Bukhari

Hadith Footnote: The statement of Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, “And Sulaiman narrated to us, Hammad [narrated] to us,” etc., this hadith is connected (mawsul), not suspended (mu‘allaq), because Sulaiman bin Harb is among the teachers of Imam Bukhari rahimahullah. It is astonishing regarding ‘Ayni that he objected to Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah, claiming that the connection of this hadith is not established by any wording, whereas the clear wording “narrated to us (qala lana)” shows that Imam Bukhari rahimahullah heard it from Sulaiman. This is the perfection of Imam Bukhari’s caution, that in such places he did not use the words “narrated to us (haddathana)” or “informed us (akhbarana),” because Sulaiman would not have narrated this report to Imam Bukhari rahimahullah in the form of direct narration (tahdith), but rather he would have been addressing someone else, and Imam Bukhari heard it (Wahidi).

The definition of a connected (mawsul or muttasil) and suspended (mu‘allaq) hadith, in the words of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Haqq Muhaddith Dehlawi rahimahullah, is as follows:
“If none of the narrators in the chain is omitted, the hadith is called connected (muttasil or mawsul), and this absence of omission is called connection (ittisal). If one or more narrators are omitted, then the hadith is disconnected (munqati‘), and this omission is called disconnection (inqita‘). Sometimes the omission of a narrator is from the beginning of the chain, and this is called suspended (mu‘allaq), and the omission itself is called suspension (ta‘liq). The one omitted may be a single narrator or more, and sometimes the entire chain is omitted, as is the habit of the authors who say, ‘The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said,’ without mentioning the chain. Such suspensions (ta‘liqat) are numerous in the chapter headings of Sahih al-Bukhari, and all of them are treated as connected, because Imam Bukhari rahimahullah committed himself in this book to only bring authentic (sahih) hadiths and reports.” (Muqaddimah Mishkat)

That is, if none of the narrators in the chain is omitted, the hadith is called connected (muttasil or mawsul), and this absence of omission is also called connection (ittisal). If one or more narrators are omitted, then the hadith is disconnected (munqati‘), and this omission is called disconnection (inqita‘).
Sometimes the omission of a narrator is from the chain, and such a hadith is called suspended (mu‘allaq), and the omission itself is called suspension (ta‘liq). The one omitted may be a single narrator or more, as is the habit of the authors who, without mentioning the chain, say, “The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said.” Such suspensions (ta‘liqat) are abundant in the chapters of Sahih al-Bukhari, and all of them are treated as connected, because Imam Bukhari rahimahullah committed himself to only transmit authentic hadiths and reports in this book.

The reason for the revelation (sha’n nuzul) of the noble verse mentioned in the chapter heading, “And they ask you about the orphans” (: al-Baqarah: 220), is that when the verse, “And do not approach the property of the orphan…” (: al-An‘am: 152), was revealed, people, out of fear, completely separated the food and drink of the orphans. Whatever was left over would spoil, and this became very difficult for them, so they mentioned this difficulty to the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
At that time, this verse was revealed, and it was explained that they should feed and give drink to the orphans along with themselves, and safeguard their wealth. If your intention is correct, then Allah knows well.
“And Allah knows the corrupter from the reformer.” (: al-Baqarah: 220)

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The context of revelation (shan-e-nuzul) of the verse mentioned in the title is that when this verse was revealed:
﴿وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ﴾ “And do not approach the property of the orphan...” ()
(Al-An‘am 6:152)
people completely refrained from the orphan’s property and his food, etc. Whatever was left over from their food would go to waste. This command proved to be very difficult, so they mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and regarding this, the aforementioned verses were revealed.
(Fath al-Bari: 5/483)
(2)
The narration (athar) of Tawus has been mentioned with a connected chain (muttasil isnad) by Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah, and the narration of ‘Ata’ has been mentioned by Ibn Abi Shaybah with a connected chain.
(Fath al-Bari: 5/482)
In any case, Allah the Exalted has issued very strict and severe rulings regarding the property of the orphan.