Ahmad ibn Hanbal: Weak narrations are more beloved to me than my personal opinion

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “A narration with a weak chain is more beloved to us than our opinion.”

[Ibn Hazm, Al-Muhalli 677]

قَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ  ضَعِيفُ الْحَدِيثِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْنَا مِنَ الرَّأْيِ

المحلى بالآثار لابن حزم كتاب الصلاة الأعمال المستحبة في الصلاة