The Hadith

The Hadith is a book by Muhammad al-Bukhari, first compiled in the 9th century. Known widely as Sahih al-Bukhari, it is one of the most respected collections of prophetic traditions in the Sunni Islamic world. Drawn together after years of meticulous travel and study, the work preserves sayings, actions, and teachings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad. Its careful organisation and rigorous authentication standards made it a cornerstone of early Islamic scholarship, and it continues to shape the study of hadith literature, classical Islam, and Islamic jurisprudence. Al-Bukhari himself was a devoted scholar whose life was spent tracing reliable chains of transmission and evaluating the integrity of narrators. His collection became a touchstone for students of Islamic studies, offering essential insight into faith, ethics, law, and spiritual practice within the developing Sunni tradition. For readers seeking a deeper understanding of early Islamic history or the foundations of Islamic theology, this enduring text remains one of the most influential works ever produced in the field of prophetic traditions. This is a translation by Muhammad Muhsin Khan.