Which is better: *Fath al-Bari* or *Umdat al-Qari*?

Al-Hawini: May we ask, our Shaykh?

The Shaykh: Go ahead.
Al-Hawini: Regarding *Fath al-Bari* and *Umdat al-Qari*, based on a long study of both books, which of the two is better and why?

The Shaykh : As it is said, there is no migration after the conquest; there is no comparison between the two books.
Al-Hawini: In terms of...

The Shaykh : First, hadith, and second, comparative jurisprudence.
Al-Hawini: Yes, but is it an excuse in expression that your rejection of the Hanafi school falls under the ruling of a fatwa...?

The Shaykh : Is it what?
Al-Hawini: Is your leaving of the Hanafi school...

The Shaykh : Yes.
Al-Hawini: Does it have a role in preferring *Fath al-Bari* over *Umdat al-Qari*?

The Shaykh : I say: No, if Allah wills, in terms of verification.
Al-Hawini: Well, it is said that *Umdat al-Qari* is better in terms of the arrangement of the book, the chains of narration, the discussion of the narrators, and so on, which is not found in *Fath al-Bari*.

The Shaykh : That is another matter; that is a formal issue, and it is so, but it is not the essential matter that concerns the student of knowledge, whereas knowledge of hadith, the statements of scholars, their evidence, and sometimes preferring the stronger position among them...
Al-Huwayni: Yes.

The Shaykh : ...is far better than *Umdat al-Qari*.