Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 3

كِتَاب الْعِلْمِ

The Book of Knowledge

76 hadith · 51 chapters

The chapter divisions

Chapters in this book

12- بَابُ مَنْ سُئِلَ عِلْمًا وَهُوَ مُشْتَغِلٌ فِي حَدِيثِهِ فَأَتَمَّ الْحَدِيثَ ثُمَّ أَجَابَ السَّائِلَ:(2) Chapter. Whoever is asked about knowledge while he is busy in some conversation, so he finished his talk, and then answered the questioner.23- بَابُ مَنْ رَفَعَ صَوْتَهُ بِالْعِلْمِ:(3) Chapter. Whoever raises his voice in (conveying) knowledge.34- بَابُ قَوْلِ الْمُحَدِّثِ حَدَّثَنَا أَوْ أَخْبَرَنَا وَأَنْبَأَنَا:(4) Chapter. Concerning variety of words used by the narrators conveying different significations regarding the concept of narrating and which has importance for the Hadith scholars only.45- بَابُ طَرْحِ الإِمَامِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ لِيَخْتَبِرَ مَا عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ:(5) Chapter. The Imam questioning his companions in order to test their knowledge.56- بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِي الْعِلْمِ:(6) Chapter. What is said about knowledge.67- بَابُ مَا يُذْكَرُ فِي الْمُنَاوَلَةِ وَكِتَابِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ بِالْعِلْمِ إِلَى الْبُلْدَانِ:(7) Chapter. What is said regarding the hand to hand exchange (of books of knowledge), and the writing of knowledge by religious scholars to different countries.78- بَابُ مَنْ قَعَدَ حَيْثُ يَنْتَهِي بِهِ الْمَجْلِسُ، وَمَنْ رَأَى فُرْجَةً فِي الْحَلْقَةِ فَجَلَسَ فِيهَا:(8) Chapter. Whoever sat at the farther end of a gathering. And whoever found a place amongst a gathering and took his seat there.89- بَابُ قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «رُبَّ مُبَلَّغٍ أَوْعَى مِنْ سَامِعٍ»:(9) Chapter. The Statement of the Prophet ﷺ: It is probable that a person who receives a piece of information indirectly may comprehend it better than he who has heard it directly from its source.”911- بَابُ مَا كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَخَوَّلُهُمْ بِالْمَوْعِظَةِ وَالْعِلْمِ كَيْ لاَ يَنْفِرُوا:(11) Chapter. The Prophet ﷺ used to take care of the people in preaching by selecting a suitable time so that they might not run away (never made them averse or bored them with religious talk and knowledge all the time).1012- بَابُ مَنْ جَعَلَ لأَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَيَّامًا مَعْلُومَةً:(12) Chapter. Whoever fixed a special day for giving (a religious talk) to the students.1113- بَابُ مَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِهِ خَيْرًا يُفَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ:(13) Chapter. If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend (the religion). [The understanding of the Quran and As-Sunna (legal ways) of the Prophet (Muhammad ﷺ)].1214- بَابُ الْفَهْمِ فِي الْعِلْمِ:(14) Chapter. (The superiority of) comprehending knowledge.1315- بَابُ الاِغْتِبَاطِ فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ:(15) Chapter. Wish to be like the one who has knowledge and Al-Hikmah [wisdom i.e., the knowledge of the Quran and the Sunna (legal ways) of the Prophet ﷺ].1416- بَابُ مَا ذُكِرَ فِي ذَهَابِ مُوسَى صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْبَحْرِ إِلَى الْخَضِرِ:(16) Chapter. What has