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Fatwa CenterAn innovator challenges Sahih Bukhari
Question
I have a friend who has an innovator living with him who says Sahih Bukhari is wrong. How can I prove its authenticity?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Allah says: {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better……..} [16:125]
{….The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)." } [24:54]
These two verses teach us that we are to do our best, in the best manner, to invite others to the right religion.
So, it is your duty towards the said person to clarify to him that the Muslim Ummah (Muslim Scholars) are agreed upon authenticity of 'al-Bukhari and Muslim' books of Hadith as the most correct ones, after the Holy Qur'an, since they followed the best method, accurate and strict condition in their work.
So, it is natural for one who speaks evil of al-Bukhari, to speak evil of and defame all other books of Hadith, and cancellation of the authenticity of this book leads to cancellation of other books.
No one is permitted to speak evil of something unless he has sufficient reliable knowledge in this concern. Supposition, doubt and hate do not constitute evidence that helps one who defames or contests. Cancellation of the Hadith is an old clever way that non-Muslims depend on to fight Islam and Muslims. Then, how can a Muslim know how to pray if we cancel the Sunnah which demonstrates how to pray, or how to give Zakah in details, or how to perform Hajj, and so on. So, Islam is based on the Qur'an and Sunnah. Allah says: { Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'ân) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).} [15:9]
This verse refers to the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Allah says: {……….And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad SAW) the reminder and the advice (the Qur'ân), that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them,……… } [16:44]
The Sunnah explains the Qur'an and canceling it constitutes a clever way to destroy the Qur'an.
Here, we state that scholars can only examine authenticity of the Sunnah, especially al-Bukhari and Muslim , depending on fundamentals of sciences of Hadith and their terminology. These branches of knowledge have their own origins and bases, fundamentals and essentials that only those who know and practices them very well are entitled to discuss such a question.
Has your friend such knowledge?
Then, we advise you to make good company who help you to be steady on the right path of Allah, to avoid entering in such discussions and to desert followers of whims and caprices. Also, hold fast to the covenent of Allah by adhering to Islam, keep good company and spend your time doing good deeds.
Allah knows best.
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