Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī is unsurprisingly the most widely recognized book among Muslims after the Qurʾān. Curious readers of Bukhārī’s magnum opus are often left with burning questions that lie beyond its contents. Who was Imām Bukhārī? How and why did he write the Ṣaḥīḥ? How was it transmitted? Are there any reliable extant
manuscripts of the work? In this introduction, Dr. Muṣṭafā al-Aʿẓamī answers these questions in a simple and accessible manner. This translation, alongside added annotations and appendices, presents and expands on al-Aʿẓamī’s research for an English readership, for whom there is a dearth of resources on the subject.

“The present translation performs a valuable service in its posthumous presentation of Dr. Aʿẓamī’s research on
Imam Bukhārī’s intellectual biography, critical modus operandi in compiling his Ṣaḥīḥ, and details of the Ṣaḥīḥ’s
various transmissions and codices. The translators exceptional annotations and appendices only enhance an
already rich text for those interested in the history of the preservation of Bukhārī’s seminal work.”

Mawlana Bilal Ali Ansari

Darul Qasim, USA
“Finally, an academic and scholarly introduction to one of the most celebrated works of Islam after the Glorious
Qur’an. After being surrounded by enigma, this well-researched study will discuss the biography of Imam
Bukhari, details of his teachers, students, transmitters and his meticulous work and diligence in producing his
masterpiece, and it will provide satisfying responses to critics of its authenticity.”

Dr Mufti Abdur-Rahman Mangera

Whitethread Institute, UK