Fath al-Bārī Sharh al-Bukhārī (‘Victory of the Creator: Commentary on Bukhārī)’ by Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalānī, may Allah be pleased with him, is by far the most famous, most popular and most widely respected commentary on the greatest book of hadith – the Sahih of Imam al-Bukhārī, radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. The initiation of its English translation is a seminal moment which we hope will represent a major contribution to a new wave of Islamic classics in English to meet the needs of Muslim communities in the English-speaking world and also the growing interest on the part of non-Muslims.Together with the Majestic Qur’ān, Hadiths– the recorded words, actions, approvals and disapprovals of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, – are the main sources of Islamic law and doctrine. Hadiths were evaluated through a rigorous selection process and were compiled in collections in book form of which Imam al-Bukhārī’s al-Jāmi‘ al-Ṣahīh is considered the greatest.Over the centuries, hundreds of commentaries have been written on the Sahih of al-Bukhārī. None, however, have received the same degree of acclaim and critical approval as the Fath al-Bārī of Ibn Ḥajar al-‘Asqalānī (d. 852/1449), may Allah be pleased with him. This critically important work has retained its immense status and popularity over six centuries since it was completed, as is evident from the many editions available in Arabic today. The main reason for which is the tremendous breadth and depth of the author’s erudition, and the acuteness of his insights and judgement as are evident on every page, can be said to have set a new standard in Hadith scholarship.Not a single complete commentary of any major Hadith work has ever been published in English, yet the need for them has never been greater than it is today. Hadith studies have suffered from widespread misrepresentation by orientalist scholarship along with the reductionist tendencies of many modernist ‘self-made’ scholars with no traditional training or qualifications freely propagating their own opinions and fatwas, now pose a real threat to the future centrality and stability of the mainstream traditional Islam of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jamā‘a especially in the West.About this edition :
This is an immense publishing project, it is hoped that a new volume will be added every few months; the total number of volumes will be in the region of twenty.
At present about one-third of the entire work has been translated.
This volume includes biographical entries for Imam al-Bukhārī and Ibn Hajar, from classical works by al-Sakhāwī and al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī’s, as well as Ibn Ḥajar’s Hādi al-sārī, whose partial translation includes an introduction to Fatḥ al-Bārī, as well as a biography of Imam Bukhārī. This leads to the commentary of Books 1, 2 and 3 of Sahih al-Bukhari.
About the Author- He was 'Shaykh al Islam' Imam Al-Hafidh Abul Fadl Shihab ud-Din Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Kinani Ash-Shafi'i. Known as Ibn Hajar Al-'Asqalani, may Allah be pleased with him, he was born on Sha'ban 773H in Egypt. Ibn Hajr authored more than 150 books - most of them being in study of Hadith - which flourished during his lifetime, kings and princes were known in his time to exchange gifts consisting of Ibn Hajar's works. His other most famous book is Fath ul Baari fi Sharh Sahih Bukhari : a commentary on the superb collection of Hadith by Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail Al-Bukhari. (It is the most famous and well-informative commentary on Sahih Bukhari).
Al Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani was a prominent Qadi in Egypt as well as in Ash-Sham for twenty-one years. He was humble, tolerant, and patient. He was described to be steadfast, prudent, ascetic, selfless, generous, charitable, and he spent much time in voluntary prayer and fasting. Those who came to know him praised him of his high standard of good mannerisms in dealing with rulers, Imams, as well as those who sat with him young or old. Ibn Hajar passed away in Dhu'l Hijjah in 852H.
