An Introduction to Sahih al-Bukhari: Author's Biography, Recensions and Manuscripts

by Muṣṭafā al-Aʿẓamī, Andrew Booso (Editor), Muntasir Zaman (Translator)

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī is unsurprisingly the most widely recognized book among Muslims after the Qurʾān. Curious readers of Bukhārī’s magnum opus are often left with burning questions that lie beyond its contents. Who was Imām Bukhārī? How and why did he write the Ṣaḥīḥ? How was it transmitted? Are there any reliable extant manuscripts of the work? In this introduction, Dr. Muṣṭafā al-Aʿẓamī answers these questions in a simple and accessible manner. This translation, alongside added annotations and appendices, presents and expands on al-Aʿẓamī’s research for an English readership, for whom there is a dearth of resources on the subject. “The present translation performs a valuable service in its posthumous presentation of Dr. Aʿẓamī’s research on Imam Bukhārī’s intellectual biography, critical modus operandi in compiling his Ṣaḥīḥ, and details of the Ṣaḥīḥ’s various transmissions and codices. The translator’s exceptional annotations and appendices only enhance an already rich text for those interested in the history of the preservation of Bukhārī’s seminal work.” —Mawlana Bilal Ali Ansari, Darul Qasim, USA “Finally, an academic and scholarly introduction to one of the most celebrated works of Islam after the Glorious Qur’an. After being surrounded by enigma, this well-researched study will discuss the biography of Imam Bukhari, details of his teachers, students, transmitters and his meticulous work and diligence in producing his masterpiece, and it will provide satisfying responses to critics of its authenticity.” —Dr Mufti Abdur-Rahman Mangera, Whitethread Institute, UK

Genres: Islam

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2020

Reviews

[Arman Firman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, but too short

[Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the biography and compilation of Sahih al-Bukhari. Not only is it a great insight into the study of Hadith, but it also provides a biographical resource for the great Imam, Muhammad ibn Isma'il.

[Saqib Qureshi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor - a shotgun, without thought

This book is basically a firehose of the straight, simplified and mundane base orthodoxy of Sunni interpretations of Bukhari and his works. There is almost no critical or independent thinking, no evaluation. It’s a shame