Question: In some of your articles
and answers published in this journal, you have pointed out that there
are some problematic Ahadith in Sahih Bukhari. I have often
heard Sahih Bukhari being considered as the second most authentic
book after the Qur’an. If we are questioning the validity of Sahih
Bukhari then is there no true authentic work of Hadith for the
common person to read or consult?
Answer: Before I specifically
answer your question, it seems appropriate to elaborate the mode of transmission
of Ahadith and the criteria established by the scholars to ascertain
their authenticity.
Ahadith are in fact reports that have been transmitted
by individuals and therefore are scrutinized in the light of the criteria
that mainly hinge upon the personality of those individuals and the interlinked
chain that is established between them. Hence, the criteria may be summarized
as:
i. Checking the individuals
Character
Memory
Understanding
ii. Continuity
iii. Corroboration
Their brief explanation follows:
i. Checking the individual
Since at the core of this mode of
transmission stands the personality of some individuals, it needs to be
ascertained whether the transmitters had a good character and whether
they were capable of retaining what they actually heard or observed.
In addition, that they had the ability to comprehend and express things
without distorting the message.
ii: Continuity
An interlinked chain needs to be established
between the transmitters. They must be shown to be in direct contact and
communication with each other. In this respect, their respective locations
and their proximity in time are investigated. Any unreasonable break, be
it of location or time, raises doubts as to the authenticity of a report.
iii. Corroboration
Other corroborating reports are gathered
to support the one at hand. It must be appreciated that as the significance
of a report increases, it becomes imperative that it be corroborated by
many other similar reports since any significant matter could not have
been confined to a small number of people alone.
Thus, all the Hadith literature
is judged in light of these criteria. As far as your question about Sahih
Bukhari is concerned, it should be kept in mind that this collection
is a research work of a Hadith scholar and like other accomplishments
of human beings, cannot be devoid of the shortcomings to which all their
works are subjected. Consequently, when the Ahadith contained in
it are judged, some stand up to the criteria and some have to be declared
da‘if or gharib. Thus, the question is not about the authenticity of Sahih
Bukhari as a whole but about the individual Ahadith of which
it is made up.
It must be appreciated that though
the criteria delineated above provide a certain degree of reliability to
a report, they can never substantiate its authenticity beyond a shadow
of doubt. Just because a transmitter may have a highly good character,
exceptionally good memory and outstanding ability to comprehend and express
the facts and figures, it can never be claimed that he had an ‘infallibly’
good character, ‘unfailing’ memory and ‘perfect’ understanding. Furthermore,
the expedition to collect information about those involved in the transmission
of a report is another task that could never be fault free. It is for this
reason that the authenticity of a Hadith cannot be substantiated beyond
a shadow of doubt. Consequently, it is advisable to consult a scholar who
is able to refer the issue at hand to the two fundamental sources of Islam,
the Qur’an and Sunnah, and thereby guide the seeker accordingly.
(Jhangeer Hanif)
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