As for the aṣl[1] (teacher) negating the narration of the far’[2] (student) then:
- There is no harm according to Imām Shāfi’ī. This is also the preferred opinion of al-Sam’ānī, Ibn al-Qaṭṭān, Ibn al-Subkī and al-Maḥallī.
- Some of the Aḥnāf hold that this cannot be taken absolutely.[3]
- Al-Qāḍī Abū Bakr al-Bāqilānī has differentiated between those narrations where there is certainty the student is correct and others.[4]
- Imām al-Ḥaramayn holds that these are two contradicting narrations; none is given preference over the other unless there is a factor which allows us to do so.
- The view of Imām Bukhāri and Imām Muslim is that they are generally accepted, or preference is given to one.
[1] Literally; source.
[2] Literally; branch, section, subdivision.
[3] With no exceptions
[4] This is also the opinion of the muta’akhirīn Shawāfi’