✿ Limits of Reason, Imam Bukhari’s Jurisprudence, and Objections from Modernity
✍ Written by: Ghulam Asghar Sajid
◈ The Limits and Excesses of Reason
The need for reason in resolving human issues is undeniable. However, excessive reliance on reason produces adverse effects. When the intellect is overused, it paralyzes the mind and conceals the very essence of rationality.
This concept can be illustrated with an example: imagine a ball tied to a string, where the ball represents a problem and the string symbolizes reason. As long as the string remains still, both the string and the ball are clearly visible. However, once the string is swung excessively, neither the ball nor the string remains visible. This is precisely the impact of exceeding the bounds of reason.
◈ Modernity, Atheism, and the Search for Truth
In atheism and modernist thought, excessive use of reason is considered the sole criterion for truth. However, modernity faced a major dilemma when one proclaimed truth gave rise to another competing truth. Eventually, postmodernism declared that there is no absolute truth in the world.
This is why testing divine truths against the principles of modernity becomes a lethal endeavor.
◈ A Discourse on Imam Bukhari’s Book "Sahih Bukhari"
✔ Sahih Bukhari: A Book of Jurisprudence or Hadith?
According to Qari Hanif Dar, Sahih Bukhari is not merely a collection of Hadith but rather a work of Imam Bukhari’s jurisprudence. He asserts that Imam Bukhari presented his legal views through the headings of Hadiths and excluded narrations that contradicted his own stance.
However, if this claim is accepted, it raises the question: which school of jurisprudence was Imam Bukhari following?
✔ Imam Bukhari’s Jurisprudential Inclination
It is not accurate to categorize Imam Bukhari’s jurisprudential opinions as fully aligned with either the Shafi'i or Hanafi schools. Some of his views align with Shafi'i jurisprudence, while others resonate with the Hanafi school.
For instance:
➤ Detailed discussions of his views can be found in Fayd al-Bari (Volume Four).
➤ He conducted in-depth analysis of Hadiths found in various Masānid such as Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Musnad Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah, which include both authentic and weak narrations.
◈ Examples of Contradictory Narrations
In response to Qari Hanif Dar's claim that Imam Bukhari did not include narrations contrary to his jurisprudential stance, the presence of contradictory Hadiths on the same topic within Sahih Bukhari serves as a counterargument. Examples include:
① Concerning Witr Prayer, narrations are present regarding both one rak‘ah and three rak‘āt.
② In the Prayer for Rain (Ṣalāt al-Istisqā'), both methods—of turning the cloak (taḥwīl al-ridā’) and not turning it—are documented.
◈ Objection on Number and Verification of Hadiths
✔ Criticism from Arab Quranists
Arab Quranists criticize Imam Bukhari for reportedly researching 600,000 Hadiths over a span of 16 years, which, according to their calculations, means about 7 minutes per Hadith. They argue that such a task would not be feasible without compromising human necessities like prayer, eating, and rest.
◈ Analyzing the Reality
This objection is based purely on mathematical formulas and is practically unrealistic. It ignores several important factors:
➤ Imam Bukhari acquired multiple narrations from various narrators simultaneously, reducing the time required for verification.
➤ The number of Hadith transmitters (Rijāl al-Ḥadīth) is estimated at around 13,000, and each narrated several Hadiths.
➤ Imam Bukhari spent several years residing in the sacred lands of Ḥijāz, allowing him extensive access to numerous narrators for direct transmission and authentication.
❀ Conclusion
After analyzing Qari Hanif Dar's arguments and the objections raised against Imam Bukhari, the following conclusions emerge:
⑴ Excessive reliance on reason leads to confusion rather than truth.
⑵ It is inaccurate to label Sahih Bukhari merely as a jurisprudential work. Instead, it is a comprehensive scholarly endeavor wherein Imam Bukhari compiled diverse jurisprudential opinions along with the principles of Hadith science.
