The Translation of the Meanings Of Sahih Al-Bukhari

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a page of one of the books

the nine volumes

The Translation of the Meanings Of Sahih Al-Bukhari is the most famous English translation of the Arabic Hadith collection named Sahih Bukhari, the most prominent Sunni Hadith collection.

1 Overview
2 Use
3 Shia view
4 References

[edit] Overview

It was translated by the Salafi scholar Muhamamd Muhsin Khan and is in 9 volumes. The Text used for this work is Fath Al-Bari, published by the Egyptian Press of Mustafa Al-Babi Al-Halabi, 1959 (1378 A.H.) [6].

[edit] Use

This translation is a part of the USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts and is hence the most referenced translation on the internet.

[edit] Shia view

Shi'a and some Sunnis accuse the translator of omitting and mistranslating several hadith. The disputed hadith include:

A Hadith of pre-Islamic marriage forms ^[1]
Sahih Bukhari 4:55:658 regarding the Mehdi ^[2]
Sahih Bukhari 7:62:52 regarding Hadiths related to Mut'ah ^[3]
Sahih Bukhari 6:60:43 regarding Hadiths related to Mut'ah ^[4]
Sahih Bukhari 1:6:298

A narration attributed to A'isha reports:

“

The Prophet and I used to take a bath from a single pot while we were Junub. During the menses, he used to order me to put on an Izar (dress worn below the waist) and used to (bashr) fondle me. While in Itikaf, he used to bring his head near me and I would wash it while I used to be in my periods (menses).

”

The word that the translator Mr Muhsin Khan has translated as "fondle" is mubasharath - and this actually means 'to have sexual intercourse'. The term had been used by Allah (swt) in the Qur'an re Ramadhan - wherein Allah (swt) had stated that the previous injunction prohibiting intercourse during the night was abrogated:

The Qur'an, chapter 2 (Al-Baqara), verse 187:

“

"It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of the fasts. They are garments for you and you are the same for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you and forgave you. So now have sexual relations (bashiroohunna) with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your fast till the nightfall. And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in Itikaf in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah make clear His signs to mankind that they may become Al Mut'ahqun (the pious)".— translated by Unknown

”

The Qur'an has clearly used this term as meaning intercourse so if we are to accept this hadith as Sahih then it means that Ayesha claimed Rasulullah (s) had sex with her whilst she was menstruating. By deeming such hadith as Sahih these Nasibi have alleged that Rasulullah (s) violated a Qur'anic injunction (astaghfirullah).

The image had such a lasting effect on the Sahaba Jabir, that Ahl'ul Sunnah's authority work Kashaf al Ghimma page 65, narrates Jabir's words, from the mouth of Ayesha:

"During my menses, Rasulullah (s) would 'Bashr' [have intercourse] with me. He would order me to tie a knot in a large cloth, after I did this he would embrace my chest"

Is there any greater immorality than having sex with one's wife during her menses? Allah (swt) has condemned such an act and the Ahl as-Sunnah have proudly claimed that Rasulullah (s) had done just that. ^[5]