A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Hadith – Traditions
~ 94 ~
travel for about forty years throughout the Muslim world in the
pursuit of knowledge. He went to all the traditionists to gather
traditions from them. After having gathered a large number of
them, he returned to Nishapur. By this time his fame as a
traditionist had spread far and wide. He was therefore given a
grand reception by the local residents. Imam Bukhari began
teaching the traditions to the people. He wanted to settle down
here. But he could not do so, as he had incurred the displeasure of
the governor, who wanted Imam Bukhari to come to his palace to
give lessons to his sons. Imam Bukhari had refused to do so, for he
considered this a degradation of hadith knowledge. Then the
governor told Imam Bukhari that his children could go to him, but
only if there were no other students present at that time. But Imam
Bukhari did not accept even this condition. This enraged the
governor, so he gave orders for his extradition from the city. Then
Imam Bukhari went to Khartank, a village at Samarkand. There he
settled down and died in the year 256/870.
Throughout his life Imam Bukhari was strictly pious, honest and
generous to the poor and to students. He did not bear any ill-will
towards anybody, not even his enemies.
His entire life and all of his wealth were devoted to the collection
of hadith. The greater part of his life was spent in travelling for this
purpose. Bukhari began writing very early. He had compiled his
first book at the age of 18 when he was in Madina. Afterwards he
wrote a number of books. But the most famous and important of
all of his books is
Sahih
Bukhari. It is considered by almost all the
