Search In Fatwa

Imaam Al-Bukhari's affliction

Question

Alsalam, i heard in a fatwa that imam Albukhari died and some people thought he changed something in islam and thus no one prayed in his jinazah, is that true and why? what was the matter that he came up with? Jazakum Allahu kharen

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

First of all, please refer to Fatwa 86198 with regard to the biography of Imaam Al-Bukhari  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him.

As regards your question, Imaam Al-Bukhari was accused by some of the people who envied him of saying that people's utterance of the Quran is a created action [just like all man's actions, however, the words of the Quran are Allaah's Words and are one of His Attributes that is not subject to creation].

Indeed Al-Bukhari  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him clarified his belief with regard to this matter in his book entitled ''The actions of men are created'' as he said: 'Their movements, voices, provisions, and writings are created, whereas the Quran which is recited, written in the Mus-haf (the text of the book of the Quran) and which people learnt by heart, are the Words of Allaah and are not created.' Allaah Says (what means): {Rather, it [i.e. the Quran] is distinct verses [preserved] within the breasts of those who have been given knowledge.}[Quran 29:49]. As a matter of fact, what Imaam Al-Bukhari  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said, is exactly the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa'ah.

He  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him endured patiently; Ath-Thahabi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: 'Many people of his generation told him that some people were talking bad about you, and he answered quoting Allaah's verse (which means): {Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.}[Quran 4:76], and he stated the saying of Allaah (which means): {…but the evil plot does not encompass except its own people.}[Quran 35:43]. 'Abdul-Majeed Ibn Ibraaheem asked him [Al-Bukhari]: 'Why don’t you supplicate Allaah against them while they wronged you, insulted you and where unjust with you? Thereupon, Al-Bukhari  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him answered: ''The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: ''Be patient until you meet me at the Al-Hawdh [the pond].'', he further quoted: ''The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever supplicates against the person who wronged him, he has indeed taken revenge for himself.''

Saying that no one performed the funeral prayer on him, is incorrect, and no biographers who reported his biography said this. Rather, in some narrations it is reported that the entire population of Samarqand performed the funeral prayer on him.

Al-Bukhari  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him died on the night preceding 'Eed Al-Fitr, in 256 A.H. at the age of sixty. The smell of perfume sprung up from his grave and lasted for many days. The people who were against him realized his excellence after his death, and some of them expressed their regrets and repentance for what they did against him.

Allaah Knows best.

Related Fatwa