Imam al-Muhaddithin, the Mountain of Memorization, Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him), and His Al-Jami' al-Sahih

Over the past twelve centuries, the great scholars of the Ummah have expressed numerous blessed opinions about Imam al-Bukhari and his Al-Jami' al-Sahih. Collecting and organizing all these statements would require a dedicated volume. However, considering them collectively, it can be stated without hesitation that Imam al-Bukhari is accepted by Allah, and his Al-Jami' al-Sahih is also divinely accepted. It is undoubtedly the most authentic and actionable book for the Ummah after the Noble Qur’an. Anyone who disrespects Imam al-Bukhari or casts doubts on his Sahih is going against the consensus of the Ummah, is a transgressor, and unworthy of consideration. According to Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, such a person is an innovator (bid‘ati).

For the sake of brevity, we will mention only a few of these noble statements, hoping that they will suffice for sincere and pure-hearted individuals, and they will not be misled by the baseless doubts of harsh or unreasonable critics.

SB Imam al-Bukhari: EB Imam al-Bukhari said: "I did not include in this book anything but authentic hadiths." [Muqaddimah Fath al-Bari]

He also stated that he selected the hadiths of Al-Jami‘ al-Sahih from approximately 600,000 narrations.

SB Al-Hafiz Ibn al-Salah: EB Ibn al-Salah stated that Sahih al-Bukhari contains 7,275 musnad hadiths including repetitions, and if repetitions are excluded, there remain about 4,000 hadiths. [Muqaddimah Ibn al-Salah, p. 8] This variation is due to different methods of counting types of hadiths, so both figures are correct.

During Imam al-Bukhari’s lifetime, ninety thousand individuals directly studied this great book from him and narrated it through unbroken chains. When he completed its compilation, he presented it to senior scholars such as Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Imam Yahya ibn Ma‘in, and Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Madini. All of them unanimously praised it and testified to its authenticity. Some expressed reservations about only four hadiths, but eventually, Imam Bukhari’s opinion on those too was proven correct. [Muqaddimah Fath al-Bari, p. 578]

SB Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar: EB Ibn Hajar wrote that in addition to the aforementioned scholars, Imam Bukhari presented his Al-Jami‘ al-Sahih to many other scholars, jurists, and hadith experts of his time. All of them unanimously affirmed its authenticity.

SB Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari: EB Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari quoted the scholars of his time as saying: "It has no equal in its category." [Mirqat, Vol. 1, p. 15]

SB Imam al-Nasa'i: EB Imam al-Nasa’i said: "The best among these books is the book of Bukhari, and the Ummah has agreed upon the authenticity of these two books (Bukhari and Muslim)."

SB Imam Fadl ibn Isma'il al-Jurjani: EB In Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, Vol. 11, p. 28, a qasida (ode) is quoted in praise of Sahih al-Bukhari, summarizing that the book is so high in terms of chain and content that the agreement of all scholars on its superiority is established. It is the benchmark for the religion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), before which Arabs and non-Arabs alike have bowed their heads in submission. Without a doubt, Sahih al-Bukhari deserves to be written in gold.