Bukhari Word Differences & Compilation

Muhmmad bin abi Hatim al-Warraq once asked Muhammad bin Isma’il, ‘‘have you memorised all that which you have compiled in your collection?’’ To which he replied, ‘‘all of what is in it is not out of my sight’’. Muhammad bin Isma’il also mentioned that he wrote his al-Jami three times.

(Siyar A’alam al-Nubula, 12:403, Hady al-Sari 1:18)

Scholars mention that Imam Bukhari wrote the manuscript of his al-Jami in Basrah, Makkah and Bukhara, made its tabyeedh in the Haram after which he placed sub-headings (tarajim abwab) to each chapter in Madinah; thus there are differences in Sahih Bukhari editions.

The master of hadith sciences, Abd al-Haq al-Dehlvi states in his exposition on Mishkat al-Masabeeh, entitled ‘Asha’at al-Lum’at’, ‘‘it is reported from a group of Sufiya who say, ‘‘the first time Bukhari compiled his al-Jami was when he wrote it, the second time was when he made its tabyeedh and thirdly when he confirmed the authenticity of each hadith by directly consulting our Messenger (May Allah send peace and blessings upon him) by means of kashf in his dream and consciousness.’’’

(Asha’at al-Lum’at 1:10)

Wassalam
Muhammad Munawwar Ateeq Rizvi