al-Nazar al-Fasih inda Madayiq al-Anzar fi al-Jami al-Sahih
- Author died
- 1393 AH
- Editions
- Dār Saḥnūn lil-Nashr wal-Tawzīʿ - Dār al-Salām lil-Ṭibāʿah wal-Nashr
al-Nazar al-Fasih inda Madayiq al-Anzar fi al-Jami al-Sahih (The Lucid Examination at the Narrow Straits of Inquiry in the Sound Collection) is a specialized hadith work by the Tunisian scholar Muhammad al-Tahir ibn Ashur (1296–1393 AH / 1879–1973 CE), containing analytical notes and critical investigations on difficult and intricate passages in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Scope and Methodology
The work focuses on complex points, ambiguous expressions, and obscure chapter headings throughout Sahih al-Bukhari where earlier commentators had refrained from giving detailed explanations, hesitated, or reached an impasse. In his introduction, Ibn Ashur praised the unmatched dedication of earlier Muslim scholars who had explained Sahih al-Bukhari and illuminated its meanings, explaining that his purpose in writing was not to rival or oppose preceding commentators. Rather, he recorded insights, linguistic observations, and critical inquiries that arose while reciting and teaching the text.
Throughout the book, Ibn Ashur examines theological, grammatical, and jurisprudential nuances in hadith narrations. For instance, he analyzes the phrasing and pronoun references regarding how revelation came to the Prophet ﷺ, noting distinct states of revelation that earlier scholars had not fully addressed. He also examines specific chapter titles framed by al-Bukhari, evaluating their apparent legal implications and clarifying their underlying purposes.
Context and Publication
Al-Nazar al-Fasih is regarded as a companion work to Ibn Ashur's Kashf al-Mughta min al-Ma'ani wa-al-Alfaz al-Waqi'a fi al-Muwatta, mirroring its structure and analytical approach: while Kashf al-Mughta focuses on resolving complex issues in the Muwatta of Malik ibn Anas, al-Nazar al-Fasih performs the same function for Sahih al-Bukhari.
The book was published posthumously in Tunis by al-Dar al-Arabiyya li-l-Kitab in 1399 AH (1979 CE), with a second edition issued by the same publisher. A subsequent edition was published in Cairo by Dar al-Salam in 1428 AH (2007 CE).
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