Chapter on the Differences in al-Hadith
Al-Kāfi|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 21
9ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ عَنِ الْمُعَلَّى بْنِ خُنَيْسٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذَا جَاءَ حَدِيثٌ عَنْ أَوَّلِكُمْ وَحَدِيثٌ عَنْ آخِرِكُمْ بِأَيِّهِمَا نَأْخُذُ فَقَالَ خُذُوا بِهِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَكُمْ عَنِ الْحَيِّ فَإِنْ بَلَغَكُمْ عَنِ الْحَيِّ فَخُذُوا بِقَوْلِهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّا وَالله لا نُدْخِلُكُمْ إِلا فِيمَا يَسَعُكُمْ وَفِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ خُذُوا بِالاحْدَثِ.
9. It is narrated from him from his father from Isma’il ibn Marrar from Yunus from Dawud ibn Farqad from Mu‘alla ibn Khunays who has said the following. “I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah عليه السلام, ‘If we receive a Hadith from first of you and from the members of your later generation which one should we follow?” The Imam replied, “Follow it until you receive it from the living Imam. When it comes from a living Imam follow his words.” The Imam than said, “We by Allah, like you to follow what is easy for you.” In another Hadith it is says, “Follow whichever the newest.”’
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (1/221)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī