A test for Imam al-Bukhari in his homeland

Despite a jubilant reception upon his return to his native Bukhara, the renowned Islamic scholar Imam al-Bukhari soon faced severe trials.

The ruler of Bukhara, Khalid bin Muhammad al-Zuhliyy, invited Imam al-Bukhari to his palace to recite from his collection of Sahih hadiths. However, Imam al-Bukhari declined the invitation, asserting that knowledge should not be devalued by being brought to rulers, nor should it be exclusive to a select few. He believed his lectures should be open to everyone, including the ruler and his family, who should attend the public mosque gatherings.

This principled stance angered the ruler, who subsequently ordered Imam al-Bukhari to leave Bukhara. Shortly after the scholar's expulsion, the ruler himself faced downfall, being dismissed, imprisoned, and publicly humiliated.

The article also touches upon Imam al-Bukhari's considerable wealth, derived from land rentals, which he reportedly used for the benefit of students of knowledge and his own travels in pursuit of hadiths.