INTORODUCTION
Basic
objective of preparing this Sahih Bukhari Made Easy is to rearrange
selected Ahadis in a manner that makes it easy to locate and access a
particular Hadis by today’s researchers and readers. Ahadis collected and
compiled by venerated scholar Muhammad Ismail al-Bukhari,
contained in 9 volumes under different Books and Chapters were recorded with terminologies, headings and technical
genre in vogue some 1200 years ago, making it difficult to locate a specific Hadis
on a subject occurring in the minds used to modern day issues and terminologies.
Best efforts have been made to ensure accuracy in relation to original
Arabic text of Sahih Bukhari, retaining
original Hadis number and chapter number which are similar in all translations,
available on the internet. Dire need for ensuring accuracy is another
objective of this work as quoting Ahadis without really ensuring accuracy is becoming
a common practice which results into different school of thoughts developing sectarian
menace, forbidden by Allah and His Prophet (s). This perilous trend is also damaging
the process of learning being the real objective of all such works including
Sahih Bukhari.
Hadis is the word
of the Prophet (s) and not assured safety like The Creator takes full
responsibility about Quran. As such those Ahadis which can possibly create
doubts have been explained with the help of Quran and other Ahadis on the same
topic. Muslims today in this early 21st century need NOT merely be
perplexed reading such Ahadis but should try and look for plausible explanations
of all such Ahadis instead of altogether losing faith in this sacred source of
knowledge after Quran; a reason for an overall decadence in religious knowledge,
either developing unnecessary disputes and division or starting precarious
trends like complete disengagement and withdrawal from religion. However this
is only possible if Muslims today have the courage to rise out of a magian
crust eating at the delicate fiber of all our intellectual capacities because
of falling prey to false trends like “TAQLEED”, Blind Following and the only way to come out of this cocoon is by
deeper study and researching with the help of other Ahadis, in light of Quran.
Knowledge is learning
and learning is natural to all creation from a small little ant to a robust
lion and human being the best of creation. Animal world is limited to its
instincts, one may try all methods but a lion will never be able to learn to
eat vegetables and same way a goat will never learn to eat meat. On the other hand human beings have limitless
vistas and open grounds for learning, can live on chemicals instead of natural
food, can control the atom and its vast energies, same human being who once
upon a time did not know how to light a fire. However the point to note here is
that this limitless choice makes human
beings get on to either a path of construction or destruction, all depending on
the choice. This choice how one approaches knowledge plays a pivotal role in
making human beings a source of benefit for other human beings, raison d’ etre
of learning. In order to teach human beings to correctly exercise this freedom of
choice in constructive manner, from the time immemorial, Divine Guidance was
sent but in accordance with the level of the human intellect prevalent at the
time along with human exemplar to explain this Guidance. Quran being the last
guidance from The Creator for the creation is protected as it was revealed over
1400 years ago through a Divine Design; a reality accepted by scholars who
don’t even believe in it, following link is showing unbiased views of an
embryologist which is an honest
illustration of the reality of this statement.
Quran being the culmination
of guidance from The Creator, confirms all prophets of the past and guards the
message contained in the Divine Revelations sent afore time. Quran is available
in its entirety as originated, in 114 Surahs, chapters seems a more familiar
phrase though Arabic Word Surah actually means a great wall around a city of
knowledge and wisdom, as in reality it is. Each Surah contains a certain number
of Ayahs, sometimes translated as verse though it is a misnomer for the true
meaning of this Basic Unit of Quran actually means SIGNS of God, containing
oceans of knowledge and wisdom. Prophetic traditions were mostly not preserved
for past prophets or have been mixed up in the revelations they were sent with.
