A Story

between
Two Muhammads

Reflections and Manhaj lessons for the Ummah today

Prepared by
Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Lamont Battle


In the early part of the 3rd century there were two Imams, both named Abu Abdullah Muhammad
and equally they were scholars of Hadith. One is known as Imam Al-Bukhari and the other is
Imam Ath-Thuhli. While both of these scholars are known for their virtue and service to the
Sunnah, there were some differences between these two contemporary Imams that created some
conflict and confusion in Naysabur.
As soon as Imam Al-Bukhari arrived in Naysabur Muhammad ibn Yahya Ath-Thuhli advised his
students to sit and learn hadith from him. He said, Go and learn from this pious man .
Consequently, his students took his advice and began to learn Hadith from Imam Bukhari. As a
result of this Imam Ath-Thulis Hadith study circles began to reduce in numbers, so, he became
jealous and began to speak ill of Imam Al-Bukhari.
Due to the existing jealously of Imam Al-Bukhari there were some rumors flown around about
his belief that the pronunciation of the Quran was created. Once this gossip spread Imam AlBukhari was tested about this belief in his sittings. Once a student came to Imam Al-Bukharis
gathering stood up and said, Abu Abdullah, what is your stance about the pronunciation of the
Quran? Is it created or not? Imam Al-Bukhari simply ignored this man, but he repeated his
question at least three times. After his third request for an answer Imam Al-Bukhari said, The
Quran is the speech of Allah and it isnt created, the actions of the slave are created and to test
people with this issue is an innovation.
The questioner dissatisfied with Imam Al-Bukharis answer provoked discord and controversy
among the people and thus some people abandoned Imam Al-Bukhari. Imam Al-Bukhari was
patient and he remained in his house worshipping Allah. That frustrated group of people insisted
Imam Al-Bukhari wasnt serious. Therefore, in another occasion Imam Al-Bukhari was asked,
Is the pronunciation of the Quran created? He replied, Each and every action of the slave is
created. After this response they took a decision and declared Imam Al-Bukhari as being
misguided and some considered him an apostate. They ordered Imam Al-Bukhari to recant from
his speech and position. They told Imam Al-Bukhari that if he recanted they would rejoin his
classes again. Being firm in his belief and fearing none but Allah, Imam Al-Bukhari said, I will
not withdraw from this view until you can produce proof stronger than the one I have. Imam
Yahya ibn Saeed Al-Qattan was present at this incident and said I was amazed at Imam AlBukharis unwavering belief under that pressure.
As the days passed there was a funeral prayer for Abu Uthman Saeed ibn Marwan. Imam AlBukhari and Imam Ath-Thuhli both attended. After the Janaza people began to ask Imam AthThuli questions about the names and Kunyas of hadith narrators and even some asked him
questions about Illal Hadith, this didnt bother Imam Al-Bukhari one bit.Imam Al-Bukhari
walked swiftly right pass Imam Ath-Thuhli not paying him any attention.

The campaigners of discord would go between these two Imams asking the same questions.
During a class Imam Ath-Thuhli screamed, whoever sits in Imam Al-Bukharis class isnt
welcome to sit in ours. Whoever says the pronunciation of the Quran is created must leave.
Following those words Imam Al-Bukhars student; Imam Muslim stood up and walked out of the
class.
The turmoil for Imam Al-Bukhari and his students began to grow more intense. One day
Muhammad ibn Shathil went to Imam Al-Bukhari complaining about the situation seeking a
solution. He said, How can we fix this problem between you two? Everyone who sits and learns
from you is driven away from his classes. Imam Al-Bukhari said: Look at how Muhammad
ibn Yahya has become afflicted with jealously over knowledge! Knowledge is a provision of
Allah. He gives it to whoever He wills. This problem youre busying yourself with is a
contentious issue . I saw the way Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal dealt with it, so Ive decided to not
talk about it.
The peoples desires were unfulfilled, so they headed to Imam Al-Bukhari house and assembled
there outside waiting for him. Imam Ath-Thuhli joined the crowd at Imam Al-Bukharis house
and said, Dont ask him anything about the speech, because if he answers different than mine
there will be some problems between us. For that reason, every Haruri, Rafidhi, Jahmi and
Murji in Khurasan will take malicious pleasure in the mishap between us.
After three days the massive crowd reached high numbers until some of them sat on the roof of
his house. When Imam Bukhari came out they asked him and the pronunciation of the Quran, He
replied: Our actions are created and our speech is part of our actions. Immediately after that
response people said: He said the words of the Quran are created. While some people said:
He didnt say that. Eventually the crowd dispersed.

