb al-Asm wal-Lught, vol. 1, p. 86; Ibn al-Athr, al-Kamil
fit-Trkh, vol. 6, p. 228.
2
adh-Dhahab, Siyar Alm an-Nubal, vol. 12, p. 393.

21
 IMAM BUKHARI AND THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET

believe that blessings can be attained through dreams. Whether

or not such a notion is correct will be clarified through the
collection of Prophetic traditions pertaining to this topic in
a al-Bukhr.
When he was 10-11 years of age he began going to his
shuykh (teachers) to study classical Islamic sciences.3 n

2. IMM BUKHR WAS A STUDENT OF IMM

AB ANFA THROUGH HIS FATHERS CHAINS
OF AUTHORITY

Imm al-Aam Ab anfa (may Allh be well pleased with

him) was born in 80 AH and passed away in the year 150 AH,
44 years before Imm Bukhrs birth.4 This meant that Imm
al-Bukhr could not have personally received knowledge from
Imm Ab anfa; although he studied with at least 40 of his
students and the total number of Imm al-Bukhrs teachers
was 1080.5
In those days, studying under someone meant that the
person received knowledge of adth through authentic chains
of transmission, from person to person. In this way the

3
adh-Dhahab, Siyar Alm an-Nubal, vol. 12, p. 393.
4
al-Khab al-Baghdd, Tarkh Baghdd, vol. 13, p. 326; adh-Dhahab, Siyar
Alm an-Nubal, vol. 6, p. 395; Ab Isq Shrz, abaqtul-Fuqah, vol. 1,
p. 87.
5
al-Asqaln, Muqaddima Fatul-Br, p. 479.

22
 THE LIFE & TRAVELS OF IMAM BUKHARI

transmitter(s) of the adth become the shuykh (pl. of shaykh)

of the students. From the 1080 teachers of Imm al-Bukhr,
40 were the direct students of Imm Ab anfa as well as the
students of his senior most students, namely Imm Ab Ysuf
and Imm Muammad ibn asan ash-Shaybn and many
others, thus making him the grand-student of Imm Ab
anfa.
Imm al-Bukhrs father, Imm Isml ibn Ibrhm al-
Bukhr (may Allh be well pleased with him) died when Imm
al-Bukhr was still young and so he was unable to receive
knowledge directly from his father. However, Imm Isml left
behind collections of adth (pl. of adth) in the form of
books and manuscripts and a compendium of knowledge that
he had received from his own teachers. Imm al-Bukhr
inherited this material from his father and was thus able to
acquire the knowledge of his father and his teachers.
In the science of adth (ul al-adth) this is known as al-
wijda (discovery/finding) and is considered an established and
sound method of transmission. The scholars have stipulated
eight methods for the transmission and reception of Hadith, of
which direct listening (as-sam) from the shaykh, reciting before
the shaykh (al-qira) and receiving permission (al-ijza) are but
a few examples. Amongst these methods is the aforementioned
al-wijda, which is where either the teacher gives a narration to
the student in written form or the student finds a tradition in

23
 IMAM BUKHARI AND THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET

the writing of a shaykh and transmits it, without ever having

met the shaykh or studied under him. n

3. THE SUBLIME STATUS OF THE HOLY

PROPHET (Blessings & Peace Be Upon Him)

A significant example of al-wijda is found in the relationship

of the Muslim Umma to the Best of Creation (blessings and
peace be upon him). We are all students of the greatest teacher,
the Prophet Muammad, the Beloved, the Chosen one
(blessings and peace be upon him); for we are receiving
knowledge of his sayings that are recorded in the books of
adth and transmitted through continuous chains of narrators.
Not only are the Muslims the students of the Prophet (blessings
and peace be upon him) but also the past communities (al-
umam as-sbiqa), the Jews and the Christians, who were given
prophetic dispensations in the form of the Gospels and the
Psalms. Although this period was thousands of years before the
physical birth of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon
him), they are still considered his students because he was
spiritually present. Spiritually the Prophet Muammad
(blessings and peace be upon him) was created before the
creation of the whole universe, before the existence of any
nation or community and before the raising of any Messenger

24
 THE LIFE & TRAVELS OF IMAM BUKHARI

or Prophet. This is mentioned in the Holy Qurn, when Allh

states:

tgs %!$# _hW{$# <9$# t9$# 7Ft t%!$#)

(.gM}$#u 1uG9$# y $/G3t

Those who follow the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon
him), the Prophet who studied only under Almighty Allh, of
whom they find written with them, in the Torah and the Gospel.6

al-Wijda (finding/discovery), as a method of reception is

derived from the word yajidnah in the above-mentioned
verse7 and it is through wijda that both the past nations and
the Muslim community became the recipients of prophetic
knowledge.
Another crucial clarification here is with regard to the
Qurnic term umm. Many people translate this word as
ignorant or illiterate. This however is completely wrong! In
terms of its etymology, the word umm in no way indicates
illiteracy or ignorance! In fact as a technical term, umm refers

6
al-Qurn, al-Arf (The Heights), 7:157.
7
For a detailed study of the evidences for al-wijda from the Qurn and
adth, refer to Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muammad hir-ul-Qdrs
masterpiece on the adth sciences, al-Khuba as-Sadda f Ulil-adth wa
Furil-Aqda.

25
 IMAM BUKHARI AND THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET

to one who has never studied under a teacher or one who did
not study through the common methods prevalent in the
world.8 This raises the following question, how can one have
no teacher (amongst creation) and yet be the source of
knowledge for the whole of humanity? The answer is provided
in the Qurn, when Almighty Allh declares Himself the
teacher of the Prophet Muammad (blessings and peace be
upon him). He says:

y7n=t !$# s %x.u 4 n=s? 3s? s9 $t y=tu)

( $Vt
And He taught you whatever you did not know and Allhs grace
upon you was great.9

$oGt#u 3n=t (#=Gt 6i Zu 6 $u=yr& !$yx.)

$ 3k=yu sy6t:$#u |=tG39$# 6k=yu 6j.tu

( tn=s? (#3s? s9
Likewise, We have sent to you (Our) Messenger from among
yourselves who recites to you Our verses and purifies you (your

8
Ibn Manr, Lisnul-Arab, vol. 12, p. 34; Zabd, Tjul-Urs, vol. 16, p. 29.
9
al-Qurn, an-Nis (The Women), 4:113.

26