Imam Abū Ḥanīfah's View on Ḥadīth: His Methodology
Answer
Before acting upon a transmitted ḥadīth, the venerable Imam would examine whether that ḥadīth was related from the Companion in question by a large number of pious (muttaqī) people. This is not to say that a solitary report (khabar wāḥid) is not authoritative in its own right — but, in his view, it was necessary that it have become established in practice.
Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya
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