Sharh (, literally "explanation" or "expounding") or hadith commentary is a category of Islamic scholarship that examines the meaning, historical context, and legal implications the hadiths (sayings, actions, and silent approvals of the Prophet Muhammad), to explore the deeper spiritual and philosophical meanings, such as the intentions behind good deeds. The intention is to enable readers understand and apply the hadiths to their daily lifves. The hadiths referred to events and actions in the 7th-century and were later compiled into several collections over the 8th-11th centuries CE. The commentaries explain the historical context of specific hadiths, indicating if it was meant for a specific time and person or had wider implications. This led to the sharh writers extracting Islamic rules (Fiqh) from the Hadiths, often leaning towards one or other of the legal schools (Madhhabs) in their interpretations for subjects such as worship, marriage, and ethics. Some commentators also provided analyses of difficult grammar and vocabulary.
Sunni commentaries Sahih al-Bukhari
The Sahih al-Bukhari is the first and most acclaimed Hadith collection of the Six Books of Sunni Islam. Compiled by Muhammad al-Bukhari () in the format, the work is valued by Sunni Muslims alongside as the most authentic Islamic text after the Quran. It is estimated that more than "seventy full commentaries have been written" about this collection.
Al-Bukhari organised the book mostly in the Hijaz at the Sacred Mosque of Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque of Medina, and completed the work in Bukhara around 846 CE (232 AH). The work was examined by his teachers Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ali ibn al-Madini, Yahya ibn Ma'in, and others. The following is a list of some of the commentaries written by later scholars, examining Sahih al-Bukhari.
A'lam al-Sunan is a commentary written by the Shafi'i scholar Al-Khattabi. It is considered the first surviving commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari. Although the author did not assign a formal title, the work became known as A'lam al-Sunan. The commentary was composed to clarify difficult or ambiguous expressions in Sahih al-Bukhari, presenting explanations from a theological perspective. It is comparatively concise in nature, covering 1,238 hadiths from Sahih al-Bukhari.
Al-Abwab wa al-Tarajim is a three-volume Arabic commentary written by Zakariyya Kandhlawi. It serves as an analysis and explanation of the chapters and narrators found in Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the most esteemed collections of Hadith. The commentary is the result of four decades of effort by the author. In this commentary, Kandhlawi presents seventy principles that aid in understanding the chapter headings of Sahih al-Bukhari. He provides commentary on each chapter, illustrating the connections between the chapter headings and the related hadiths. This work addresses the challenge faced by scholars in establishing these connections, contributing to the scholarly discourse surrounding Sahih al-Bukhari.
Al-Kawakib al-Darari is a commentary authored by the Shafi'i scholar Shams al-Din al-Kirmani. The work was written to provide a comprehensive explanation of Sahih al-Bukhari, addressing gaps and limitations in earlier commentaries, including those by Ibn Battal, al-Khattabi, and Mughultay. It was completed in 1373 CE in Mecca. A modern edition of the work was published in twenty-five volumes in Cairo between 1935 and 1945.
Al-Tawdhih is a commentary written by the Shafi'i scholar Ibn al-Mulaqqin. It is the largest and most detailed commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari. Modern printed editions comprise thirty-six volumes. Ibn al-Mulaqqin worked on this commentary for more than two decades, beginning around 763 AH and completing it in 785 AH.
Anwar al-Bari is a 19-volume Urdu commentary compiled by Ahmad Rida Bijnori, drawing from the teachings of Anwar Shah Kashmiri. This commentary features the original Arabic text of Sahih al-Bukhari alongside a literal Urdu translation, enhancing its accessibility to a wider audience. It provides biographical information about hadith scholars and narrators in the transmission chains, as well as delves into various facets of Islamic jurisprudence and theology. The work extensively defends the validity of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. The compiler, however, only completed the commentary up to the end of the Book of Prayer, accompanied by a discussion on the final chapter concerning Imaan (faith) and Tawhid (monotheism).
Fath al-Bari, is a 15th-century commentary by Egyptian scholar Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. Considered his magnum opus, it is a widely celebrated hadith commentary.
Fayd al-Bari is a four-volume Arabic commentary compiled by Badre Alam Merathi, based on the lectures and teachings of his teacher, Anwar Shah Kashmiri. It offers detailed explanations, interpretations, and discussions of the Hadiths found in Sahih al-Bukhari. This commentary covers various aspects, including the biography of Muhammad al-Bukhari, the methodology and conditions of compiling Sahih al-Bukhari, the narrators of the Hadiths, the connections between chapter headings and the Hadiths within them, discussions on beliefs (aqaid), and attempts to derive legal rulings (fiqh) from the Hadiths. Additionally, the work includes a lengthy introduction by Yusuf Banuri, which provides insights into the biography of Anwar Shah Kashmiri.
