عناية الامام البخاري في صحيحه بأحاديث العقائد كتاب الإيمان أنموذجاً

Imām al-Bukhārī’s Methodological Attention to Creedal Ḥadīths in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Kitāb al-Īmān as a Case Study

Abstract

This study seeks to examine Imām al-Bukhārī’s attention to creed-related ḥadīths in his magnum opus, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, with particular focus on his methodological approach in deriving issues of creed (‘aqīdah). The research underscores that Imām al-Bukhārī adhered to the manhaj of the early ḥadīth scholars (al-mutaqaddimūn), which aligns with the doctrinal framework of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah, including both the Ash‘arite and Māturīdite theological schools. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī is widely regarded as the most authentic book after the Book of Allah due to the scholarly consensus (ijmā‘) on its precision, authenticity, and systematic rigor. Contrary to the common assumption that it is solely jurisprudential, the work encompasses various dimensions of Islamic teachings, including creed, worship, transactions, ethics, virtues, and more. This study adopts descriptive, analytical, and inductive methodologies within the framework of Kitāb al-Īmān (The Book of Faith) to explore Al-Bukhārī’s theological contributions.The findings reveal that Imām al-Bukhārī allocated entire sections to creedal matters, most notably Kitāb al-Waḥy (Revelation), Kitāb al-Īmān (Faith), and Kitāb al-Tawḥīd (Monotheism). Within Kitāb al-Īmān alone, he addresses five principal theological themes across forty-three chapters. Al-Bukhārī’s creed, firmly rooted in the ḥadīth tradition, is evident through his chapter headings (tarājim al-abwāb), which often encapsulate his doctrinal stance and interpretive reasoning. His use of Qur’anic verses, Prophetic ḥadīths, and statements of the early generations (salaf) reflects a consistent and methodological approach to articulating sound Islamic belief within the framework of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah.