Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
If two authentic hadiths from the Prophet ﷺ appear contradictory, how should reconciliation (jamʿ wa taṭbīq) be made?
If two authentic hadiths seem to conflict with each other, there are several ways to remove the contradiction. The most important method is to look at the practice of the Companions رضي الله عنهم after the Prophet ﷺ:
✔ Imam Abū Dāwūd رحمه الله:
“When two conflicting reports are narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then one should look at what his Companions practiced after him.”
(سنن أبي داود, no. 720)
Conclusion:
When two authentic hadiths appear contradictory, the decisive factor is the practice of the Companions رضي الله عنهم. If both were practiced, both are valid; if only one was acted upon, that narration is preferred, while the other is treated as abrogated or context-specific.
◈ Question:
If two authentic hadiths from the Prophet ﷺ appear contradictory, how should reconciliation (jamʿ wa taṭbīq) be made?
◈ Answer:
If two authentic hadiths seem to conflict with each other, there are several ways to remove the contradiction. The most important method is to look at the practice of the Companions رضي الله عنهم after the Prophet ﷺ:
- If the Companions acted according to both narrations, then acting upon either narration is permissible.
- If they acted only in accordance with one narration, then that narration will be considered authoritative and acted upon, while the other narration will either be regarded as abrogated (mansūkh) or interpreted in a different context.
❀ Statement of the Scholars
✔ Imam Abū Dāwūd رحمه الله:
“When two conflicting reports are narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then one should look at what his Companions practiced after him.”
(سنن أبي داود, no. 720)
Conclusion:When two authentic hadiths appear contradictory, the decisive factor is the practice of the Companions رضي الله عنهم. If both were practiced, both are valid; if only one was acted upon, that narration is preferred, while the other is treated as abrogated or context-specific.