Prophetic traditions in Islam obviously not preserved like Quran, The Word of
God, however early Muslims knowing the importance of this great source of
knowledge not only made earnest efforts to preserve the prophetic traditions most accurately but also
evolved intricate methods which became tools for modern day historians to
confirm a piece of history. Traditions technically are called Sunnah
as referred by Muslims and Hadis is when Sunnah brought to
writings and carried forward by honest scholars, rising above cast color and
creed. Sahih Bukhari is first among these efforts, really a gigantic work; one can
only appreciates its real magnitude and depth when researching this masterpiece
with the help of computers, a work done some twelve centuries ago with pens
made out of wood and ink from various sources under the lantern lights. However there is a dire need to modernize this
masterpiece making it easier for learners and researchers to go on to a path of
construction instead of destruction and eat what is good, Hallal, kosher, for
humanity and act in manners, “Maroof”, closer to natural instinct,
i.e. “Correct Behavior” which brings
peace for all and shun what is opposite, “Munkir” what nature despises.
Need for accurate
account of Hadis literature is increasing with time to clarify doubts,
sometimes created by Muslims themselves, living under the influence of
different civilizations in the past centuries; especially so in polemic debates
merely serving an urge to dominate, damaging the real true purport of Hadis
literature. This has resulted into a labyrinth of sectarianism and mutual
hatred, eating at the delicate fiber of Muslim Unity. However this is a much latter
phenomenon than the times of honorable scholars like Bukhari. This is clearly
visible from a peaceful and mature response from the venerated companions on
rising differences in early period of Islam, noted in the folder of “companions” and “Fitna – affliction”. Unfortunately
latter generations under the influence of past religions and culture, made these
differences a matter of great debate and disputation laying foundation for
discord and sectarianism. However it is time to solve and resolve differences by
an open minded study of Hadis literature carrying the true color of Islam
carried forward by astute companions who were catalyst in preserving this great
source of knowledge with an aim to translate peace into reality. This is
another underlying objective of this work and a great need of the day as
Muslims Unity is of utmost importance being Custodians of Last Guidance, Quran
and Sunnah, at the same time inviting scholars from all other religions with
ONE aim, to promote interfaith harmony and develop a world full of peace for
ALL.
True measure of
knowledge is the positive change it makes in our lives as an individual and
results in peace for all. An example is given here showing how easily a
particular Hadis can be traced otherwise noted under technical topics such as “Mall
e Faiy”, war booty collected without an actual battle. This Hadis
will also demonstrate how unlettered Arabs turned into prudent intellectuals
some fourteen hundred years ago and how a single decision by great Umar Bi
Khattab, 2nd Caliph, laid foundation for a new world order not
destructive but productive in its essence and spirit envisaging peace for all. This Hadis also shows how
Islam played a major role in human development through justice, the hallmark of
Islam. This example also explains how true intellectual developed through
spirit of Quran and Sunnah when applied to solve problems at a vast scale
dealing with humanity as a whole, makes valuable contribution on a broad
spectrum. An open minded reader will also note that Islam was not spread merely
through war but its egalitarian spirit portraying basics of Quran and Sunnah.
(9) CHAPTER. The
war booty is for those who witness the battles.
Bukhari Volume 4, Book 57, Number 3125:
Narrated Aslam:
Umar said, "Were it
not for those Muslims who have not come
to existence yet, I would have distributed (the land of) every town
I conquer among the fighters as the Prophet distributed the land of Khaibar."
Bukhari Volume 5, Book 64, Number 4235:
Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab:
By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, were I not
afraid that the other Muslims might be left in poverty, I would divide (the
land of) whatever village I may conquer (among the fighters), as the Prophet
divided the land of Khaibar. But I prefer to leave it as a (source of) a common
treasury for them to distribute its revenue amongst themselves.
Note 1:
Umar Bin Khattab during his reign solved a big question through “Ijtihad”, in the light of Ayah 59:7 and
59:10, “And those who came (into the faith) after them…”, “wa-alladhīna
And those who jāū came min baʿdihim after them.” This
prudent decision by 2nd caliph of Islam around middle part of 7th
century made a big impact on the semblance of coming civilization in the world.