Benefits from this story

Sometimes a shaykh can become so amazed with himself he cant stand to see anyone
else share the arena of Dawah with him.1

At times a shaykh will praise a scholar or person and this will increase the numbers of the
person praised and reduce the numbers of the shaykh giving the praise. Hence he will
become jealous. Ath-Thuhli told his students, Go and learn from this pious man.

Go and learn from this pious man These words show that whenever a new person
comes to an area to give Dawah the people who are knowledgeable must either
recommend him or warn against him. .

Abu Abdul Ala,Taasub lis Shayukh, pg156

A person afflicted with jealously of his contemporary will be happy when his gatherings
arent crowded.

When contemporaries are jealous of each other they will make their peers mistake bigger
than anyone elses. Every time his colleague makes a mistake he becomes content,
because he believes this will increase his numbers. Therefore, he spreads this error and
his loyal followers become fanatical towards him.

When one colleague is jealous of the other he wont highlight his virtue anymore, nor
will he attribute any benefit about his efforts. 2

The badly affected jealous person finds uneasiness when his peer is asked a question
instead of him. After the funeral prayer Imam Ath-Thuhli was answering questions, but
Imam Al-Bukhari just breezed right past him not showing any trouble in his emotion.
Although, Imam Al-Bukhari knew the answers and was probably the most knowledable
between the two. Allah knows best.

People love the spread of gossip more than learning. During that hadith class with one of
the greatest imams in history this person stood up and asked a question to cause discord.
This is the case in 1436H/2014 with many of the phone calls made to the scholars about
issues regarding other people of knowledge. Once they get the desired response they rush
to Whats App, Twitter, Face book and YouTube.

Scholars are aware when they are being given loaded questions. Imam Al-Bukhari just
simply ignored the man. Sarcastically this man remains unknown till this day.

People love to keep a story about a person going in order to elevate their status or be
relevant. The desired outcome is to stop people from benefitting from the target person.

Every so often we find a scholar is accused of something he didnt say or blamed for a
belief he doesnt hold. Imam Al-Bukhari was blamed for saying something he never said
simply because the people didnt understand his speech. This all too common today in
1436H/2014 where some people dont understand Arabic or English in some cases and
are involved in giving dawah.

As-Suyuti , Al-Muzhar 2/329

Occasionally a person can be held as an innovator or astray based on rumors or from a

flawed understanding of few. Imam Muslim said: I have never seen any scholar treated
they way they treated Imam Al-Bukhari in Naysabur

Sometimes people are so sure their position is correct they try and force it on to others
through pressure. They told Imam Al-Bukhari, that if he recanted they would rejoin his
classes again. This is a form of peer pressure presented to some Muslims today in
1436H/2014 where a few dissidents try and force their position or the Fatwa of their
sheikh on others.

Sometimes a student will abandon a scholar out of the love he has for his personal
teacher, sheikh or scholar. Imam Muslim abandoned all of Imam Ath-Thuhlis hadith
due to the way he treated Imam Al-Bukhari. In fact among the 6 books of hadith Imam
Muslim collected the most hadith from Ath-Thuhli.

Imam Bukhari maintained his composure throughout this fitnah. He remained silent and
didnt respond to all the attacks. Even when they would visit him he would educate them.

Due to the fitnah that occurred between these two, Imam Al-Bukhari would narrate his
hadith using Tadless. He would say, Muhammad, Muhammad ibn Khalid, or Muhammd
ibn Abdillah. He would conceal his name. May Allah forgive them both.3

Cult followers are known to go from one scholar to the next asking the same questions
until they get the answer they want. When they arent given the answer they want to the
question they never disclose those answers. There were numerous reports of Imam AlBukhari answering this question based on the belief of Ahlus Sunnah, but those people
hid his answer. This is common today in 1436H/2014 when a quick phone call is placed
among a few selected people. Once the answer they desire is given its then made public.
Otherwise it is brushed under the rug.

