The Ruling on Following a Specific School of Jurisprudence or a Specific Scholar

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Excellency the Shaykh, and may He bless you and make your knowledge beneficial. I ask your permission to ask a few questions. This questioner says: May Allah bless you. Is it permissible for a person who has no knowledge of the Shari'ah to follow one of the four schools of jurisprudence, or a specific scholar, in every issue?

Answer:
It is obligatory for the ignorant person to ask the people of knowledge. Allah the Exalted said: And the people of knowledge are the people of knowledge, not the pretenders to knowledge, nor the ignorant ones, but rather the people of knowledge. Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know. As for the knowledgeable person, he has what suffices him and clarifies things for him. As for the ignorant person, it is obligatory for him to ask the scholar, and he should not say, "I do not know." If you do not know, ask the people of knowledge. So ask the people of knowledge, and do not ask the ignorant, or the pretenders to knowledge, or those who follow without insight. Ask the people of knowledge. Allah said: So the one who does not know asks the one who knows. As for the one who knows, he has the proof, and praise be to Allah, and he is not in need of asking. There is nothing hidden in the matter, praise be to Allah. The matter is clear, the religion is evident, and the proof is established for us all until the Hour comes. Yes.