❖ Dialogue with Sharafantah (3)

Sheikh, may I ask you something?

Go ahead, Sharafantah.

Yesterday, I was sitting at the cafe drinking herbal tea, and I saw a man giving money to a poor woman so she could buy medicine for her son, according to what I heard her telling him.

The important thing is that you lowered your gaze, for it is not permissible to look at her, my son. But it would have been nice if you had given her something too.

Regarding the gaze, of course, I lowered it. But giving her money? From where? I'm broke!

Always poor. Well, what happened next?

Well, Sheikh, after the woman left, I went to the man to warn him about the great sin he was committing: wearing his garment below the ankles (Isbal). Because as you know, there is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Messenger (PBUH)...

Peace be upon him.

...said: "Whatever is below the ankles of the lower garment is in the Fire." So I warned him that he is in great danger he doesn't realize because his clothes are below his ankles, and that he will enter Hellfire for this sin that young people today unfortunately take lightly.

Allah bless you, Sharafantah! Well done. For anyone whose clothes are below the ankles will enter the Fire, as Bukhari (may Allah be pleased with him) informed us. And did he accept your advice? These days, the youth of this generation rebel against the heirs of the Prophets and don't obey them. Curse the Internet that corrupted their minds, especially the "Indomie generation" (the 2000s kids).

Honestly, Sheikh, I felt like he was just humoring me. He just said "Fine." But that’s not my point. My point is that on the table next to me were sitting two of those heretics, those apostate infidels who believe in nothing but the Quran.

I seek refuge in Allah from them!

I heard them saying that the book of Bukhari contains many insults against the Prophet. They started mentioning examples, and my ear caught a narration saying that the Prophet attempted suicide more than once! I came to you to find a "fix"—I mean, an explanation—for this narration, whether what they say is true or not. As you know, I never opened the book and don't know its contents because I receive knowledge from you directly, on the principle: "I don't think; my Sheikh thinks for me."

This topic has caused much debate, and the scholars have issued fatwas on it, and that’s the end of it.

And what did they say about it?

They said that the addition in the narration talking about the suicide attempt is from the "reports" (Balaghat) of Al-Zuhri.

What does that mean, Sheikh? I don't understand!

It means this addition doesn't meet Bukhari's strict criteria; rather, it is from the reports of Al-Zuhri, who said "According to what reached us..." and Al-Zuhri is from the Tabi'un (followers), so he did not witness the event. Sheikh Bukhari mentioned it only to show its weakness.

Aha, so the narration is weak!

My son, it's not a matter of "weak" or "not weak," but it just isn't according to Bukhari's conditions.

So it's weak.

Ugh, here we go again, Sharafantah! I told you, it's from the "reports" of Al-Zuhri.

Sheikh, with all due respect...

Yes?

I don't know Al-Zuhri or anyone else. This narration is in Bukhari's book, which is supposedly "all authentic." The bottom line is: Is this narration in Sahih Bukhari true or a lie? Don't lead me into labyrinths. One word: true or false? And how can you say Bukhari mentioned it to warn us? There's no warning in the text! Bukhari didn't write: "Attention, Muslims, this is a weak narration!" And they say he was so precise he prayed two rak'ahs before recording every single narration!

My son, I cannot say it's a lie, and at the same time, I cannot say it's true.

Of course you can't. If you say it's a lie, then the book contains other lies, which invalidates the claim that it’s the "most authentic book after the Book of Allah." And if you say it's true, it’s an insult to the Prophet. You're in a fix.

But Sheikh Bukhari mentioned it to alert us that it is weak.

Did you read anywhere in the entire narration the word "weak," "warning," or "caution"? Any sign like that?

No, there is no mention of that.

Then on what basis do you say he wrote it to warn us about its weakness?! Any Muslim reading it will read it as authentic. Why record it in his book in the first place?!

I told you, so he can alert us that it’s weak so we can be careful.

Alright, if I find a rock blocking a road and causing fatal accidents, I’ll put a sign at the beginning of the road: "Attention, driver, there is a rock in the middle of the road."

Why would you do that? Why not just remove the rock and end the problem?!

So I can alert the drivers of its existence so they can be careful.

From whom did you learn this logic?

From my master Bukhari, Sheikh.