Comparative Analysis of al-Shāfiʿī and al-Tahawī’s Methodologies Regarding Preference in Contradictory Ḥadīth

Abstract

Al-Shāfiʿī(d204/820) and al-Ṭaḥāwī(d321/933) have contributed in resolving Contradiction of Ḥadīth. Al-Shāfiʿī has compiled Ikhtilāf-al-Ḥadīth and al-Ṭaḥāwī  has written Sharaḥ M’āni al-Athār in this particular field. Al-Shāfiʿī  is the founder of Shāfiʿī Fiqh and al-Ṭaḥāwī is the representative of Ḥanfi school of thought. This study focusses the methodologies of both the scholars with examples taken from their books.They have solved many issues by giving preference to one Ḥadīth on the other. They differed on some issues with each other as al-Shāfiʿī has given preference to the Ḥadīth reported by ibn-us-Ṣimmah over Ḥadīth of Ammar ibn Yasir but al-Ṭaḥāwī resolved the contradiction with abrogation.