Now and again a scholar will request students who attend deviants study groups to leave
his. This was known from the late Imam Ahmed An-Najmi (may Allah have mercy on
him) in reference to those who attend Shaykh Jibrins (may Allah have mercy on him)
classes.

At-Thahabbi ,Siyr #2069

A scholars speech can be misunderstood and misinterpreted. When Imam Al-Bukhari

came out he answered the question: Our actions are created and our speech is part of
our actions. Immediately after that response people said: He said the words of the
Quran are created. While some people said: He didnt say that. Some people took his
speech to mean the words of the Quran are created, when in fact he didnt say that. He
said our actions are created and our speech is part of our actions.

Imam Ahmed didnt entertain this issue although he could have. Nonetheless, he didnt
get involved and thus that was an example for Imam Al-Bukhari to learn from.

Sometimes a scholar will withdraw narrating on people who dont adhere to his position.
This is similar to how Imam Ahmed abandoned Yahya ibn Maeen, Ali ibn Madini, Abu
Mamar Al-Hathili and others. He abandoned those scholars and prohibited his son
Abdullah from narrating on them as well. Imam Ahmed became very angry with those
Imams, so he didnt narrate to them, on them or even speak to them. Imam Ath-Thahabbi
said this stance was a bit extreme. 4

When jealously is present between two contemporaries one will always define his peers
speech in a way which can be correct or false to be incorrect. By doing this action he hits
his target to get his opponent boycotted. 5

The example of how the people crowed at Bukharis house is similar to what we find
today. When people flock from one scholars website to the next waiting for an error.
Instead of benefitting from that scholars knowledge before he dies. They could have
asked Imam Al-Bukhari about hadith, chains or narrators. This is how knowledge
disappears.

People flock to scholars and waste their time. They waited three days at his house and
when he exited they didnt ask him a question which was directly related to their life.
This is common in 1436H/2014 where people make visits to scholars and report things of
no benefit to the masses.

The jealously and envy of Ath-Thuhli lead him to say (pronunciation of the Quran) with
the belief of the Jahmi is what Imam Al-Bukhari intended. Its letters and sound. But
Imam Al-Bukhari intended the actions of the servant, which is the recitation of the Quran.

Dr. Muhammad ibn Turki, Manhaj Al-Muhadditheen, pg 51-51,

, Shaykh Hamad Al-Uthman mAn-Nubthu fi Adab Talibil Ilm. pg264,

And the actions of Allahs slave are created. So for that reason, whenever there is a
criticism between two contemporaries dont look at one and not the other. 6

The Muslim must avoid asking the scholars questions which light the fire of differing.
Allah says : O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may
cause you trouble[ Al-Maidah 101]

Imam Ath-Thuhli told his students not to ask Imam Al-Bukhari anything, because he
knew that if their answers werent the same, then Ahl Bidah would take advantage of
that differing. This is widespread today in cyberspace due to the idle youths hastiness
and untaught educators nurturing them. Bloggers and Tweeters spread bias information
on the net from selected reporting. This assists the people of desires to laugh and ridicule
Sunni Muslims and their scholars. Some people have even created special forums and
websites to wage war against the people of the Sunnah.

A person mustnt narrate everything he hears being said about person who is known to be
upright and firm in his Aqeedah and Manhaj. Imam Malik ibn Anas said: Its a serious
harm for a person to repeat everything he hears. 7

Ath-Thuhli is trustworthy but he made a mistake and this mistake didnt diminish his
rank as being titled Shaykul Islam by At-Thahabbi in Siyr.

Imam Ahmed said: All of you must know that when the man has been awarded
knowledge from Allah, which his peers havent been granted they will envy him. Thus
they will accuse him of things he doesnt say or believe. 8

Allah the Most High knows best and to him I repent and seek His Mercy and Forgiveness. If
there is any benefit in this Ebook for the Muslims then Al-Hamdulilah and if there are any errors
then they are from me and can be changed. May Allahs peace and blessings be upon the
Messenger Muhammad and his family until the last day.
This story can be found in Siyr by Ath-Thahabbi and Tareekh Al-Baghdad.
Translation and Commentary by
Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Lamont Battle (May Allah forgive him)
6

7
8

Dr. Hamad Al-Uthman Al-Muhararu fi Jarh wa Tadil pg 252,

Ath-Thahhabi 8/66
Ath-Thahhabi 10/58]

Doha, Qatar.1436