What are the three excuses for imams whose opinions are accepted by the Ummah if their statements contradict an authentic hadith?
Ibn Taymiyyah said that the accepted Imams do not intentionally contravene the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, due to their agreement on the obligation of following him and that his saying is the only one from which nothing can be left out. If a saying is found from one of them that contradicts an authentic hadith, then he must have an excuse, and the excuses are three: not believing that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said the hadith, or not believing that theithadith refers to that specific issue, or believing that the ruling is abrogated. These categories branch into multiple reasons.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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