This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book In Search of Truth.
Question: Why did Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, include only 7275 hadiths in Sahih Bukhari?
Answer: First, understand the reality of six hundred thousand hadiths. In the terminology of the Muhaddithin, every chain of narration (isnad) is counted as a separate hadith. For example, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said something which five companions heard. Each companion narrated that to five of their students. Thus, by the time it reached the Tabi‘in, it had twenty-five chains of narration. Now, if each Tabi‘i narrates it to ten of their students, then this hadith will have two hundred and fifty chains of narration. In the terminology of the Muhaddithin, these two hundred and fifty are called hadiths. That is why Imam Bukhari says: I have memorized one hundred thousand authentic hadiths.
Reference: (Muqaddimah Ibn al-Salah, first type, Ma‘rifat al-Sahih p.10)
This means that one hundred thousand authentic chains of narration are memorized. Out of these one hundred thousand, 7275 authentic chains are recorded in Sahih Bukhari. It is also true that some narrators used hadith to introduce misleading beliefs into Islam. That is why there is an abundance of weak and fabricated narrations, but the hadith scholars established such principles that no fabricated narration could attain the status of Sahih hadith. Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim collected only authentic hadiths, making it easier for those who follow the religion.
Question: Is Sahih Bukhari an indisputable book like the Holy Quran?
Answer: Certainly, the authentic hadiths found in Bukhari and other hadith books that contain Shariah rulings are from the level of divine guidance (manzil min Allah), agreed upon by the early generations of Muslims and accepted by the Ummah. However, in Sahih Bukhari, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) established chapters. These chapters include statements from various Imams, and about half of the hadith chains are not from the level of divine guidance. The sayings and incidents of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are also present in the hadith books. Some historical events of the Prophet ﷺ, such as the Hijrah and certain battles, are also not from the level of divine guidance. Yes, there is a portion of the hadiths that is indeed from the level of divine guidance and is so essential for the explanation of the Holy Quran that without it, the Quran cannot be understood. Those who deny this revelation actually want to interpret the Holy Quran arbitrarily and misleadingly. May Allah grant us understanding of Tawheed and Sunnah and enable us to avoid shirk and innovation.
