What Is a Muqallid to Do If a Hadith Contradicts the Imam’s Saying

Question

Suppose that, as against the saying of the Imam [Abu Hanifa], there is a sahih hadith. The narrators who relate the hadith number roughly more than four, and the narrators are trustworthy (thiqa). The narrators’ proof is exactly one and the same: they relate a sahih hadith from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and that sahih hadith is present in al-Bukhari. Now a person, abandoning the Imam’s saying, acts upon the hadiths, and he now seeks a fatwa from you. Kindly send the fatwa.

Answer

It is indeed possible that some hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari should be contrary to a ruling that Imam A‘zam ﵀ has stated; but it is not possible that a ruling of Imam A‘zam ﵀ should be without proof. Consider at least this much: when a sahih hadith exists on an issue, then according to Imam Abu Hanifa ﵀ [personal] opinion (ra’y), that is, qiyas, is not permissible.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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