How to reconcile contradictory Hadith?

 

How to reconcile contradictory Hadith?

 

It is mentioned in ‘Uqd Ul Jayyid that Ibn Hazm deduced from a verse of the Holy Quran that all the differences of opinion in jurisprudence should be taken back to the Holy Quran and Hadith for settlement.  The verse is this:

 

….and if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end.  Surah Nisa (4:59)

 

However, this deduction is itself wrong as this verse of the Holy Quran pertains to personal quarrels.  This does not mean the differences in jurisprudential issues.  The jurists themselves draw their rulings from the Holy Quran and the Hadith.  If they are to be resolved using again the Holy Quran and Hadith, it would be a repetition.

 

If some verses of the Holy Quran or some Hadith are contradictory about a certain point, then it is not possible that the issue can be resolved using other verses of the Holy Quran or other Hadith, as those other verses or Hadith will also be a party in the feud. 

 

The correct method of resolving these issues is the one which was related by Imam Abu Dawood (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) in his Sunan:

 

…if 2 Hadith seem contradictory, look at what the Companions did after the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) passed away.

 

This is in spite of the fact that it is not the Holy Quran or the Hadith.  In Ibn Hazm’s opinion, Sunnah means the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in light of the verse of the Holy Quran quoted above.  Now, if we accept the opinion of Ibn Hazm, resolving those differences of opinion in Jurisprudence will not be possible, as he clearly says that turning to someone/something other than the Holy Quran and Hadith is forbidden.  Then one will have to say that Imam Abu Dawood (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) related something in his book, which forbidden and no other Hadith-expert refuted or denied it, even though being acquiescent of forbidden things is disbelief.

 

[Haqeeqatul Fiqh, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 123, 124]