Answering shia allegation that Sahih al bukhari does not contain contemporary sources.
Imam Bukhari's Sahih al-Bukhari does not contain the direct works of the Tabi'een (the generation after the Companions of the Prophet). However, it heavily relies on the narrations and scholarly opinions of early scholars of hadith, many of whom were Tabi'een themselves.
Here's how it works:
* Chain of Narration (Isnad): A core principle in hadith scholarship is the isnad, a chain of narrators going back to the Prophet Muhammad. Imam Bukhari meticulously traced these chains.
* Tabi'een as Transmitters: The Tabi'een were crucial in this chain. They learned from the Companions and passed down those narrations. Imam Bukhari's collection includes hadith narrated through the Tabi'een, but always attributed back to the Prophet.
* Early Scholars: Imam Bukhari relied on the work of earlier hadith scholars who compiled and organized narrations, including those from the Tabi'een. He critically evaluated their work and chose the most authentic narrations based on his rigorous criteria.
In essence: Sahih al-Bukhari uses the work of the Tabi'een, not as independent opinions, but as vital links in the chain of transmission that ultimately leads back to the Prophet Muhammad.