Causes of Contradictions in Narrations and the Differences Among the Mujtahidin: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Islam is a comprehensive code of life, founded upon two primary sources: the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith. The Hadith literature serves as the explanation, clarification, and practical interpretation of the Qur’anic teachings. After the Qur’an, the Hadith stands as the second most authoritative source in Islam. The prophetic traditions are preserved in various renowned compilations such as Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawud, Sunan al-Nasa’i, Musnad Ahmad, Muwatta’ Imam Malik, and Kanz al-‘Ummal, among others.

When apparent contradictions arise within the Hadith corpus, scholars have minimized these conflicts through methods such as prioritization, interpretation, and practical reconciliation. In this context, the researcher has highlighted the causes of such apparent discrepancies in Hadith and explained the methodologies employed by the Imams of jurisprudence to derive rulings, enabling scholars to resolve difficult or seemingly conflicting traditions with ease.

Although many classical works such as Mushkil al-Athar, Ma‘ani al-Athar, and Ikhtilāf al-A’immah—address these issues, they are extensive and written in Arabic, making them less accessible to non-Arabic readers. This research therefore compiles and presents the essential principles for resolving Hadith conflicts in the Urdu language, so that those unable to read Arabic may also benefit. Through this effort, doubts and misunderstandings concerning the Hadith can be reduced to the greatest possible extent.