along with many other widely transmitted reports that plainly command adherence to the Muslim community. When Aḥmad saw that this single narration conflicted with those and their like, he told ʿAbd Allāh to strike it out.

As for those who are certain of its authenticity, they say: this applies to times of turmoil and fighting over power, whereas sticking to the community applies when people are united and their word is one. In this way the Prophet’s ﷺ ḥadiths that encourage seclusion, refraining from combat, and praise the one who joins neither of the two factions (1) are reconciled with his ḥadiths that urge joining the congregation and mixing with the people; for the latter describe the state of unity, whereas the former refer (2) to times of tribulation and war. Allah knows best.

The point is that Imam Aḥmad’s crossing out of this ḥadith does not imply that, in his view, everything he retained in the Musnad is sound (3).