been said about the journey of Prophet Musa (Moses) علیہ السلام (when he went) in the sea to meet Al-Khidr.1517- بَابُ قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اللَّهُمَّ عَلِّمْهُ الْكِتَابَ»:(17) Chapter. The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: “O Allah! Bestow on him (Ibn Abbas) the knowledge of the Book (the Quran).”1618- بَابُ مَتَى يَصِحُّ سَمَاعُ الصَّغِيرِ:(18) Chapter. At what age may a youth be listened to (i.e. quotation of the Hadith from a boy be acceptable).1719- بَابُ الْخُرُوجِ فِي طَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ:(19) Chapter. To go out in search of knowledge.1820- بَابُ فَضْلِ مَنْ عَلِمَ وَعَلَّمَ:(20) Chapter. The superiority of a person who learns (Islam, becomes a religious scholar) and then teaches it to others.1921- بَابُ رَفْعِ الْعِلْمِ وَظُهُورِ الْجَهْلِ:(21) Chapter. (What is said regarding) the disappearance of the (religious) knowledge and the appearance of (religious) ignorance.2022- بَابُ فَضْلِ الْعِلْمِ:(22) Chapter. The superiority of (religious) knowledge.2123- بَابُ الْفُتْيَا وَهُوَ وَاقِفٌ عَلَى الدَّابَّةِ وَغَيْرِهَا:(23) Chapter. To give a religious verdict while riding an animal or standing on anything else.2224- بَابُ مَنْ أَجَابَ الْفُتْيَا بِإِشَارَةِ الْيَدِ وَالرَّأْسِ:(24) Chapter. Whoever gave a religious verdict by beckoning or by nodding.2325- بَابُ تَحْرِيضِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَفْدَ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ عَلَى أَنْ يَحْفَظُوا الإِيمَانَ وَالْعِلْمَ وَيُخْبِرُوا مَنْ وَرَاءَهُمْ:(25) Chapter. The Prophet ﷺ urged the people (mission) of Abdul Qais to memorize the faith and the (religious) knowledge (as he explained to them) and to inform (convey) to their people whom they have left behind (at home).2426- بَابُ الرِّحْلَةِ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ النَّازِلَةِ وَتَعْلِيمِ أَهْلِهِ:(26) Chapter. To travel seeking an answer to a problematic matter, and to teach it to one’s family.2527- بَابُ التَّنَاوُبِ فِي الْعِلْمِ:(27) Chapter. To fix the duties in rotation for learning (religious) knowledge.2628- بَابُ الْغَضَبِ فِي الْمَوْعِظَةِ وَالتَّعْلِيمِ إِذَا رَأَى مَا يَكْرَهُ:(28) Chapter. To be furious while preaching or teaching if one sees what one hates.2729- بَابُ مَنْ بَرَكَ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ عِنْدَ الإِمَامِ أَوِ الْمُحَدِّثِ:(29) Chapter. Whoever knelt down before the Imam or a (religious) preacher.2830- بَابُ مَنْ أَعَادَ الْحَدِيثَ ثَلاَثًا لِيُفْهَمَ عَنْهُ:(30) Chapter. Repeating one’s talk thrice in order to make others understand.2931- بَابُ تَعْلِيمِ الرَّجُلِ أَمَتَهُ وَأَهْلَهُ:(31) Chapter. A man teaching (religion to) his woman-slave and his family.3032- بَابُ عِظَةِ الإِمَامِ النِّسَاءَ وَتَعْلِيمِهِنَّ:(32) Chapter. The preaching (and teaching) of the (religious) knowledge to women by the Imam (Chief):3133- بَابُ الْحِرْصِ عَلَى الْحَدِيثِ:(33) Chapter. Eagerness to (learn) the Hadith.3234- بَابُ كَيْفَ يُقْبَضُ الْعِلْمُ:(34) Chapter. How the (religious) knowledge will be taken away?3335- بَابُ هَلْ يُجْعَلُ لِلنِّسَاءِ يَوْمٌ عَلَى حِدَةٍ فِي الْعِلْمِ:(35) Chapter. Should a day be fixed for women in order to teach them religion (apart from men)?3436- بَابُ مَنْ سَمِعَ شَيْئًا فَرَاجَعَ حَتَّى يَعْرِفَهُ:(36) Chapter. Whoever heard something (but did not understand it) and then asked again till he understood it completely.3537- بَابُ لِيُبَلِّغِ الْعِلْمَ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ:(37) Chapter. It is incumbent on those who are present [in a religious meeting (or conference)] to convey the knowledge to those who are absent.3638- بَابُ إِثْمِ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:(38) Chapter. The sin of a person who tells a lie against the Prophet ﷺ.3739- بَابُ كِتَابَةِ الْعِلْمِ:(39) Chapter. The writing of knowledge.3840- بَابُ الْعِلْمِ وَالْعِظَةِ بِاللَّيْلِ:(40) Chapter. The knowledge and its teaching and preaching at night.3941- بَابُ السَّمَرِ بِالْعِلْمِ:(41) Chapter. To speak about (religious) knowledge at night.4042- بَابُ حِفْظِ الْعِلْمِ:(42) Chapter. (What is said regarding) the memorization of the (religious) knowledge.4143- بَابُ الإِنْصَاتِ لِلْعُلَمَاءِ:(43) Chapter. To be quiet (and listen) to religious learned men.4244- بَابُ مَا يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلْعَالِمِ إِذَا سُئِلَ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَعْلَمُ فَيَكِلُ الْعِلْمَ إِلَى اللَّهِ:(44) Chapter. When a religious learned man is asked, “Who is the most learned person,” it is better for him to attribute or entrust absolute knowledge to Allah and to say, “Allah is the Most Learned (than anybody else).”4345- بَابُ مَنْ سَأَلَ وَهْوَ قَائِمٌ عَالِمًا جَالِسًا:(45) CHAPTER Whosoever, while standing, asked a religious learned man who was sitting (on a pulpit or a similar thing, about something).4446- بَابُ السُّؤَالِ وَالْفُتْيَا عِنْدَ رَمْيِ الْجِمَارِ:(46) Chapter. To ask about a religious matter and to give a religious verdict (at Mina during Hajj) while doing the Ramy of Jimar (throwing of pebbles at the Jimar in Mina during Hajj).4547- بَابُ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً}:(47) Chapter. The Statement of Allah: “And of knowledge you (mankind) have been given only a little.” (V. 17:85)4648- بَابُ مَنْ تَرَكَ بَعْضَ الاِخْتِيَارِ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَقْصُرَ فَهْمُ بَعْضِ النَّاسِ عَنْهُ فَيَقَعُوا فِي أَشَدَّ مِنْهُ:(48) Chapter. Whosoever left some optional things simply for the fear that some people may not be able to understand them and may fall into something more difficult.4749- بَابُ مَنْ خَصَّ بِالْعِلْمِ قَوْمًا دُونَ قَوْمٍ كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ لاَ يَفْهَمُوا:(49) Chapter. Whoever selected some people to teach them (religious) knowledge preferring them over others for fear that the others may not understand it.4850- بَابُ الْحَيَاءِ فِي الْعِلْمِ:(50) Chapter. (What is said as regards): To be shy (Al-Haya) while learning (religious) knowledge.4951- بَابُ مَنِ اسْتَحْيَا فَأَمَرَ غَيْرَهُ بِالسُّؤَالِ:(51) Chapter. Whosoever felt shy (to ask something) and then requested another person to ask on his behalf.5052- بَابُ ذِكْرِ الْعِلْمِ وَالْفُتْيَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ:(52) Chapter. Teaching religious knowledge and giving religious verdicts in a mosque.5153- بَابُ مَنْ أَجَابَ السَّائِلَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا سَأَلَهُ:(53) Chapter. Whosoever answered to the questioner more than what he asked.

