Saheeh al-Bukhaaree

Saheeh al-Bukhaaree is the most authentic book after the book of Allaah (i.e. the Quraan).

Q: What make a hadeeth authentic?

A: The authentic hadeeth has 5 characteristics;

1.) Ittisaalus-sanad (Connected chain) This means that everyone of its narrators heard the hadeeth directly from the person he is narrating from, from the beginning of the chain to the end of the chain.

2.) Al-'adaalah The narrators (in the chain) are all just, (i.e. Muslim, baaligh/of age, 'aaqil/sane, not known to be a faasiq/open sinner, and free of bad manners)

3.) All of the narrators must be precise in their narrating, and this is of two types;

 (a) Precision of the heart. this means that the narrator memorises the hadeeth correctly, transmits it as he heard it, and that he understands the narration, if he is narratong its meaning (only).

 (b) Precision of writing. The narrator writes down the hadeeth, preserves it, and makes sure that it's passed on correctly.

4.) 'Adamush-shadhuth-being free of irregularities. This occurs when reliable narrators contradict those who are more reliable than them.

5.) 'Adamul-'illah-being free of hidden defects. Sometimes a chain looks as though it's authentic, but with precise investigation, hidden defects may be detected which effect the authenticity of the hadeeth.

The Saheeh of Imaam al-Bukhaaree contains 2700 ahaadeeth, not including the aathaar (narrations of the salaf), and the narrations of his collection are considered (by many of the scholars of hadeeth) to be of the highest level of authenticity.

Imaam al-Bukhaaree was very careful in selecting his ahaadeeth. So mush so, that he prayed the istikhaarah prayer for every hadeeth he chose to put in his book.

The most famous explanation of Saheeh al-Bukhaaree is that of 'Abdullaah ibn Hajar al-Asqalaanee-Fathul-Baaree, and it is a reference for the ahaadeeth in general, as the author does not restrict himself to the ahaadeeth in Bukhaaree.

The Saheeh of al-Bukhaaree is not only a book of hadeeth, but it is also a book of fiqh. Anyone who is familiar with the methodology of al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh, knows that the chapter headings contaion his fiqh of the hadeeth mentioned in that chapter.

*Benefit: Not all of the scholars of hadeeth were experts in hadeeth (only). rather there were many scholars of hadeeth who specialized in various sciences, including fiqh. From the scholars of hadeeth who were Jurists (Fuqahaa) were, Imaam Ahmad, Imaam maalik, Ishaaq ibn Raahaway, Imaam al-Bukhaaree, Imaam ibn Hibbaan, Imaam abu Dawud, and others.

Every Muslim who loves the sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) should have a copy of saheeh al-Bukhaaree in his (or her) library.

When Imaam adh-Dhahabee defined knowledge, he said that knowledge is the book of Allaah and deep study of the saheehayn (i.e. saheeh Muslim & Saheeh al-Bukhaaree).

May Allaah have mercy on Imaam al-Bukhaaree (ameen)

http://calltoislam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=789&Itemid=26

Vocabulary words:

Saheeh: Authentic, sound, healthy, etc.

al-Bukhaaree: The one from Bukhaaraa (a city in Uzbekistan)

Saheeh-ul-Bukhaaree: The authentic collection of al-Bukhaaree.