AL-BUKHARY INTELLECTUL GENEALOGY: TRACING THE AUTHORITY OF AN EXPERT OF HADITH AND FIQH

Abstract

This article aims to reveal the authority of al-Bukhary as intellectul figures who have independence in dul scientific authority. He is often assumed as an expert of hadith only. In fact, as a collector of hadiths, he studied those hadiths deeper as a source of law which produced ijtihad products that are different compared to the predecessors. Therefore, some people argue that he is not only an expert of hadith but also a mujtahid (fiqh expert). In this context, it is interesting to explore the intellectul genealogy of al-Bukhary. The findings of this study prove that he succeeded in occupying a high position as an expert of both hadith and fiqh by interacting with many scholars from various regions. This interaction form his intellect which worthy of being called the absolute mujtahid. Al-Bukhary succeeded in exploring fiqh thoughts based on his extensive and deep mastery of hadiths. Through his ijtihad products, al-Bukhary had built a dynamic and authoritative tradition of Islamic intellectul treasure.