An Arab friend wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa and asked whether Musnad al-Rabee‘ ibn Habeeb, the hadith book of the Ibadiyya sect, was considered authentic and followed by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.
In a letter dated 30 May 2020, Huzooraa gave the following reply to this question:
“The belief of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat regarding the ahadith of the Holy Prophetsa, in light of the teachings of the Promised Messiahsa, is that the third source of guidance after the Holy Quran and the sunnah is hadith, which is a servant of the Quran and the sunnah. However, a hadith that contradicts the Quran and the sunnah and contradicts another hadith that is in accordance with the Quran, or a hadith that contradicts Sahih Bukhari, will not be worthy of being accepted because, by accepting it, one has to reject the Quran and all the ahadith that are in accordance with the Holy Quran.
“The Promised Messiahas states that it is incumbent on his Jamaat to follow any hadith that does not oppose and contradict the Holy Quran and sunnah, regardless of its authenticity and give preference to it over manmade jurisprudence. [A Review of the Debate between Batalavi and Chakrhalavi (English), p. 10]
“The Promised Messiahas states that [you must] follow the Noble Quran and follow the ahadith that are proven to be from God’s Messengersa. We consider it obligatory to follow even the weakest hadith, provided it does not contradict the Quran. [Malfuzat (Urdu) Vol. 4, p. 107-108]
“The Promised Messiahas states that if there is a clear contradiction between a hadith, be it from Bukhari or Muslim, and clear, categorical and expressly indicative verses of the Holy Quran, I will never accept any kind of interpretation for it which is bound to lead one to contradict the Holy Quran. [Mubahitha Ludhiana (Urdu), Ruhani Khazain Vol. 4, p. 100]
“Therefore, any hadith that is in accordance with the above criteria, regardless of the book it is found in, is acceptable and a binding proof according to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.”