What must be followed when hadith scholars disagree on a hadith?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you, regarding a student of knowledge who is not proficient in judging a hadith as authentic or weak, and finds that the predecessors have disagreed on the hadith, whom should he follow?
The Shaykh : Yes, first: if he knows which of them is more precise and knowledgeable, he should follow him out of necessity.
Second: you must know that the Prophetic hadith has a light, a sweetness, and a pleasantness. Perhaps a person can judge it even if he does not know its narrators. If the wording comes across as awkward and distant in meaning, it is most likely not from the speech of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). It is possible that the narrator changed it and narrated it by meaning, but this is one of the signs. Likewise, one of the signs is that the hadith contradicts what is known of the general principles of the Shari'ah. So, if you see one of them judge it as weak, and you consider that likely due to the awkwardness of its wording or meaning, or its contradiction with the general principles of the Shari'ah, then follow him. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, first: if he knows which of them is more precise and knowledgeable, he should follow him out of necessity.
Second: you must know that the Prophetic hadith has a light, a sweetness, and a pleasantness. Perhaps a person can judge it even if he does not know its narrators. If the wording comes across as awkward and distant in meaning, it is most likely not from the speech of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). It is possible that the narrator changed it and narrated it by meaning, but this is one of the signs. Likewise, one of the signs is that the hadith contradicts what is known of the general principles of the Shari'ah. So, if you see one of them judge it as weak, and you consider that likely due to the awkwardness of its wording or meaning, or its contradiction with the general principles of the Shari'ah, then follow him. Yes.