Nafsiya Reflections: A Lesson from Imam Bukhari

Assalaam u alaykum wa rahmatullah he wa barakathu hu

Welcome to today’s episode- where we will reflect on the personality of the life of Imam Bukhari (Rh).

The treasury of wisdoms and lessons we can learn from the lives of our pious predecessors is second only to to that of our beloved prophet SAWS. These great personalities epitomised Islam, and exemplify the manners and character of a true Mumin (believer) . The thirst for knowledge and huge sacrifices to further, and to protect Islam and the Muslims were well understood by them... so their lives and stories must be focal points of reference for us InshaAllah.

Mohammed ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Mughira, known to us as the blessed and noble Imam Bukhari, is one of the most eminent personalities in our Islamic history. He was born on yawm al Jummah in Shawaal in the year 194 AH, in Bukhara in Uzbekistan, and lived in the Khorasan region that covers modern day northern Iraq, Iran and southern Afghanistan.

His father died when he was an infant so he was raised by his dutiful mother; an extremely pious woman, known for her worship and obedience to Allah swt in all matters. His mother ensured Imam Bukhari’s Islamic education was the best, and she nurtured in him a deep love of Allah swt and the Quran, sending him to learn Arabic and attend the halaqaat of Hadith even as a young boy.

Years later, when he was twenty, the great Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal met Imam Bukhari, and said about him that “he’d never seen from the entire region of Khurasan, a man like Mohammed ibn Ismail”. And his teacher Ishaq ibn Rahwe the great scholar of Hadith had described him as his “most capable student”.

Imam Bukhari (rahimUllah) was blessed with an amazing ability to memorise and learn. By the age of six he was a Haafidh of Quran and at twelve he had memorised 7,000 ahadith! As he grew and studied under the ulema, many of them were astounded at his unique memory as well as his exemplary character.

He was often tested publicly and on one occasion he narrated back to the ulema the 100 ahadith with incorrect chains of narration they had presented to him, followed by the 100 correct versions of the ahadith and their chains. There was no doubt of his brilliance subhanAllah!

As we study the lives of such awesome personalities there are many aspects one can gain lessons from. Today we will focus on just one lesson, how we should recognise the implications of being guided and having any knowledge. Though we are far from the level of scholarship and dedication of Imam Bukhari, whatever we carry of thoughts and ideas about Islam, should be adopted as an amaanah, or trust, that are to be implemented in our own lives and presented as the truth to others.

Today we may not reflect on how important it is to maintain our character and remove any doubts people have about us that may harm how we are viewed. The giants of Islam excelled in their character so that their word of truth would be accepted and not put into doubt.

Imam Bukhari once threw his own gold Dinars into the sea, rather than be accused of stealing - because upholding his own reputation meant not casting doubt upon the correctness of the ahadith he was collecting. This was the seriousness taken in preserving Islam!

Also in the life of Imam Bukhari we learn that we should practise and pass on what we know. While the avenues of seeking knowledge are vast, at times we may view this as a personal treasure and not impart what we know to others. However, in the life of Imam Bukhari we see how knowledge should be shared if it is to benefit the community as Allah swt has intended.

The nature of the Shariah is to repair what is broken and reform what is rotten, and how we use any knowledge we have been blessed with, will be questioned by Allah, Al Aleem the all Knowing, on the day of judgement. Imam Bukhari had an exemplary character. He didn’t just memorise the 600,000 ahadith into his famous world renowned collection. His knowledge showed in the behaviour that was moulded by the complete criteria of Islam - so he practised all that he knew. He was known as a sincere, truthful man who never said a bad word nor did he backbite about anyone, even those who tried to defame him. So what he had learned and relayed to us was also carried out in his own life.

Another example of this is, that despite living in a market town where the habits of the traders and their trade impacted everyone, Imam Bukhari (RahimUllah) never engaged in riba (taking or giving interest) or any unislamic transaction, and the barakah or blessing from his strict adherence to the shari rules saw that the small inheritance left to him by his father was ample for his needs, for the whole of his life.

We conclude by remembering the great and unparalleled achievements of Imam Bukhari. His knowledge base consisted of many books that he memorised from childhood; as well as the vast hadith collection and of course the Quran. His manner of authentication of Ahadith left one of the greatest legacies of Islam, after that of Rasool Allah saws’s own- teaching us that knowledge and action should come together to create a holistic Islamic personality. And that our skills, however advanced or meager, should be used in the cause of Islam, to further the understanding of the Deen and the needs of the Ummah and mankind.

The dedication and achievements of Imam Bukhari are witnessed by Allah. He passed away at the age of 62, on the night of the very end of Ramadan, his Janaza was held after the Eid salaah and was one of the largest Janaza’s in Islamic history. And still today, visitors may smell the heavenly scent emitting from his grave, a sure sign among the many, of Allah swt’s pleasure.

May Allah bless Imam Bukhari with His swt’s great bounties of Jannat’ul Firdous and the companionship of our beloved prophet Mohammed saws.

JazakumAllah Khairan for joining us

until next time, Was’salaamu Alaikum wrwb