In Defence of the Four Imams

Why did the distinguished jurists of early Muslim history differ? Why do some of their views apparently contradict authentic scriptural texts? And why do their followers seem to prefer their opinions even when they outwardly contradict sound prophetic traditions? In this unique work of Ibn Taymiyah, his primary aim is to present cogent answers to these questions, as he displays humble deference towards his predecessors. He begins his work by mentioning three excuses for why the eponymous four Imams sometimes contravened the import of sound prophetic traditions and then proceeds to explicate ten things prompting them to adopt one of the three aforementioned excuses.