Fath al-Bari, Sharh Sahih Bukhari was written by al-Hafiz ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, and it is one of the greatest books of hadith interpretation, as well as one of the most comprehensive books that explains Sahih Bukhari. Ibn Hajar spent more than 25 years writing it; he began in 817 AH, when he was 44 years old, and finished in Rajab 842 AH.

It was one of ibn Hajar’s most significant books, one of the most extensive in knowledge, and one of the most beloved among Muslims. He explained Bukhari’s comprehensive Sahih—which Muslims agree is the most accurate book after the book of Allah. He named it “Fath al-Bari in explaining Sahih al-Bukhari,” and it is considered one of Islam’s most important books and an essential source of knowledge. Neither students nor scholars, nor even muftis or mujtahids can do without it. It is hugely important.

It took more that 25 years to gather, write, dictate, and edit. He started in the beginning of 817 AH, when he was 44 years old, and completed it in 842 AH. He collected explanations from previous jurists in Sahih Bukhari, providing explanations, clarifying issues, relating areas of consensus and difference, describing the authentic and the weak, and explaining language and qira’at (recitations), all in order to explain with the utmost accuracy and detail the topics in the Sahih. He was concerned with its narrations and the differences between these narrations, all while elucidating the greatest benefits and the most useful digressions. His book includes the benefits of more than 1200 books of those who came before him.

Summary – Fath al-Bari, by ibn Hajar is the most famous explanation of Sahih Bukhari, which is the most authentic book after the Quran. Ibn Hajar spent more than 25 years writing this book, collecting the opinions and explanations of narrations of those who came before him. Fath al-Bari provides explanations, clarifies issues, relates areas of consensus and difference, describes the authentic and the weak, and explains language and qira’at (recitations) related to the hadiths in Sahih Bukhari.