The Miraculous Healing of Imam Bukhari's Eyesight in Childhood

Fanjār in *Tārīkh Bukhārā* and Lāsakāʾī in *Sharḥ al-Sunnah*, under the chapter *Karamāt al-Awliyāʾ* (Miracles of the Saints), narrate that during his childhood, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) lost his eyesight.

His noble mother, already burdened by the grief of widowhood, was struck by this sudden tragedy. The physicians were helpless in providing a cure. His mother wept night and day over her orphaned son’s condition and persistently prayed for him.

Finally, one night after the ‘Isha prayer, she fell asleep on her prayer mat, weeping and praying. In her dream, Khalīlullāh Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) appeared and gave her glad tidings, saying: “Due to your weeping and supplications, Allah the Almighty has restored your son's eyesight.”

When morning came, her son’s vision had truly been restored. Later, Allah granted him such exceptional clarity of sight that he famously wrote the complete manuscript of *Tārīkh al-Kabīr* under the light of the moon.

Temporary Loss and Restoration of Vision During His Journey

Tāj al-Dīn al-Subkī mentions in *Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā* that once, while traveling in intense heat and sunlight in pursuit of knowledge, Imam Bukhari’s eyesight diminished once again.

Upon reaching Khurāsān, he consulted a skilled physician who advised him to shave his head and apply a poultice made of marshmallow flowers (*gul-e-khatmī*). By the grace of Allah, this treatment completely restored his vision.

Early Love for Hadith and Participation in Study Circles

By the age of ten, Imam Bukhari had completed his elementary education. Even at this tender age, he developed a deep passion for memorizing the noble sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

He began actively participating in various scholarly gatherings and circles of Hadith, marking the beginning of a legendary journey in the field of Islamic scholarship.