Opening leaves

First narrations

Bukhari · 59بَيْنَمَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي مَجْلِسٍ يُحَدِّثُ الْقَوْمَ جَاءَهُ أَعْرَابِيٌّ ، فَقَالَ : مَتَى السَّاعَةُ ؟ فَمَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُحَدِّثُ ، فَقَالَ بَWhile the Prophet (ﷺ) was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him, "When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) continued his talk, so some people said that Allah's Messenger (8 narrators·parallel chainBukhari · 60وَيْلٌ لِلْأَعْقَابِ مِنَ النَّارِ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًاOnce the Prophet (ﷺ) remained behind us in a journey. He joined us while we were performing ablution for the prayer which was over-due. We were just passing wet hands over our feet (and not washing them properly) so the 5 narratorsBukhari · 61إِنَّ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ شَجَرَةً لَا يَسْقُطُ وَرَقُهَا وَإِنَّهَا مَثَلُ الْمُسْلِمِ ، فَحَدِّثُونِي مَا هِيَ ؟ فَوَقَعَ النَّاسُ فِي شَجَرِ الْبَوَادِي ، قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ : وَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَّهَا النَّخْلَةُ ، Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Amongst the trees, there is a tree, the leaves of which do not fall and is like a Muslim. Tell me the name of that tree." Everybody started thinking about the trees of the desert areas. And I4 narratorsBukhari · 62إِنَّ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ شَجَرَةً لَا يَسْقُطُ وَرَقُهَا وَإِنَّهَا مَثَلُ الْمُسْلِمِ ، حَدِّثُونِي مَا هِيَ ؟ قَالَ : فَوَقَعَ النَّاسُ فِي شَجَرِ الْبَوَادِي ، قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ : فَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَّهَا النَّخْلThe Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Amongst the trees, there is a tree, the leaves of which do not fall and is like a Muslim. Tell me the name of that tree." Everybody started thinking about the trees of the desert areas. And I thoug4 narratorsBukhari · 63بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ جُلُوسٌ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ، دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى جَمَلٍ فَأَنَاخَهُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ، ثُمَّ عَقَلَهُ ، ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمْ : أَيُّكُمْ مُحَمَّدٌ ؟ وَالنَّبِيWhile we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) in the mosque, a man came riding on a camel. He made his camel kneel down in the mosque, tied its foreleg and then said "Who amongst you is Muhammad?" At that time the Prophet (10 narrators·parallel chainBukhari · 64أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعَثَ بِكِتَابِهِ رَجُلًا وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى عَظِيمِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ ، فَدَفَعَهُ عَظِيمُ الْبَحْرَيْنِ إِلَى كِسْرَى ، فَلَمَّا قَرَأَهُ مَزَّقَهُ ، فOnce Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave a letter to a person and ordered him to go and deliver it to the Governor of Bahrain. (He did so) and the Governor of Bahrain sent it to Chousroes, who read that letter and then tore it to6 narratorsBukhari · 65كَتَبَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كِتَابًا أَوْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ : إِنَّهُمْ لَا يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلَّا مَخْتُومًا ، فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ نَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ Once the Prophet (ﷺ) wrote a letter or had an idea of writing a letter. The Prophet (ﷺ) was told that they (rulers) would not read letters unless they were sealed. So the Prophet (ﷺ) got a silver ring made with "Muhammad5 narratorsBukhari · 66أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنِ النَّفَرِ الثَّلَاثَةِ ، أَمَّا أَحَدُهُمْ فَأَوَى إِلَى اللَّهِ فَآوَاهُ اللَّهُ ، وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَاسْتَحْيَا فَاسْتَحْيَا اللَّهُ مِنْهُ ، وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَأَعْرَضَ فَأَعْرَضَ اللَّهُ عَنWhile Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting in the mosque with some people, three men came. Two of them came in front of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and the third one went away. The two persons kept on standing before Allah's Mess5 narratorsBukhari · 67فَإِنَّ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَكُمْ وَأَعْرَاضَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ حَرَامٌ ، كَحُرْمَةِ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا فِي شَهْرِكُمْ هَذَا فِي بَلَدِكُمْ هَذَا ، لِيُبَلِّغ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ ، فَإِنَّ الشَّاهِدَ عَسَى أَنْ يُبَلِّغَ Once the Prophet (ﷺ) was riding his camel and a man was holding its rein. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "What is the day today?" We kept quiet, thinking that he might give that day another name. He said, "Isn't it the day of Na6 narratorsBukhari · 68كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَخَوَّلُنَا بِالْمَوْعِظَةِ فِي الْأَيَّامِ كَرَاهَةَ السَّآمَةِ عَلَيْنَاThe Prophet (ﷺ) used to take care of us in preaching by selecting a suitable time, so that we might not get bored. (He abstained from pestering us with sermons and knowledge all the time).5 narratorsBukhari · 69يَسِّرُوا وَلَا تُعَسِّرُوا ، وَبَشِّرُوا وَلَا تُنَفِّرُواThe Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away (from Islam).5 narratorsBukhari · 70كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يُذَكِّرُ النَّاسَ فِي كُلِّ خَمِيسٍ ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ : يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ، لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّكَ ذَكَّرْتَنَا كُلَّ يَوْمٍ ، قَالَ : أَمَا إِنَّهُ يَمْنَعُنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنِّي أَكْر'Abdullah used to give a religious talk to the people on every Thursday. Once a man said, "O Aba 'Abdur-Rahman! (By Allah) I wish if you could preach us daily." He replied, "The only thing which prevents me from doing so5 narrators