Abu Haneefah (rahimahullaah)
The first of them is Abu Haneefah Nu'maan ibn Thaabit, whose
companions have narrated from him various sayings and diverse
warnings, all of them leading to one thing: the obligation to
accept the Hadeeth, and to give up following the opinions of the
imaams which contradict it:
1. "When a hadeeth is found to be saheeh, then that is my
madhhab."[20]
2. "It is not permitted[21] for anyone to accept our views if they do
not know from where we got them."[22]
In one narration, "It is prohibited[23] for someone who does not
know my evidence to give verdicts[24] on the basis of my words."
Another narration adds, "... for we are mortals: we say one thing
one day, and take it back the next day."
In another narration, "Woe to you, O Ya'qub[25]! Do not write
down everything you hear from me, for it happens that I hold one
opinion today and reject it tomorrow, or hold one opinion
tomorrow and reject it the day after tomorrow."[26]
3. "When I say something contradicting the Book of Allaah the
Exalted or what is narrated from the Messenger (sallallaahu
`alaihi wa sallam), then ignore my saying."[27]
Maalik ibn Anas (rahimahullaah)
As for Imaam Maalik ibn Anas, he said:
1. "Truly I am only a mortal: I make mistakes (sometimes) and I
am correct (sometimes). Therefore, look into my opinions: all
that agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, accept it; and all that
does not agree with the Book and the Sunnah, ignore it."[28]
2. "Everyone after the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam)
will have his sayings accepted and rejected - not so the Prophet
(sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam)."[29]
3. Ibn Wahb said: "I heard Maalik being asked about cleaning
between the toes during ablution. He said, `The people do not
have to do that.' I did not approach him until the crowd had
lessened, when I said to him, `We know of a sunnah about that.'
He said, `What is that ?' I said, `Laith ibn Sa'd, Ibn Lahee'ah
and `Amr ibn al-Haarith narrated to us from Yazeed ibn `Amr
al-Ma'aafiri from Abu `Abdur-Rahman al-Hubuli from
Mustawrid ibn Shaddaad al-Qurashi who said, `I saw the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) rubbing
between his toes with his little finger.' He said, `This hadeeth is
sound; I had not heard of it at all until now.' Afterwards, I heard
him being asked about the same thing, on which he ordered
cleaning between the toes."[30]
Shaafi'i (rahimahullaah)
As for Imaam Shaafi'i, the quotations from him are most
numerous and beautiful[31], and his followers were the best in
sticking to them:
1. "The sunnahs of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi
wa sallam) reach, as well as escape from, every one of us. So
whenever I voice my opinion, or formulate a principle, where
something contrary to my view exists on the authority of the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam), then the
correct view is what the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi
wa sallam) has said, and it is my view."[32]
2. "The Muslims are unanimously agreed that if a sunnah of the
Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) is made
clear to someone, it is not permitted[33] for him to leave it for the
saying of anyone else."[34]
3. "If you find in my writings something different to the Sunnah of
the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam), then
speak on the basis of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah
(sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam), and leave what I have said."
In one narration: "... then follow it (the Sunnah), and do not look
sideways at anyone else's saying."[35]
4. "When a hadeeth is found to be saheeh, then that is my
madhhab."[36]
5. "You[37] are more knowledgeable about Hadeeth than I, so
when a hadeeth is saheeh, inform me of it, whether it is from
Kufah, Basrah or Syria, so that I may take the view of the
hadeeth, as long as it is saheeh."[38]
6. "In every issue where the people of narration find a report from
the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) to be
saheeh which is contrary to what I have said, then I take my
saying back, whether during my life or after my death."[39]
7. "If you see me saying something, and contrary to it is
authentically-reported from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa
sallam), then know that my intelligence has departed."[40]
8. "For everything I say, if there is something authentic from the
Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) contrary to my saying,
then the hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam)
comes first, so do not follow my opinion."[41]
9. "Every statement on the authority of the Prophet (sallallaahu
`alaihi wa sallam) is also my view, even if you do not hear it from
me."[42]
The Sayings of the Four Imams on Taqlid
