Some people doubt al-Bukhari’s statement, “Some people said,” and al-Bukhari says that he does not mean Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) here, but perhaps he means al-Shafi'i.

The questioner : One of them wrote a book where some people... This man appears to be influenced by many events. He doubts al-Bukhari’s statement, “Some people said”. Al-Bukhari says that he does not mean Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) here, but rather he means al-Shafi'i. He argued for this by pointing out that al-Bukhari established a chapter stating that a judge takes one interpreter... So this man said that al-Shafi'i made this statement, and that he intended al-Shafi'i. He then began to disparage al-Bukhari. Is his statement correct and sound?

The Shaykh : The truth is what should be followed, and in matters of independent legal reasoning, it is not permissible to disparage, especially from trusted scholars whom we know, or whom it is most likely, intended the truth.