There are numerous hadith manuscripts from the first four centuries after the death of Muhammad (632 – 1032 CE). The number increases drastically in the following two centuries (1032–1232).
This is a book titled Gharib Al-Hadith. It was written by an early Islamic scholar, Abu Ubaid al-Qasim bin Salam (770-838). There's an incomplete manuscript of this book dated back to 252 AH (866CE). It is now kept at Leiden University Libraries. A digital version of the manuscript is available via Leiden University Libraries’ Digital Collections. [1]
This is one of the earliest collection of hadith that was compiled by Imam Ma'mar ibn Rashid. Two manuscripts of this book have been found in Turkey. One of them is from Ankara and dating back to 364 AH (974CE). Another one is in Istanbul.[2]
This book was written by the early Islamic scholar, Shafi‘i. Even though this is not a book written specifically in the field of hadith, it still contains dozens of hadiths. There are two manuscripts of this book at the National Library in Cairo. The first known as the manuscript of Ibn Jama'ah and the second one is the manuscript of Ar-Rabi'. Bernhard Moritz, the German orientalist dates the Ar-Rabi's manuscript to the middle of fourth century AH while Ahmad Muhammad Shakir dated it to shortly before 270 AH (883CE).[3]
This is the oldest arabic manuscript kept at the National Library of Bulgaria. It was dated to 407 AH (1017CE). It contains books 65 through 69 of Sahih Bukhari but book 65 is incomplete. It can be viewed online at World Digital Library official website.[4]
It is a one of the oldest copies of Sahih Muslim. This copy has a chain of transmission of copying the book (Ijazah), leading all the way to the author Muslim bin Hajjaj himself. While it has not been carbon dated yet, based on the notes on the margin it is evident that this copy was made before 486 AH (1093 CE) as one of the people that studied it is Abū Bakr Muhammad Bin Zahid al-Ṭūsī who died in the year 486 AH.[5]
This is a manuscript of Sahih Muslim of Imam Muslim. It was kept at the Al-Assad National Library in Damascus,Syria and was dated to the fifth century AH/11th century CE.[6]
This is a manuscript of Jami' At-Tirmidhi of Imam Muhammad bin Isa At-Tirmidhi. It was dated to 540 AH and is now preserved at Leiden University Libraries. [7] A digital version of the manuscript is available via Leiden University Libraries’ Digital Collections. [8]
A 20 folio manuscript of Sahih Bukhari is preserved in Library of Congress. It dates to 1174-1175 CE(569-570 AH). The text, in Andalusi script, is in black ink. This manuscript was most probably produced in Al-Andalus. A digital version of this manuscript is available online.[9]
A manuscript of Sunan abi dawud is dated from 1250-1299 CE (648-699 AH) written in Cairo and contains 79 pages. It is Iocated in Michigan library.[10]
This is a manuscript of Sahih Bukhari kept at Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Ireland (no. 4176). It was copied by Ahmad bin Ali bin Abdul Wahhab in the fine calligraphic naskh script and was dated to 8 Muharram 694/ 28 November 1294.[11]
This copy of Sahih Muslim is written somewhere in 8th century AH (14th century CE) in good naskh script. It comprises of 298 pages(26.5 × 18 cm). A digital version of this manuscript is available online.[12]
This copy of Sahih Bukhari is written in 8th century AH. It comprises of 231 pages(26 × 17.5 cm). A digital version of this manuscript is available online.[13]
This partial copy of Sahih Bukhari is also written in 8th century AH. It comprises of 19 pages(17 × 24.8 cm). A digital version of this manuscript is available online.[14]
Sahih Bukhari in a single Volume is preserved at Khalili Collection of Islamic Art from late 14th century to early 15th century AD, probably from Egypt. It consists of 252 folios (30.5 x 21cm) written in ink, gold and opaque watercolour in naskh script[15]
Manuscript of Sahih Bukhari preserved at Khuda Baksh Library which was completed in Muharram, 778 AH (1376 CE). It is written in naskh script and slightly damaged but repaired recently.[16]
This is a good copy of Volume 3 of Sahih Muslim copied in the year 791 AH (1388 CE). It compromises of 181 pages (26 × 20 cm). A digital version of this manuscript is available.[17]
It is a fine copy of the sixth volume of Sahih Bukhari also written in the year 791 AH (1389 CE). It contains 226 pages at is located in Michigan library.[18]
This is a copy of Sahih Bukhari written by the scribe "Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmed bin Yousuf bin Ishmael". He completed copying this in the year 792 AH (1390 CE).[19]
This partial manuscript of Sahih Bukhari was written in 796 AH (1393 CE) in naskh script. It comprises of 35 pages(26 × 18 cm). A digital version of this manuscript is available online.[20]
This complete copy of Sahih Muslim was written in 812 AH (1409 CE). It comprises of 274 pages(20 × 15 cm). A digital version of this manuscript is available online.[21]
It is a 105 folio of Sahih Bukhari written in good naskh script. On the title page, a waqf nama is written which states that Fakhraddin, a Vizier of Egypt, donated this manuscript for public use in the year 817 AH (1414 CE), and in the month of Jamada al-Awwal to Damascus.[22]
This copy of Sahih Bukhari was written by the scribe "Musa bin husain" with a chain of transmission of copying leading all the way to Bukhari himself. The scribe may have been a descendent of fourth Calpih Ali, who lived from 762-840 AH (1360-1436 CE). He finished copying this in the year 832 AH (1428 CE).[23]