Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari (d. 256/870) stands as one of the most distinguished figures in Islamic intellectual history. His magnum opus , the ai , is revered as the most authoritative collection of Prophetic traditions in Sunni Islam and is the most cited book in Islamic history. Beyond its juridical and theological significance, the ai was venerated in pre-modern societies as a source of spiritual blessings, recited to invoke divine favour, seek salvation, and even bring rain. Al-Bukhari's legacy endures, shaping Islamic scholarship and devotion to this day. This pioneering critical study offers the first comprehensive examination of al-Bukhari's life, intellectual trajectory and the socio-political landscape that influenced his scholarship. It meticulously analyses his methods of hadith criticism and explores his engagement with the theological and legal discourse of his time. Through an extensive study of the theological debates he engaged with and the masail (legal cases) in which he challenged anafi authorities, this book sheds new light on the legal landscape that underpinned his work.

Providing both historical depth and analytical rigour, it is an essential contribution to the study of Islamic legal and hadith traditions.