What is the reason for al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar’s inconsistency in creed, where he clearly affirms the Ash'ari school in some places and clearly affirms the methodology of the Salaf in others?

The questioner : Regarding al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar’s inconsistency in creed, we should take a lesson for ourselves. What is the reason for al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar’s inconsistency in this matter? Especially since, perhaps we have not read it, but he clearly affirms the Ash'ari school and clearly affirms the methodology of the Salaf in certain places. May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : This situation is a miniature of the situations you see with your own eyes today among some of the shaykhs. Why, for example, does he hold fast to the Shafi'i school? Why was his case not like that of Ibn Taymiyyah, who boldly adhered to following the Book and the Sunnah, whether it agreed with the school or contradicted it? Because contradicting the majority and boldly upholding the truth requires a specific elite of men who are not deterred by the blame of blamers in the cause of Allah. So Ibn Hajar, al-Nawawi, and their like were living in a traditional, school-bound atmosphere. Perhaps deep down in their souls they believed in the correct school in creed and the correct school in jurisprudential rulings, but due to the intense pressure of the general atmosphere, they could do nothing but align and compromise. We do not say this to justify or excuse their reality, but this is the reality, and it has no other motive. So the answer is human weakness. Is this permissible? This is its explanation in the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: . Why did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) establish these ranks? Because people differ. In the well-known hadith where the Messenger (peace be upon him) said: . How many scholars do you see who spoke the word of truth in the presence of a tyrannical ruler? Very few... There is a difference from the highest rank to the three categories. And this is the reason you find this phenomenon you are asking about. The student of knowledge wonders why this is the case. I say that every student must take a lesson and ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic), remembering His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . So the important thing is that people are of different degrees and levels. There are people of firm resolve whom even a saw cannot deter, as came in the authentic hadith: .
The student: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
First, observing the nature of the human soul, and second, the difference in the degree of the strength of people’s faith, results in this disparity among scholars. Therefore, you did not find among the Companions the strength of faith of Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and all of them (may Allah be pleased with them), but there is a vast difference: , . So the scholars who came after them: some contradict the sultans, some may advise them, and some may sign their decrees, as is the reality today. Some fear for themselves and do not tread on their carpet, seeing safety in that. And some address them like any other person, not caring. This is rarer than red sulfur, as they used to say in the past. And when positions in some Islamic countries became linked to schools, whether creedal schools or schools of legal rulings, the scholars were convinced to become a judge or a mufti, knowing that something might issue from them that contradicts the Shari'ah, but they say to themselves, "Some evil is less than some." And so, I attribute the continuation of many great scholars in narrow school-boundness and in issuing fatwas that they know the righteous Salaf were contrary to. We must take a lesson and not sit and occupy ourselves with criticizing those who came before us, but rather take a lesson from their positions for ourselves so that we do not become like them.

The questioner : Our Shaykh, if you please... the owner of the house.