This question decided the fate of the two big empires of the time, Persians and
Romans, having fallen into the control of Muslim Armies as a result of defeats
in the battle fields. Umar stopped his armies from making the whole nations as
war captives and war booty, by only allowing as war booty which could be collected
from the actual battle field. This sagacious step not only saved the huge treasures
of these empires for coming generations but also kept the rich cultural
heritage of both these empires intact. Point to note here is that major
beneficiaries of these treasures, kept as an asset for coming generations were
the people of these two empires in coming centuries who accepted Islam due to
such examples of justice and egalitarian policies of Islam. If given the due
value and impact of this decision on coming generations, historian must pay
great homage to this sagacious decision by this great mind. The people from these
nations like philosophers and scientists of Persia and saints and scientists of
Andalusia played a great role in modeling and fashioning what the modern world
is today, a reflection of the golden principles of Islam covering a vast
spectrum of human life from private to social, moral, economic, political and spiritual
affairs. Here we must also not let
another subtle observation be left unnoticed though it is a little sour and not
the topic at the moment; today’s Islam is the reflection of its conquerors as
it had to meet in the vicious circle of time, fluctuating between nations when
lose their basic creed and cherished traditions.
Note 2: “Ijtihad” means a process of deliberations for reaching a solution
to a legal matter relating to a new situation. Umar also laid foundation for
Islamic legal thinking giving priority to wellbeing of humanity in a larger
spectrum by opening gates to an ever dynamic way of Islamic jurisprudence. Unfortunately
such dynamic principles were not fully utilized due to “Taqleed”, “blind
following” a process negating the dynamic spirit of Quran and Sunnah, ending
in few schools of Jurisprudence like “Hanfi”,
“Maliki”, “Shafii” and “Hunmbaly”
besides “shiia” schools of legal
thought. Only a few dared to criticize this trend but faced huge oppositions
and appreciated by only a few select. These are scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah (January 22, 1263 -
September 26, 1328) Ibn Abd al-Wahhab
(1703 – 22 June 1792) and modern day scholar Dr. Muhammad Iqbal. (November 9,
1877 – April 21, 1938).
In order to assimilate the
true spirit and understand real essence of Ahadis dealing with social, moral
and cultural norms, it is of vital importance to familiarize oneself with an
overall ambience and an aura prevalent some 1400 years ago at the time of the
Prophet (s) and all Arab practices in vogue at that time. Such an approach is
but a prerequisite in understanding real purport of Ahadis dealing with such
topics as slaves. This is because Islam did not force rules on mankind but motivated
them to progress and transcend to
systems ensuring social, moral, economic and political justice developed
through higher levels of God
Consciousness, “Taqwa”, vital most point to note here is that progress is a
continuous process, system of money transaction suiting people in days of
bartering may not be suiting the people using e-banking but norms introduced
against hoarding and cheating and blessings of sharing for welfare of society will
remain applicable for all times. This is one of the reason we see a great
role played by Jurists, “Fuqha” in early period of Islam who
sometimes knowing the need of the day, adopted some paths in light of Quran and
Hadis and carried out “Ijtihad” finding solutions befitting
new circumstances, best example of Ijtihad
is carried out by 2nd Caliph Umar Bin Khattab quoted above; however
when this process stopped and Muslims fell to Blind Following, “Taqleed”, Islam stopped progressing
to the needs of the day.
Hadis literature no
doubt went through strict scrutiny but some 1200 years ago, parse there is a
dire need today to revisit this great source of religious knowledge, only next
to Quran but real tenacious and judicious efforts are required to make this great
source of knowledge remain ever dynamic and practical as it was in the time of
the Prophet (s). This is only possible if we gather enough courage with
strength of knowledge and correlate different Ahadis in light of Quran to reach
plausible understanding of all Ahadis, completely befitting logic and standards
of rationality.
Giving different color and shades to this treasure
of knowledge by today’s scholars is actually trying to defend and suit the
school of thoughts each one of them represent, not knowing that they are doing
a big damage to the very idea of collecting prophetic traditions which aims at uniting
not divide nation, Ummah. We today must remember that all these schools of
thoughts were not there at all at the time of Prophet (s) so we must be
absolutely neutral and remove all kind of garbs of sectarianism we are wearing
if we want to really benefit from this Font of Abundance l-kawthara “Al-Kauthar”.
May Allah Almighty
bless this humble endeavor which may, or rather, must be requiring lot of
improvement which is only possible if readers make best contribution by giving
their most candid comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment