The Shaykh’s clarification of the difference between an acceptable addition and an anomalous one, and his explanation of Imam al-Shafi'i’s statement on the matter, along with the provision of some examples.

The Shaykh : As you know from the books of terminology, Imam al-Shafi'i says: “An anomalous hadith is not one where a trustworthy narrator reports what no one else has reported; rather, an anomalous hadith is one where a trustworthy narrator reports what contradicts another”. This indicates to you that the contradiction intended here is merely an addition, because he said: If a trustworthy narrator reports a hadith from its source and the trustworthy narrators do not report it, and it contains meaning and many words, as long as it does not contradict someone more trustworthy than him, and he merely reports a hadith uniquely, then this hadith is not called anomalous. Rather, what comes first here is: “An addition by a trustworthy narrator is acceptable”. But the complete statement of Imam al-Shafi'i regarding the anomalous hadith is: “That a trustworthy narrator reports what another has reported”. I mentioned this discussion to the brothers who accompanied us from Jeddah, and they can recall in detail where the discussion was held regarding the difference between their saying “an addition by a trustworthy narrator is acceptable” and their saying “an anomalous hadith is one where a trustworthy narrator reports what contradicts someone more trustworthy than him or more numerous in number.” The point is: I gave an example of this, and the example perhaps clarifies and confirms what I am in the process of explaining. The hadith is long, and I do not want to lengthen it:
In the two Sahihs, from the hadith of Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . This hadith came in a narration for Muslim: . So now, according to your previous understanding, does this addition contradict the narration of the two Shaykhs?
It does not contradict, according to what I understood from you, like the addition “and you do not break an appointment.”

The questioner : Here, the addition included a ruling.

The Shaykh : Does it not include an addition that would not be permissible to add if the hadith had not brought it?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : That is it, the matter is finished.