The meaning of the poet's statement: "Or if it contradicted this, we returned it to *** the one who said it, whoever that person was, or if it was unclear to us, we suspended judgment and did *** not assert it without knowledge or proof"
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The Shaykh :"Or if it contradicted this"
That is, the saying of the Messenger and his ruling
"we returned it to *** the one who said it, whoever that person was"
If it contradicted the saying of the Messenger, we returned it to the one who said it, whoever that person was, meaning any person, even if it were Abu Bakr or 'Umar? Yes, even if it were Abu Bakr or 'Umar, so what about those below them?
"Or if it was unclear to us"
Meaning, if it was unclear to us, "we suspended judgment and did *** not assert it without knowledge or proof"
This, by Allah, is fairness. We present the sayings of others besides the Messenger against the saying of the Messenger, and it does not escape one of three states: either it agrees with the saying of the Messenger, in which case what do we do? We place it on our heads, or it contradicts it, in which case we return it to its speaker, or it is unclear, in which case we suspend judgment and do not assert it without knowledge or proof.
"This is what our knowledge has led us to *** and by this we worship Allah at all times"
And how good is the path he (may Allah have mercy on him) took. This is justice, this is fairness. Now, if the saying of our imam to whom we belong contradicted the saying of the Messenger, and the saying of an imam other than the one to whom we belong agreed with the Messenger, we take the latter. It is not said, "A Hanbali took the position of the Shafi'i," or "A Shafi'i took the position of the Hanbali," but rather it is said, "A Muslim took the saying of the Messenger. A Muslim took the saying of the Messenger." This is the obligatory duty.
That is, the saying of the Messenger and his ruling
"we returned it to *** the one who said it, whoever that person was"
If it contradicted the saying of the Messenger, we returned it to the one who said it, whoever that person was, meaning any person, even if it were Abu Bakr or 'Umar? Yes, even if it were Abu Bakr or 'Umar, so what about those below them?
"Or if it was unclear to us"
Meaning, if it was unclear to us, "we suspended judgment and did *** not assert it without knowledge or proof"
This, by Allah, is fairness. We present the sayings of others besides the Messenger against the saying of the Messenger, and it does not escape one of three states: either it agrees with the saying of the Messenger, in which case what do we do? We place it on our heads, or it contradicts it, in which case we return it to its speaker, or it is unclear, in which case we suspend judgment and do not assert it without knowledge or proof.
"This is what our knowledge has led us to *** and by this we worship Allah at all times"
And how good is the path he (may Allah have mercy on him) took. This is justice, this is fairness. Now, if the saying of our imam to whom we belong contradicted the saying of the Messenger, and the saying of an imam other than the one to whom we belong agreed with the Messenger, we take the latter. It is not said, "A Hanbali took the position of the Shafi'i," or "A Shafi'i took the position of the Hanbali," but rather it is said, "A Muslim took the saying of the Messenger. A Muslim took the saying of the Messenger." This is the obligatory duty.