What does the layperson do when the evidence conflicts?

The questioner : What does the layperson do if a hadith is established as authentic for him, while there is a suspicion of conflict with another authentic hadith?

The Shaykh : What we believe in this matter is that the layperson—as most jurists say—has no school of jurisprudence of his own; rather, his school is the school of his mufti. As for what was mentioned in the question regarding the statement that if a hadith is authentic for the layperson, it is self-evident and clear that the intended meaning is that it is established for him, not by his own specific knowledge, but by the knowledge of some of those he trusts and his familiarity with the science of hadith. Likewise, we say that understanding the fiqh of this hadith is something the layperson cannot grasp and adopt except by the guidance of a learned jurist. The situation regarding the fiqh of the hadith is the same as the situation regarding its text. We say: If this layperson has established for himself—meaning, it has been established for him by the guidance of a scholar specialized in the science of hadith—then what remains for him is to understand and become acquainted with the fiqh of the hadith. He is unable to do so, and it is not permissible for us to open the door to understanding hadith—as if he were not recording!—we cannot, and indeed it is not permissible to open the door to studying the fiqh of hadith for the common people who do not know. This is because the role of these people, as we detailed in a previous session when we said that the word of Allah—Blessed and Exalted is He—: divides the Muslim community into two groups: a group of scholars and a group of non-scholars, and He obligated something upon each of the two groups. He obligated the second group, the non-scholars, to ask the first group, which is the scholars, . Therefore, the layperson mentioned in the question, who has learned the authenticity of the hadith through the scholar, still needs to learn the fiqh of the hadith through the jurist. We explained in a session in a different place who the jurist is: he is the scholar of the Book and the Sunnah. Thus, if this layperson has come to know the authenticity of the hadith and the fiqh of the hadith, but as mentioned in the question, a suspicion has entered him from another hadith, this suspicion has no value if his reassurance regarding the authenticity and fiqh of the hadith stems from his asking the people of knowledge. The suspicion may cross the path of the scholar, let alone the layperson, so it has no value unless the suspicion becomes strong and the matter wavers between the fiqh of this hadith or the fiqh of that hadith. In that case, he is told to continue asking until his mind is at ease. If he does not find such reassurance, then the saying of the Messenger—peace be upon him—applies: . This is my answer to this question.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And to you.