An Arab born in Bukhara, in present-day Uzbekistan, Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari (810-869) was one of the most famous and influential Islamic scholars of his time.

He is renowned for his collection of Hadith texts (the Hadith being the traditional sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), called the Sahih, which is regarded by many Sunni Muslims as the most reliable commentary on the Qur'an that exists. Ahmad Mujtaba Hasan here discusses Bukhari's colourful life and times as well as his mastery of the textual disciplines of 'fiqh', 'rijal' and 'ilal'.