Reference: Fataawa al-Mu’aasirah – Page 325
Question: I am a beginner student [of knowledge] and am often confused when I read a hadeeth which has been authenticated by some of the contemporary scholars, whilst [some of] the scholars of the past have declared it as weak. So what should I do?
Response: The answer to this is that if you have the ability to understand the reason for declaring it weak and that this [reason] is correct, then follow what you believe is correct – whether it is from the statement of the contemporary scholars or the statement of the scholars of the past.
However, if you do not have this ability, as you mentioned – you are a beginner student [of knowledge], then follow what the contemporary scholars say, because they are closer to that which is correct [in the matter of declaring ahaadeeth authentic and weak] than the scholars of the past.
