Books of Imam al-Tirmidhi and an Overview of His Scholarly Contributions
1. Al-Jami‘ al-Sahih (Sunan al-Tirmidhi): This book by Imam al-Tirmidhi is known by various names: (1) Al-Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, and (2) Sunan al-Tirmidhi. Its full name is: Al-Jami‘ al-Mukhtasar min al-Sunan ‘an Rasul Allah ﷺ wa Ma‘rifat al-Sahih wa al-Ma‘lul wa Ma ‘alayhi al-‘Amal (Ibn Khayr’s Index, p. 98). Al-Hajj Khalifah wrote in Kashf al-Zunun that the book is famously known by attribution to its author as Al-Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, although it is also referred to as Sunan al-Tirmidhi. However, the first title is more widely recognized. (3) Imam al-Hakim referred to it as Al-Jami‘ al-Sahih al-Tirmidhi, and al-Khatib al-Baghdadi also used the term “Sahih” for this work and for Sunan al-Nasa'i (as mentioned in Tadrib al-Rawi).
Although some weak narrations are present in it, the designation of "Sahih" applies to Al-Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi due to the predominance of authentic and authoritative hadiths it contains. The number of weak narrations is very small. This classification is similar to the way the six books (Sihah Sittah) – Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah – are regarded overall as authentic collections, even though the last four contain some weak narrations. (4) The book is also called Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi because it includes not just fiqh chapters, but also topics on faith (iman), tafsir, asceticism (zuhd), the Day of Judgment, softening of hearts (riqaq), piety (wara‘), Paradise, parables, virtues and merits, etc.
2. Kitab al-Shama'il al-Nabawiyyah – A published work.
3. Kitab al-‘Ilal al-Saghir – Found at the end of Sunan al-Tirmidhi. The subject of this book is the principles of hadith and methodology of the hadith scholars. It was expertly explained by Hafiz Ibn Rajab in a published commentary. Though Ibn Rajab also wrote a commentary on Sunan al-Tirmidhi, it is lost, and only the commentary on ‘Ilal survives. Another commentary was written by ‘Allamah ‘Abd al-Rahman Mubarakpuri titled Shifa’ al-‘Ilal fi Sharh Kitab al-‘Ilal, published at the end of Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi.
Imam al-Tirmidhi was not only a student of Imam al-Bukhari, but he was also considered a carrier and transmitter of his knowledge. In his Sunan, he frequently reports benefits from Imam al-Bukhari. In ‘Ilal al-Saghir, he explicitly mentions that the content regarding hadith defects (‘ilal), narrators, and historical aspects were derived from Imam al-Bukhari’s Tarikh and based on frequent discussions with him. He also had some discussions with al-Darimi and Abu Zur‘ah al-Razi, but mainly with Imam al-Bukhari (see: al-‘Ilal 10/466–467).
4. Kitab al-‘Ilal al-Kabir – Arranged by Abu Talib al-Qadi, this is a separate, independent work on hadith defects and was published by Maktabat al-Aqsa in 1406 AH under the research of Hamzah Dhib Mustafa.
5. Kitab al-Tarikh – Quoted in the narrations of Abu Sa‘d ‘Abd al-Karim al-Sam‘ani (see: al-Tahbir fi al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir, 2/223).
6. Kitab al-Zuhd – Currently lost.
7. Kitab al-Asma’ wa al-Kuna – Currently lost.
8. Kitab al-Tafsir – Currently lost.
9. A major compilation in the style of a Musannaf: Imam al-Tirmidhi mentions in Kitab al-‘Ilal that the complete chains of transmission (isnads) are documented in another book of his that contains both marfu‘ (Prophetic) and mawquf (Companion) narrations. This indicates that he authored a more comprehensive book that included detailed isnads and reports. His Sunan mainly contains marfu‘ narrations, with only a few mawquf ones. (See: Sharh al-‘Ilal, p. 45).
