Tūmār (8) - Broken Ladder (3) The Hyperbolic Account of al-Bukhārī A Critique of Sīrat al-Bukhārī by Mubārakfūrī The Bukhari School: From Reality to Exaggeration

This research is part of the book Ostorah-ye Bukhara (The Myth of Bukhara), which critiques the exaggerated and overstated portrayal of Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari in the book  Sīrat al-Bukhārī  authored by Abdul Salām Mubārakfūrī. This book is one of the sources referenced in Dr. ‘Azzazi’s work (an outstanding doctoral thesis from Al-Azhar University, Egypt). The central focus of this article is the critical review of Mubārakfūrī’s exaggerations regarding Bukhari. In the conclusion of  Sīrat al-Bukhārī , Mubārakfūrī uses metaphors and analogies to depict Bukhari's teaching in a grand school with multiple entrances. This article critiques this symbolic "Bukhari School" as one of the prominent examples of exaggeration in Mubārakfūrī’s work, highlighting its flaws, challenges, and shortcomings. It uncovers the underlying motives, hidden objectives, and ideological reasons behind Mubārakfūrī’s exaggerated portrayal of Bukhari. The findings of this study show that the image of Bukhari as a renowned teacher with the most crowded teaching circle in the Islamic world suffers from historical anachronism, contradicts historical data, presents a self-defeating notion, and is inconsistent with Bukhari’s scholarly journey. It does not align with the scientific trajectory of Bukhari and conflicts with the principles of local historiography. This writing, as part of the series The Broken Ladder, argues that Mubārakfūrī’s  Sīrat al-Bukhārī  is nothing more than a "Hyperbolic Account" (a book of exaggeration) about Bukhari's character and thought. Exaggeration is a persistent theme throughout the book, offering a mythical and legendary portrayal of Bukhari's persona. This exaggerated narrative has also permeated ‘Azzazi’s work, making it a mere repetition of Mubārakfūrī’s exaggerations.