IGNAZ GOLDZIHER’S RESEARCH ON SAHIH AL-BUKHARI

Abstract

This article analyzes the studies of Ignaz Goldziher, one of the prominent representatives of Western Islamic scholarship, devoted to Imam al-Bukhari’s work Sahih al-Bukhari. It examines Goldziher’s life, academic activity, and his views on Hadith studies presented in “Islamic studies” (“Muhammedanische Studien”). Goldziher considers Hadith not only as a religious source but also as a historical document reflecting the intellectual, legal, and social development of early Islamic society. From this perspective, he explains how the Hadith collections of Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim came to be recognized by Muslim scholars as the most authentic sources, relating this process to broader historical and social developments.The article also highlights Goldziher’s views on the formation of the Sihah Sitta (the Six Canonical Hadith Collections), the classification of Hadith compilations, and their authority within Muslim society. Furthermore, it analyzes his observations regarding why certain Hadith collections were not included among the most authoritative sources. The study demonstrates that Goldziher’s approach to Sahih al-Bukhari was not limited to evaluating the authenticity of Hadith reports; rather, it also focused on examining the religious, legal, and cultural significance of this work within Muslim society.