Irshad al-Sari is a classical commentary written by the Shafi‘i scholar al-Qastallani. He completed the work in 1517 CE, seven years before his death. Unlike earlier commentaries, it explains each word in a clear and concise way, sometimes repeating key points to ensure understanding. This approach makes it accessible to readers of all levels. Historically, it has been considered the third most important commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, after Fath al-Bari and Umdat al-Qari. In writing it, al-Qastallani relied heavily on Fath al-Bari, occasionally summarizing its explanations.
Kashf al-Bari is a 24-volume Arabic commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, authored by Saleemullah Khan. It originates from his lectures at Jamia Farooqia, and the compilation process commenced around 1986–1987, spanning approximately four hundred notebooks. The manuscript underwent subsequent refinement by scholars, starting with Ibn al-Hasan Abbasi. Khan adopted the pedagogical approach of his mentor, Hussain Ahmad Madani, in teaching and explicating Sahih al-Bukhari. The book was initially published in Pakistan before reaching an audience in India.
Lami al-Darari is a multi-volume commentary, which is based on the teachings of Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. The original lessons were recorded in Arabic by Yahya Kandhlawi, a student of Gangohi, and later expanded upon by his son, Zakariyya Kandhlawi, with extensive footnotes at the insistence of Hussain Ahmad Madani. The commentary was completed in 1968. Its primary objective is to provide detailed explanations, discussions, and insights into the various sections, topics, and issues addressed in Sahih al-Bukhari. Additionally, it incorporates additional research, references to other scholarly works, and offers a defense of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
Sharh Ibn Battal is a classical commentary authored by the Maliki scholar Ibn Battal. Although the original title of the work is unknown, it is traditionally attributed to him and is considered one of the earliest printed commentaries on Sahih al-Bukhari, following Al-Khattabi's A'lam al-Sunan. The commentary combines hadith analysis with Maliki jurisprudence, addressing legal reasoning, philology, historical context, ethical guidance, and preserving material from sources that are now lost, including reports from the Companions of the Prophet, the Successors, and later generations.
Umdat al-Qari is a classical commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari by the Hanafi scholar Badr al-Din al-Ayni. Al-Ayni worked on the book for over twenty years, starting in 1418 CE and finishing in 1443 CE.
Sahih Muslim
Sahih Muslim is the second hadith collection of the Six Books of Sunni Islam. Compiled by Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj () in the musannaf format, the work is valued by Sunnis, alongside Sahih al-Bukhari (see section above), as the most important sources for Muslims after the Quran.
Sahih Muslim contains approximately 5,500 - 7,500 hadith reports in its introduction and 56 "books". Kâtip Çelebi (died 1657) and Siddiq Hasan Khan (died 1890) both counted 7,275 reports in the text. Muhammad Fuad Abdul Baqi wrote that there are 3,033 reports without considering repetitions.Hadith and the Quran, Encyclopedia of the Quran, Brill Mashhur ibn Hasan Al Salman, a student of Albanian scholar Al-Albani (died 1999), counted 7,385 total reports, which, combined with the ten in the introduction, add up to a total of 7,395. Muslim wrote an introduction to his collection of hadith, wherein he clarified the reasoning behind choosing the hadith he chose to include in his Sahih.
There have been more than twenty commentaries on Sahih Muslim, of which the two most notable are listed below.
Siyanah Sahih Muslim – an explanation of Sahih Muslim written by Ibn al-Salah, of which only the first segment is available, and which al-Nawawi referred to in his own explanation.
Fath al-Mulhim is a three-volume Arabic commentary on Sahih Muslim, written by Shabbir Ahmad Usmani before 1916. Usmani commenced the writing of the book in 1914 due to the absence of commentaries on Sahih Muslim, unlike Sahih al-Bukhari, which had commentaries according to the Hanafi school. He dedicated himself to bridging this gap and continued his work until his demise. He was only able to complete three volumes of the book before his passing. The first and second volumes were published in 1933 and 1935 respectively, while the third volume was published in 1939. Taqi Usmani later took up the task of completing the remaining portions of the book in 1976, ultimately finishing it in 1994 in six volumes known as Takmilah Fath al-Mulhim bi-Sharh Sahih al-Imam Muslim (see below).
Takmilah Fath al-Mulhim is a six-volume Arabic commentary on Sahih Muslim, authored by Taqi Usmani. It serves as a supplement to Fath al-Mulhim bi-Sharh Sahih al-Imam Muslim (see above), a work initially written by Shabbir Ahmad Usmani, who completed three volumes before his demise. Taqi Usmani commenced writing this scholarly work in 1976, inspired by his father, Shafi Usmani, to carry on and complete the unfinished endeavor. After an 18-year journey, he finalized the book in 1994, earning widespread recognition for its quality. The commentary covers essential topics, including fiqh, justice, politics, economics, social policy, morality, virtues, and other aspects of Islamic teachings. Taqi Usmani's work is particularly known for its analysis, incorporation of diverse languages, inclusion of biographies, fiqh methodologies, and relevant fiqh rulings, making it a reference for both students and scholars alike.
Sunan Abi Dawud