Facts About Imam al-Bukhari
What is the full name of Imam al-Bukhari?
Full name: Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari.
What did Imam al-Bukhari do after returning to Bukhara?
After returning to Bukhara, he began teaching anyone who wished to learn.
Where did he travel at the age of 16, and with whom?
At age 16: He traveled to Mecca and Medina for pilgrimage with his mother and brother.
Where is the memorial complex of Imam al-Bukhari located?
Location: Hartang village, Payaryk district, 25 km from Samarkand.
How many people can pray in the mosque at one time?
Mosque capacity: 1,500 people can pray at the same time.
In what year and where was Imam al-Bukhari born?
Year of birth: 810.Place of birth: Bukhara.
How did people view hadith that were unknown to him?
His reputation was so high that a hadith unknown to him was considered unreliable by the people.
Why did he continue traveling after the pilgrimage?
Later: He continued traveling across many Muslim countries to study from famous scholars.
What was built near the mausoleum in the 16th century?
In the 16th century, a small mosque and plane trees were planted near the mausoleum.
What stands in the center of the courtyard?
Courtyard center: A pond (hauz) with ancient plane trees and a spring of clean water.
What is known about his great-grandfather and father?
His great-grandfather was among the first to accept Islam; his father was a narrator of hadith.
With whom did he have a conflict in Bukhara?
He had a conflict with the ruler of Bukhara, Ahmad ibn Khalid.
According to tradition, how many hadith did he memorize in total?
Number of hadith memorized (according to tradition): 300,000.
What happened to this sacred site during the Soviet period?
During the Soviet period, the site was neglected; even the gravestone was missing.
What can be found in the library and museum of the complex?
Library and museum: Contain handwritten and lithographed books, valuable gifts, and even part of the Kaaba’s kiswah.
At what age did Imam al-Bukhari memorize the Qur’an?
He memorized the Qur’an at the age of 7.
In what year did Imam al-Bukhari pass away?
Year of death: 870 (in Hartang).
What is the name of Imam al-Bukhari’s most famous book?
Most famous work: Al-Jami‘ as-Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Which foreign president visited the site in 1954 and helped revive it?
In 1954, it was revived after the visit of Indonesian President Sukarno.
What materials and patterns decorate the walls?
Decoration: Mosaic, majolica, alabaster, onyx, granite, floral and geometric patterns.
How many hadith did Imam al-Bukhari know by heart when he was 10 years old?
Early ability: By the age of 10, he knew several thousand hadith by heart.
What criteria did he use to select authentic hadith?
Criteria for selecting hadith: Honesty and reliability of transmitters, and whether they witnessed the event directly.
How many years did he spend writing this book?
Time spent writing it: 16 years.
To which administration was the mosque handed over afterward?
After these visits, the mosque was handed over to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Central Asia and Kazakhstan.
When was the international foundation for Imam al-Bukhari’s heritage created?
International foundation: Created in 2000 to promote the spiritual heritage of Imam al-Bukhari.