A Brief Introduction to the Different Versions of Sahih al-Bukhari from the Book "Mir’at al-Bukhari" by Allama Hafiz Abdul Mannan Noorpuri (may Allah have mercy on him)
Hafiz Abdul Mannan Noorpuri (rahimahullah) writes:
Versions of Sahih al-Bukhari
It is reported that around ninety thousand people heard *al-Jami‘ al-Sahih al-Musnad* from Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah). However, the versions that have reached us through a connected chain (musnad) via his students are four in number.
First Version: The Version of Hafiz Farabri
His full name is Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Yusuf ibn Matar ibn Salih ibn Bishr al-Farabri. He passed away in 320 AH. He heard *Sahih al-Bukhari* from Imam al-Bukhari twice — once in Bukhara and once in Farabr. He heard it in Farabr in 248 AH and in Bukhara in 252 AH. The Farabri version is the most well-known and widely transmitted among the four.
Nine people transmitted this version from Farabri. Among them, three are especially well-known: Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Ahmad al-Mustamli, Abu Muhammad ‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad al-Sarakhsi, and Abu al-Haytham Muhammad ibn Makki al-Kushmihini. These three passed the narration to the well-known scholar Abu Dharr ‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad al-Harawi. Hence, this version is also called *Nuskhat Abi Dharr*. From Farabri, this version reached seventeen students through these transmitters. Based on the number of students and transmitters, the Farabri version is the most reliable and widely accepted.
Second Version: The Version of Hafiz Nasafi
His name was Ibrahim ibn Mu‘qil ibn Hajjaj al-Nasafi. He was a student of Imam al-Bukhari and passed away in 294 AH. He directly heard *Sahih al-Bukhari* from Imam al-Bukhari. Abu ‘Ali Jiyani wrote in his book *Taqyid al-Muhmal* that Hafiz Nasafi did not hear the entire book; a few pages were missed. He was later granted permission (ijazah) by Imam al-Bukhari to transmit those. Hence, a small deficiency remained. In comparison, Farabri heard the entire book and thus his version is more complete. Ibrahim ibn Mu‘qil is known to have followed the Hanafi school. His version is known through only one student, unlike the Farabri version which was transmitted by nine students. This limited transmission led to lesser popularity for the Nasafi version.
Third Version: The Version of Hafiz Nasawi
His name was Hammad ibn Shakir al-Nasawi. He also directly heard *Sahih al-Bukhari* from Imam al-Bukhari, though some parts were missed. He passed away around 290 AH and is also reported to have been Hanafi. This version too was transmitted through only one student. Therefore, like the Nasafi version, it did not attain the prominence of the Farabri version.
Fourth Version: The Version of Hafiz Bazdawi
His name was Abu Talhah Mansur ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Qarinah al-Bazdawi. He passed away in 329 AH and was among the last of Imam al-Bukhari’s students to pass away. Like the previous two versions, this one was also transmitted through only one student. Thus, it too did not attain the fame of the Farabri version.
