Among such cases is when each of the two statements carries the very same meaning, although the wording differs. This occurs, for example, when people disagree over the phrasing of definitions, the formulations of proofs, the labels assigned to things, the categorization of rulings, and the like—only for ignorance or injustice to push someone to praise one formulation and disparage the other.
Another instance is when the two statements convey different meanings, yet those meanings are not mutually exclusive. In this situation, one statement is sound and the other is likewise sound, even though their contents are not identical. Disputes of this nature are exceedingly common.
A third form is where two legitimate paths exist: one person or group follows one path, while others follow the other—and both are praiseworthy in the religion.
(1) MS B reads: fi al-maʿna (“in meaning”), while the printed edition adds: fi al-waqiʿ (“in reality”).
(2) The printed edition further adds: wa-l-taʿrīfāt (“and the definitions”).
(3) MSS A, B and Ṭ read: wa-ṣūgh (“and formulation”).
(4) The printed edition adds: huwa alladhī (“it is that”).
(5) MSS B and Ṭ read: ḥaml (“carrying / interpretation”), but this reading is unlikely.
(6) The word ghayrayn, i.e., mutaghayrayn (“two distinct things”).
(7) The printed edition has: wa-dhālika (“and that”).
(8) The phrase wa-hādhā qawl ṣaḥīḥ (“and this is a sound opinion”) is omitted from MSS B, J, D and Ṭ.
(9) A comparable case is the Companions’ disagreement over the Prophet’s statement: “None of you should pray ʿAṣr except at Banū Qurayẓa.” Some Companions understood it to oblige performing the ʿAṣr (afternoon) prayer only in Banū Qurayẓa, even if its time had elapsed, and therefore did not pray until the time of ʿIshāʾ (night prayer). Others took the order as a command to head for Banū Qurayẓa quickly, and so prayed on time before reaching the fortress because they could not arrive before the end of the prayer time. Both groups were correct in their ijtihād (independent reasoning) and practice; the author will discuss this incident later.
(10) The printed edition reads instead: “However, a man—or a group—has adopted this approach …,” and so forth.