Who Did Imam Bukhari etc, follow?

A Question posed by the Ghair Muqalid
"Those who compiled the Sihah Sitta (six authentic books of Ahadith), were they Muqallids or Mujtahids?"

This is a wonderful question. Imam Bukhari (R.A) selected certain Ahadith
from many hundred thousand Ahadith to compile Bukhari Shareef. He knew many
hundred thousand Ahadith by heart, yet he made taqleed of Imam Shaafi (R.A). We understand from this that a Muhaddith like Imam Bukhari (R.A) even had no choice but to make taqleed of a mujtahid. Imam Bukhari (R.A) would have also been a Ghair Muqallid if it were just sufficient to know Ahadith to free oneself from taqleed. Where do you standno matter how a great an aalim of the day you may be? You certainly cannot learn more Ahaadith than Imam Bukhari (R.A). Imam Muslim (R.A) has listed approximately 4000 Ahaadith which are not repeated (in his compilation). He was also a follower of Imam Shaafi (R.A). Imam Abu-Dawud (R.A) has also listed close to 4000 Ahaadith in his Sunan of Abu-Dawud. Despite being such a great muhaddith he followed Imam Ahmed ibn Hammbal. Imam Thirmizi (R.A) also narrates 4000 Ahaadith in his (book) thirmizi, yet he was also a follower of Imam Shaafi (R.A). Ibn Majah (R.A) lists 4341 Ahaadith in his book, yet he too was a follower of Imam Shaafi (R.A). Imam
Nasai (R.A) has listed approximately 4000 Ahaadith in the Sunan of Nasai, yet he too was a follower Imam Shaafi (R.A). We would have to make another decision if you know more Ahaadith than those who compiled the sahih sitta, but if you know less Ahaadith than them, you have no choice but to make taqleed. We would like to ask Imam Bukhari (R.A) as to what forced him into making taqleed when he knew so many Ahaadith. We would also like to ask Imam Muslim (R.A) why he chose to make taqleed. Imam Thirmizi (R.A) should also be asked why he took the road of taqleed. We would ask Imam Nasai (R.A) if he was short of any hadith for him to have also chosen to follow an Imam. We would like to ask Imam Abu-Dawud (R.A) why he went to the door of Imam Ahmed ibn Hammbal (R.A) when he knew so many Ahaadith. We also need to ask Ibn Majah (R.A) what compelled him to make taqleed.

Would you term these illustrious people as ignorant. Whatever judgment you wish to pass on them, you may pass on us.
One needs to be conscious and his senses when passing a judgment.

It Is SAFER to follow one Imam from one of the four Schools ot thought

4 Comments

Mohammad Hassan wrote on 30 Dec 2010

MashaAllah nice info. Jazaakumullah khair Mufti Sab. However, it would be beneficial for us to get some evidence of what you've said, as well (especially in this world of Wahabi or Ahle Hadith ideology)! What is the proof that Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Ibn Maja and Imam Nasai were Muqallids of Imam Shafi and Imam Abu Dawud was of Imam Ahmad bin Hambal? Did they themselves admit this?

Blogger's Reply:

Jazakallah, PLEASE NOTE, THAT I AM NOT A MUFTI OR A SCHOLAR. The Work is however the work of a Mufti. All the work by Mufti's will be found in the Q & A Section. The Evidence comes from their own works or from their Studentds. e.g. Imam Tirmidhi was a student of Imam Bukhari, when he would narrate Mas'ala or Hadith, he would say this is the opinion of Imam so and so, but never did he say that it was the opinion of Imam Bukhari.

ansar iqbal wrote on 5 May 2011

i am a just student of islam but very good arguments by the reader but this is end less discussion so better not to discuss on net.you are requested to keep these points upto forums

Syed Habeeb Ullah Quadri wrote on 4 Dec 2011

One thing we have forgotten here is religion. All the scholars were Muslims, it is beyong doubt that they followed Quran and Prophet Muhammad pbuh.

The very important thing is the Imams were just thought of Schools and these scholars followed their judgements not the practices of these Imams.

Fortunately, neither of these Imams nor these scholars followed any Jamaat.

Do not forget that these Imams and scholars were only Muslims and they had not divided Muslims into any of the present sects.

Salaam. Jazakallah.

The 4 schools are not sects in Islam.

The Imams of Hadith DID follow one of the four schools. And they were part of the jama'ah, otherwise they would not have been accepted if they rejected the ijmah of the ummah.

Muhammad Anees wrote on 28 Feb 2014

'Shari'at' is only that which is contained in Allah's word and the words and practices of His Messenger (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam).

But in acting on the Hadith and in cross examining the Hadith, the research of the Imams
is much more preferable to the research of a learner like myself.

Then also, the era of the Imams was nearer to the era of Rasulullah (Sallallahu 'alayhi
wasallam) than the era of the scholars of Hadith. For this reason, the verdict of the
Imams is more acceptable in the rejection and acceptance of Hadith than even the
verdict of Muhadditheen and our research.

Imam Ahmed Hanbal is Imam Bukhari's most noted teacher and Ustad.

Imam Ahmed is Imam Shafi'ee's most prominent student.

Imam Shefi'ee again is the most famous student of Imam Malik.

Imam Shafi'ee is on record as having said that he became a Jurist after studying the
kitabs of Imam Muhammad, the famous student of Imam Abu Hanifah.

Furthermore, there are 22 chains of transmissions of Hadith in Bukhari Shaeef, each
consisting of 3 person�s only, leading up to Rasulullah (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam).
Of these 22, 20 of them contain transmitters, who are either students of Abu Hanifah
or students of his students. As for us in this era, we are like monkey who sits down with
a piece of ginger and then calls himself a greengrocer.

Jazakallahu Khairan

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