Answered by Shaykh Ilyas Patel
If there is a hadith in Bukhari (or any other collection) saying the prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so and so and prayed like so and so, are we allowed to implement this in our prayer or daily practice even though it seemingly (to an unlearned man like me) may contradict the Hanafi fiqh? (I remember you saying in one of your previous answers that Imam Hanafi (Allah bless him) did not have complete knowledge of the all sources and hadiths if this is the case then what do we do these days when we have so many authentic hadiths available at a click of a button or flick of a book?) Please try to answer this question It has been confusing me for some time due to my ignorance
In the name of Allah Most Compassionate Merciful
I hope you are fine and in the best of health and iman.
One is not allowed to implement any hadith that one reads but only if it conforms with the school of law one is following. This can be acquired by asking, learning and studying with the learned and righteous scholars from one’s locality and other parts.
No single Imam had knowledge of the entire hadith collection as such but they had a considerable amount; more than we can imagine or think of. Only true learned and grounded scholars can take from a hadith and deduce its inward and outward meaning. This has mostly been the mujtahids; those who can independently deduce from the Qur’an and hadith.
For it is not permissible for every jurist (faqîh) – let alone a layman (‘âmmî) – to act independently with what he takes to be a proof from the hadîth. Many of our young generation get confused because of the statement of Imam Shafi, which is often put to them by our salafi brethren. He said, ‘When the authenticity of the hadîth is established, that is my madhhab.’
The scholars explain, contrary to the approach of our salafi brethren, that this statement addresses the jurists (fuqaha) who are capable of deriving the rulings from their collective evidence according to the principles of the sacred law (usul) and those of the Arabic language.
In conclusion, one should not act upon any hadith from the collections of hadith and apply it without asking, learning and studying with a scholar. If this is the case for the jurist, let alone it is for the layman and common.
And Allah alone knows best