The Ruling on the Common People Following Scholars and the Obligation of the Ignorant

Question:
This questioner says in his final question: What is the ruling on the common people following scholars in all matters, and what is the obligatory thing to follow, or is it following the common people?

Answer:
What is said to the common people is that the common person follows, asking the people of knowledge, just as the blind person asks the sighted, saying, "Guide me." He does not go to ignorant people who do not understand the path; he asks people to guide him to the mosque or to his home, and he trusts them. So it is with the ignorant person in knowledge: the blind person in knowledge asks the people of knowledge. He seeks out those who testify to goodness and knowledge in his land, even if it requires traveling to other lands to seek them out, or by telephone, or by correspondence. The merchant who wants to buy goods asks those with expertise in them; merchants ask those with expertise in goods, and they go asking people what they understand. Likewise, the person whose car is broken does not ask people what they do not understand; he asks those who understand the breakdown of his car and cooperates with them. So the one who is ignorant of knowledge asks the people of knowledge. They ask the general public, but they also seek out the right ones; they do not ask every person of knowledge. They seek them out in their own land, and if there is no one in their land, they travel to other lands to ask, or by telephone if available, or by correspondence, or by telegram. They ask and do not be lax. Allah says: It is also narrated from him that he said to a group who had asked people who did not know: "Did they not ask when they did not know? Indeed, the cure for ignorance is asking."
It is obligatory for Muslims, male and female, to ask. One does not ask just anyone, asking an ignorant person like himself or asking an ignorant person like himself. No, he asks the people of knowledge, he asks the people of remembrance. It was not said, "Ask whom you wish," but it was said, "Ask the people of remembrance." The people of remembrance are the people of knowledge, the people of the Qur'an, the people of insight. May Allah grant success to everyone. Yes. May Allah reward you with good.