Then I found a statement by al-Hafiz supporting what I have mentioned; see the Introduction to Fath al-Bari (384).
In conclusion, I say: The contrived nature of his answer to my refutation of the grounds upon which he had relied in declaring this authentic hadith weak has become clear. It has shown readers that he is an innovator rather than a follower. What further confirms this is his silence concerning my charge that he had opposed the consensus of the imams who authenticated the hadith. He did not answer this at all, not even with a single word. This alone is sufficient condemnation of him, and Allah is his Reckoner.
There remain many other matters in his response, and there is ample scope for replying to them; but time is too limited and too precious to be wasted in responding to him. The man speaks excessively, and whoever speaks excessively makes many slips. Nevertheless, some important points must be clarified:
First: He portrays the disagreement between him and me to people as a personal dispute, arising merely from a difference of opinion. This is contrary to the facts. Rather, it is a methodological disagreement: he attacks the authentic sunnah, while I defend it; he declares authentic hadith weak on the basis of views and ideas peculiar to himself, while I defend them and rebut him by adhering to the principles and rulings of the scholars. This example is before you, and further examples will follow, if Allah wills. See Addendum no. 13.
Second: He asks me to be gentle and mild in responding to him, and not to disparage him—he said this in a lengthy statement. So I say:
Receive glad tidings of every good, gentleness, and mildness on the day when you yourself treat the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and his authentic hadith with gentleness; when you cease violating their sanctity or raising the pickaxe of destruction against them; when you follow the path of the Muslim scholars and depart from the way of the ignorant corrupters. May Allah bless you in any disagreement in which you differ with me over an opinion that admits of being right or wrong.