Your sheikhs advised you to follow their disagreement *** in accordance with him in the ages past (Explanation of the advice of the Imams to their followers when their statements contradict the statement of the Messenger, in which case their statements are rejected and the statement of the Messenger is followed
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The Shaykh :"Your sheikhs advised you to follow their disagreement *** in accordance with him in the ages past"
By "their sheikhs" here are meant the Imams. They advised them to follow their disagreement in accordance with him, meaning: if we contradict the Messenger, take what agrees with the Messenger. He means by this the Imams of guidance, the Imams of guidance, and he means by this the Imams of guidance. So al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "If you see my statement contradicting the statement of the Messenger, take the statement of the Messenger and cast my statement aside". And Malik says: "Every person is taken from his statement and left, except the occupant of this grave", meaning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And Imam Ahmad likewise has much speech on this, to the extent that he warns against following men without knowing their evidence. And Abu Hanifa likewise says:
"Your sheikhs advised you to follow their disagreement", meaning their contradiction, "in accordance with him". In accordance with whom? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). "In accordance with him in the ages past".
By "their sheikhs" here are meant the Imams. They advised them to follow their disagreement in accordance with him, meaning: if we contradict the Messenger, take what agrees with the Messenger. He means by this the Imams of guidance, the Imams of guidance, and he means by this the Imams of guidance. So al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "If you see my statement contradicting the statement of the Messenger, take the statement of the Messenger and cast my statement aside". And Malik says: "Every person is taken from his statement and left, except the occupant of this grave", meaning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And Imam Ahmad likewise has much speech on this, to the extent that he warns against following men without knowing their evidence. And Abu Hanifa likewise says:
"Your sheikhs advised you to follow their disagreement", meaning their contradiction, "in accordance with him". In accordance with whom? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). "In accordance with him in the ages past".