Does a hasan li ghayrihi hadith restrict a sahih hadith in its various types?

The questioner : Yes. Regarding the hasan li ghayrihi hadith, does it mean that a hasan li ghayrihi hadith—let us suppose, for example, a weak hadith that is supported by two chains and thus becomes hasan li ghayrihi—can we use it to restrict a mutawatir hadith, or a famous sahih hadith, or a rare sahih hadith, or something similar, and specify it?

The Shaykh : This is what was discussed recently in the home of our brother Abu Mu'adh, when we quoted the words of al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. We were speaking about the hadith and mentioned that it is not permissible to reject a hadith because it contradicts another hadith except after applying the many methods of reconciliation. On this occasion, when I spoke, I mentioned the words of al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar in his commentary on al-Nukhba, and I said that his statement is dense and concise. He said in the chapter on differing hadiths: "When two differing hadiths come, both of which are from the category of acceptable hadiths, reconciliation is obligatory," up to the last of the ranks we discussed yesterday. His phrase "from the category of acceptable" includes the hasan li ghayrihi up to the mutawatir. So if there is, for example, a mutawatir or a famous sahih hadith that is restricted or general, and a hadith from the category of acceptable but lower in authenticity comes, it is applied to that one and restricts or specifies it. There is no doubt in the correctness of this methodology, because the hadiths that have not reached the rank of mutawatir are, without doubt, lower than the Qur'an in terms of their establishment, being less established than the establishment of the Qur'an.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Since it is known that the Qur'an is mutawatir and that non-mutawatir hadiths are not so, nevertheless, there is no disagreement among the people of the Sunnah regarding the permissibility of restricting an absolute Qur'anic text and specifying an absolute Qur'anic text with a sahih hadith, and even with a hasan hadith. So it is even more so, and even more so, and even more so, to restrict or specify a hadith, no matter how strong its authenticity is compared to the authenticity of the hadith that is lower than it, even if it is of the lowest rank of acceptance, which is the hasan li ghayrihi hadith.