The complete set of the celebrated and much-studied collection of hadith: Arabic text with English translation
Complete English translation of the Mishkat al-Masabih which surpasses other currently available translation such as the well known Al-Hadith: English Translation & Commentary of Mishkat ul Masabih by Maulana Fazlul Karim and the partial translation Mishkat-ul-Masabih: Arabic-English, in 3 volumes by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui.
The Mishkat has enjoyed wide popularity in the world of Islamic learning Since 516 AH when it was first compiled by Waliuddin Abu ‘Abdullah Mahmud Al-Tabrizi.
Mishkat al-Masabih, which means “A Niche for Lamps”, is an expanded version of Masabih al-Sunnah by Abu Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah Khatib Al-Tabrizi (d. 741H), who was known as Muhyi As-Sunnah (Reviver of the Sunnah). Al-Tabrizi added to it the chains of transmission, the narrators and the authenticity of the hadith, thus making it more beneficial to those not having an advanced knowledge of the science of hadith.
The Collection is divided into twenty-nine books (kutub) and each book is divided into several chapters (abwab). Thereafter each chapter is further divided into three sections (fasl).
The Mishkat has enjoyed wide popularity in the world of Islamic learning since 516 AH when it was first compiled by Al-Tabrizi. Most of the ahadith are from the Sahih Sitta. (the six authentic hadith books).
Waliuddin Abu ‘Abdullah Mahmud Al-Tabrizi was a renowned muhaddith (scholar of hadith) of his time. He was well-versed in the intricacies of the Arabic language and rhetoric. It is unfortunate, however, that not much is known about his life. Al-Tabrizi is to be commended for successfully improving upon Al-Baghawi’s Masabih al-Sunnah.
If you want just one collection of ahadith, then this must be the one.