The Kitāb al-ʿIlm of al-Bukhārī: A Handbook on Knowledge
- 1 Independent Scholar
ISSN: 2214-2363, 2214-2371
Année de publication: 2021
Volumen: 8
Número: 2
Pages: 209-234
Type: Article
D'autres publications dans: Journal of Abbasid Studies
Résumé
The Kitāb al-ʿIlm of al-Bukhārī (d. 256/870), positioned at the beginning of his Ṣaḥīḥ, represents an innovative turn in terms of structural arrangement and thematic discourse within the context of “books” and narratives on knowledge (ʿilm). Al-Bukhārī’s construction of ʿilm differs from preceding discussions and reveals a unique portrayal. I suggest that the early interdependence between ʿilm-ḥadīth and adab conveyed by al-Bukhārī echoes the Kitab al-Adab written by his teacher, Ibn Abī Shayba (d. 235/849). In light of understanding this intertextual dynamic, I will compare earlier ʿilm narratives with particular themes introduced by al-Bukhārī. Similarly, I will discuss how the early correlation between knowledge and education helped motivate his authorial intent, concluding that the Kitāb al-ʿIlm represents an original, technical and pedagogical work of taḥammul al-ʿilm, the actual practice of teaching knowledge.