Author: Hazrat Mawlana Mufti Muhammad Abdat al-Falah (Hafizahullah)

Commencement of Writing and Compilation

Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) said: "When I reached the age of eighteen, I began writing and compiling books." He stated that he would sit near the Rawdah Mubarak in Masjid al-Nabawi and write history under the moonlight. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) writes that Imam al-Bukhari arrived in Madinah at the age of eighteen, and during this journey, he wrote the draft of al-Tarikh al-Kabir in moonlit nights.

Al-Tarikh al-Kabir is a masterpiece by Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) that astonished Imam Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, who exclaimed in delight: "This is magic!" Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) said: "There are very few names in this history for which I do not have an incident to narrate, but I avoided including them to prevent the book from becoming too lengthy."

Some scholars have written commentaries on this book, among whom the margin by Muslimah ibn Qasim is well-known. Many scholars have narrated this book from Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah). For example:

• Abu ‘Abdullah Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman ibn Faris
• Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn Sahl al-Lughawi al-Nasawi
• al-Dallal ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Fadl

Ibn Khayr mentioned the transmissions of Ibn al-Fadl and Ibn al-Sahl in al-Fahrasah on pages 2, 4, and 205. The narration of Ibn Faris was cited by al-Rawdani (d. 1094 AH) in Silat al-Khalaf, while Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) mentioned the narration of Ibn Sahl in al-Talaqqi. The version of Ibn Sahl has been published from Hyderabad, and the editor ‘Abd al-Rahman Mu‘alla pointed out difficulties in the footnotes. Thus, we cannot fully claim that the entire version is critically verified and completely accurate.

Imam al-Hakim (rahimahullah), while commenting on al-Tarikh al-Kabir, writes: "Muhammad ibn Isma‘il (al-Bukhari) wrote a historical work the likes of which no one before him had produced. Some attributed it to themselves — like Abu Zur‘ah, Abu Hatim, and Muslim — while others referenced it from him. May Allah have mercy on him, for he was the foundation of the foundations."

In addition to al-Tarikh al-Kabir, Imam al-Bukhari also authored al-Tarikh al-Awsat and al-Tarikh al-Saghir, and these three are collectively known as the "Three Histories" (Tawarikh Thalatha). However, there is confusion regarding al-Awsat and al-Saghir. The printed version of al-Saghir is available, but not much is known about al-Awsat.

Some scholars believe that al-Tarikh al-Saghir is actually another name for Kitab al-Du‘afa, and the printed version of al-Saghir is actually al-Awsat. Al-Mu‘allimi identified the printed version in Hyderabad as al-Tarikh al-Saghir, and he also cited al-Awsat based on references in certain libraries. Its narrators include Zanjuyah ibn Muhammad and ‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad al-Khallaf, whose transmissions were mentioned by Ibn Khayr and also by Ibn Hajar in al-Huda.

According to Ibn Hajar, the narrator of al-Saghir is ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Ashqar, and al-Rawdani mentioned this chain in Silat al-Khalaf. Furthermore, we find that Imam al-Dhahabi quoted al-Tarikh al-Awsat in al-Mizan regarding Qays ibn al-Rabi‘, and the same quote is found in the printed version. Brockelmann states: "Al-Tarikh al-Awsat is arranged chronologically." Regarding al-Saghir, al-Rawdani writes: "This history is specific to the Companions and is the first authored work on the subject."

Ibn Abi Hatim wrote a rebuttal titled Khata' al-Bukhari fi Tarikhih, in which he included the opinions of Abu Zur‘ah and his father Abu Hatim. It seems Abu Zur‘ah and Abu Hatim examined Imam al-Bukhari’s work with a critical eye. If we were to extract the statements of Abu Hatim, Abu Zur‘ah, Ibn Ma‘in, and Ahmad from Ibn Abi Hatim’s al-Jarh wa al-Ta‘dil, what remains would essentially be the Tarikh of al-Bukhari. Their criticisms appear to originate from their own perspective, but Imam al-Bukhari's position remains stronger.

Other Works of Imam al-Bukhari

Kitab al-Kuna: Imam Muslim greatly benefited from this book in his own al-Kuna, and so did Abu Ahmad al-Kabir in his al-Kuna. It has been printed in Hyderabad.

al-Du‘afa’ al-Saghir: This is distinct from Tarikh al-Saghir. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) writes: "It was narrated from Imam al-Bukhari by Abu Bishr Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Hammad al-Dhuhalabi, Abu Ja‘far Musabbih ibn Sa‘id, and Adam ibn Musa al-Khwarazmi." Ibn Khayr cited the narration of Musabbih in his Fahrasah, and the narration of Adam ibn Musa is the printed version through Abu Nu‘aym al-Isbahani.

al-Adab al-Mufrad: Narrated through Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Bazz. Note: He is not the same Bazz as the author of the Musnad. This book has been printed multiple times in the Indian subcontinent and Egypt. The edition verified by Muhammad Fu’ad ‘Abd al-Baqi is considered reliable.

Khalq Af‘al al-‘Ibad: This book has been printed, but its chain of narration back to the author is not mentioned. However, al-Rawdani mentioned its narration through Farabri in Silat al-Khalaf. Ibn Khayr also listed transmissions from Farabri and Yusuf ibn Rayhan. In this book, the distinction between the speech of Allah and the actions of humans is discussed. Imam al-Bukhari explicitly stated: "Whoever attributes to me the belief that the lafz (wording) of the Qur’an is created is a liar. I only said, 'The actions of servants are created.'"

Juz’ Raf‘ al-Yadayn: This booklet has been printed several times, but not with full scholarly verification. The origin of the title Qurrat al-‘Aynayn bi Raf‘ al-Yadayn fi al-Salah remains unknown.

al-Qira’ah Khalfa al-Imam: This booklet is narrated from al-Bukhari by Mahmud ibn Ishaq al-Jazā‘i and is among the narrations cited by Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah), as he mentioned in the introduction to Fath al-Bari. Imam al-Bayhaqi also authored a work titled al-Qira’ah Khalfa al-Imam (Reciting Behind the Imam).

. . . See the full article in *Majallah al-Muhaddith*, January 1993 — Topic: Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) and *al-Jami‘ al-Sahih*