Is the disagreement between Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) and the people of hadith regarding the issue of the increase and decrease of the imam a verbal disagreement or a real disagreement?

The questioner : Yes, but the question is phrased as follows: Is the disagreement between Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) and the people of hadith regarding the issue of the increase and decrease of faith a verbal disagreement or a real disagreement?

The Shaykh : It is not a real disagreement, and consequences follow from it.

The questioner : Real.

The Shaykh : It is a real disagreement, and consequences follow from it.

The questioner : With your permission, O honorable Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Listen, O Shaykh, may Allah guide you, do not interrupt me.

The questioner : Please, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : This disagreement is real, as evidenced by the fact that other issues have resulted from it. For example, if one asks a believer who believes in the Qur'an and that faith increases and decreases, "Are you a believer?" he says, "I am a believer, if Allah wills." But if one asks someone who adopts the school of Abu Hanifa, "Are you a believer?" he says, "Yes, I am a believer." And some of the deluded among them may say, "My faith is like the faith of Jibril (peace be upon him)." Is this a verbal disagreement or a real disagreement?

The questioner : Yes, it is a real disagreement.

The Shaykh : Furthermore, a more dangerous matter has resulted from it, extending from the individual level to the group level. Some of the senior Hanafi scholars, centuries ago, when asked if it is permissible for a Hanafi to marry a Shafi'i, answered that it is not permissible because the Shafi'is doubt their faith. Then another scholar, somewhat liberated from the rigidity of the school, was asked the same question and gave an answer that contradicted the previous Hanafi imam's answer. But in reality, I do not know which of the two is worse, because this latter scholar issued a ruling stating, "It is permissible for a Hanafi to marry a Shafi'i, by placing them in the position of the People of the Book." Is this a real disagreement or a verbal one?

The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you, O Shaykh, it is a real disagreement, but O Shaykh...

The Shaykh : Huh? We are still in the "but."

The questioner : Three things prompted me to ask this question, if you allow me to mention them.

The Shaykh : What is the benefit? What is the benefit?

The questioner : I mean, so that I can explain what prompted me to ask this question.

The Shaykh : We do not need you to apologize for your question; the important thing is that you know that the disagreement is real and not verbal.