In the Name of Allāh, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful
All praise is due to Allāh for His apparent and hidden blessings, both past and present, praise and protection be upon His Prophet and His Messenger Muḥammad, his family and Companions who strove earnestly in support of His religion, and upon their followers who inherited their knowledge; for the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, and how noble they are – both the inheritor and the one from whom he inherits.
To proceed: this is a concise work comprising the fundamental ḥadīth proofs for legal rulings. I have compiled it meticulously so that whoever memorises it becomes distinguished amongst his peers, and so the novice student may use it as an aid, whilst the advanced scholar cannot dispense with it.
I have indicated, following each ḥadīth, which of the imāms narrated it, with the intent of sincere counsel to the Ummah. Thus, the intent of ‘the Seven’ is: Aḥmad, al-Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasāʾī, and Ibn Mājah; ‘the Six’ means: all except Aḥmad; ‘the Five’ means: all except al-Bukhārī and Muslim, and I may say ‘the Four and Aḥmad; ‘the Four’ excludes the first three; ‘the Three’ excludes them and the last one; and ‘agreed-upon’ means: al-Bukhārī and Muslim – and I may not mention others along with them both. Everything besides that is stated clearly (by name).
I have titled it Bulūgh al-Marām min Adillat al-Aḥkām (Attainment of the Objective from the Proofs of Legal Rulings).
I ask Allāh not to make what we have learnt a punishment for us, and to grant us deeds which please Him, Glorified and Exalted be He.
[Salal]: for further clarity:
The Seven: Aḥmad, al-Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasāʾī, and Ibn Mājah.
The Six: al-Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasāʾī, and Ibn Mājah.
The Five: Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasāʾī, and Ibn Mājah.
The Four: Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasāʾī, and Ibn Mājah.
The Three: Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, and al-Nasāʾī.
Agreed-upon: al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
