Why did Shaykh al-Albani authenticate a hadith in "Sahih al-Jami" then declare it weak in "Daif al-Tirmidhi"?
Scholars retract their statements on matters of ijtihad (independent reasoning). Sheikh Al-Albani, for instance, sometimes weakened a hadith he had previously authenticated, or vice-versa, due to the emergence of hidden defects. Students of knowledge have been keen to compile Al-Albani's retractions, and among these is the book "Al-Albani's Retractions." The hadith in question, "When you supplicate with them," was authenticated by Al-Albani in "Sahih Al-Jami' As-Saghir" and in his commentary on "Sahih Ibn Hibban." He also included it in "Da'if Al-Jami'" because of an addition within it, but he also listed it in "Da'if Sunan At-Tirmidhi." This hadith was authenticated by Al-Hakim, Al-Dhahabi, Al-Diya Al-Maqdisi, Ahmad Shakir, and Shu'aib Al-Arna'ut, while Mustafa Al-Adawi deemed it weak.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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