Early Islamic Methodology Through al-Bukhari- 3

Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.Ds

Al-Bukhari and his Methodology: In this section we will discuss why al-Bukhari was chosen for this study, and what was his methodology of Hadith collection, and finally, why he was considered as a pioneer in this field, and what was the impact of his work on other scholars during and after his time? With the fact that complete knowledge does not exist in man, al-Bukhari applied what he thought, the accurate measurement of obtaining solid information to be reserved in a written form against fabrication, which was the phenomenon of the time. Logically, his work will be a reflection of spurious fabricated Hadith, or a solid reaction against falsification in his period of time. The first option was and is unthinkable, for one reason that Muslim scholars and the public consider his work as the most genuine book after Qur’an, and the most ancient and authoritative collection. Most scholars and historians consider also, the third century as the golden age for Hadith science (figure1.) It was the shift from the four Imams of jurisprudence, and their methodology of interpreting Qur’an and Hadith, to a new treatment of collecting what the Prophet (PBUH) had said and did in his life.

Hijrah Years

80--------------------- 150 170 190 200 210 220 240 260 280 300 310

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abu Hanifah 80 -------------- 150 (772 A.D)

Malik 93 ---------------------------179 (800)

Al-Shafi’I 150 ----------------------- 204 (824)

Ibn Hanbal 164 --------------------------- 241 (8884)

Al-Darimi -------------------------------------- 255 (869)

Al-Bukhari 194 -----------------------------------256 (870)

Muslim 204 -------------------------------------------261 (874)

Ibn Majah --------------------------------------------------273 (885)

Abu-Daud 203 ------------------------------------------------275 (887)

Al-Tarmidi --------------------------------------------------------279 (891)

Al-Nasa’I ------------------------------------------------------------ 303 (914)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Figure 1. Jurisdiction Imams and collectors of the tradition.

Al-Bukhari was an encyclopediac pious man. He spent most of his life studying or traveling for the sake of knowledge. He has a strict criteria to judge people and documents. He was enslaved to that strict methodology and neglected many genuine traditions simply because these traditions failed to commensurate with his conditions and evaluation. For his criteria, he was and still is highly respected by Muslims in all times and places. Al-Bukhari was the first to apply what we can confidently describe as scientific investigation with the least possible error. Concerning definition of methodology which is a system of explicit rules and procedures upon which research is based and against claims for knowledge are granted. Al-Bukhari applied research methods such as historical, comparative, and field research methods under a system of strict rules and procedures. What was important in this case was the impact of these methods on other scholars who used some of his conditions and methods to accept accurate data in recent years. Al-Bukhari has authored many books inhistory, culture, and Qur’anic commentaries. His works have been crowned by his famous “Sahih.”

Another impact of his methodology was mirrored in hundreds of exegeses which exceeds 25 volumes by later scholars such as Ibn Hajar (d. 852), Qastallani (d. 923), and others. (505 words) – www.dryahyatv.com

******************

About the author:

Hasan Yahya is an American Arab scholar, and a professor of sociology. He published 25 plus books and 220 plus articles on sociology, psychology, politics, poetry, IQ Test Measurement and short stories in both Arabic and English. His articles may be found on articlesbase.com, Face book and other internet sites. His recent book published on Amazon titled: Lawlaki: Lawlaki Poetry Diwan, Zawjat lil-Bay's: Tales and articles, 2000 Bayt Min al-Shi'r al-Arabi and al-Zawaj wal-Jinse fil-‘Alam, Zawjat lil-Bay’, and al-Zawaj wal-Jinse fil ‘Alam, all in Arabic.(On Amazon, 2009). His recent activities reflects his talents and knowledge on youtube’s Dr. Yahya Channel TV under the name of askdryahya. www.hasanyahya.com

For more see: Crescentology:Theory C. book on amazon for the author.