Is it permissible to declare as an innovator (mubtadi') one who adopts and acts upon a weak hadith?
Acting upon a weak concerning the virtues of deeds that fall under a general principle is permissible according to most imams, provided that its falsity is not known, and it is not used as proof for prohibition or obligation. Shaykh al-Islam clarified that Ahmad ibn Hanbal and the scholars before him used to categorize Hadith into authentic and weak. The weak, in their view, was divided into weak-abandoned and weak-good, the latter being admissible as proof. One must be cautious about declaring a specific person an innovator except after the fulfillment of conditions and the absence of impediments, for the Salaf used to dispute matters without accusing anyone of disbelief or فسق (transgression).
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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