the six genuine and reliable collections. The collections by Bukhari and Muslim are particularly held in high esteem. They are known as the two Sahihs (al-Sahihain). The Ahadith which are recognised as absolutely authentic are included in these two excellent compilations.

Even of these two, Bukhari's occupies a higher position in comparison to Muslim's.

One may pertinently ask why it is that Muslim's rather than Bukhari's Sahih has been selected by me for translation into English.

I fully subscribe to the view of the Muhaddithin that, after the Holy Qur'an, Bukhari's Sahih is the most reliable Book of Islamic Shariah. Muslim's Sahih comes next to it. However, in certain respects the latter is considered superior to the former. Imam Muslim strictly observed many principles of the science of Hadith which had been slightly ignored by his great teacher Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on both of them). Imam Muslim considered only such traditions to be genuine and authentic as had been transmitted to him by an unbroken chain of reliable authorities and were in perfect harmony with what had, (been related by other narrators whose trustworthiness was unanimously accepted and who were free from all defects.

Moreover, Imam Bukhari, while describing the chain of narrators, sometimes mentions their kunya and sometimes gives their names. This is particularly true in case of the narrators of Syria. This creates a sort of confusion, which Imam Muslim has avoided.

Imam Muslim takes particular care in according the exact words of the narrators and points out even the minutest difference in the wording of their reports.

Imam Muslim has also constantly kept in view the difference between the two well-known modes of narration, Huddathana (he narrated to us) and Akkbarana (he informed us). He is of the opinion that the first mode is used only when the teacher is narrating the Hadith and the student is listening to it, while the second mode of expression implies that the student is reading the Hadith before the teacher. This reflects his utmost care in the transmission of a hadith.

Imam Muslim has taken great pains in connecting the chain of narrators. He has recorded only that hadith which, at least, two reliable tabi'in (successors) had heard from two Companions and this principle is observed throughout the subsequent chain of narrators.

All these considerations are there, but the reason of my choice for the translation of Muslim's Sahih is that Bukhari's is a difficult book in that the different portions of Ahadith are fragmented into parts, and these are put down under different headings according to their importance from the point of view of Fiqh. Unless one has thorough grounding in the study of Hadith and has a strong background of religious knowledge, one is not likely to grasp fully and appreciate the compilation of Imam Bukhari.

Imam Muslim has, on the other band, recorded the Ahadith in their integrated forms. This is quite essential and highly useful for those who have a meagre knowledge of the Hadith or who have just started its study.

The full name of Imam Muslim is Abu'l-Husain 'Asakir-ud-Din Muslim b. Hajjaj al-Qushayrl al-Naisaburi. "Muslim," as his nasba shows, belonged to the Qushayr tribe of the Arabs, an offshoot of the great clan of Rabi'a He was born in Naisabur (Nishapur) in 202/817 or 206/821. His parents were religiously minded persons and as such he was brought up in a pious atmosphere. This left such an indelible impression on his mind that he spent the whole of his life as a God-fearing person and always