Did Abu Hanifa say, ‘choose the hadith even if it is weak’?

- Did Abu Hanifa say something like that?
- Did Abu Hanifa say something like this: “If you see a hadith that contradicts my decree, choose the hadith even if it is weak”?

Dear Brother / Sister,

We could not find an opinion of Abu Hanifa in the sense it is mentioned in the question, i.e., “If you see a hadith that contradicts my decree, choose the hadith even if it is weak.”

However, Abu Hanifa’s following statement, reported to be “sahih (sound)” by some scholars, is famous:

“If the hadith is sound, it is my madhhab.”(1)

It is also reported that Abu Hanifa said, “It is not permissible for a person to take our word (to act upon it) if he does not know where we got it from.”(2)

There is another saying of Abu Hanifa: “If I say something contrary to the Book of Allah or the words / sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, abandon my word!”(3).

References:

1) See Zaynul-Iraqi, al-Mustakhraj alal-Mustadrak, 15; Ibn Abidin, 1/67.
2) See Tajut-Tarajim, 92; Sharhu Mushkilatil-Hisaya, 2/541; Ibnul-Qayyim, I’lamul-Muwaqqi’in, 1/79.
3) See Iqazu himami ulil-absar, p. 50.

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