The example cited by Ibn Rushd al-Andalusi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding the scholar who is a mujtahid and the scholar who is not a mujtahid.
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The Shaykh : I will conclude this talk because it is actually now nine o'clock, and my voice has started to change.
In a matter that drew the attention of a scholar from the scholars of Andalusia, namely Ibn Rushd al-Andalusi, who followed the Maliki school of jurisprudence, he gave an example of the scholar who is a mujtahid and the scholar who follows another scholar without knowing his evidence. It is a very beautiful example, and it contains a lesson for whoever takes heed. He said: "The example of the mujtahid and the one who follows another scholar without knowing his evidence is like the example of the seller of sandals and the maker of sandals. The seller of sandals is the one who sells shoes, and the maker of shoes is the one who makes them. He said: A man comes to the seller of sandals and asks for a specific size. We would say that a size means a very rare case: a foot that is large, wide, and short. He looks through the models available to him and does not find this unusual size. He tells him: Goodbye, I do not have it. He goes to the maker of sandals and says: I want a sandal of this size. He says: All right, because he makes them. This is the example of the mujtahid.
The questioner : And the one who follows another scholar without knowing his evidence.
The Shaykh : And that is the example of the one who follows another scholar without knowing his evidence. So where do these people get the answers to questions when they are put to them, especially in those lands?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, we advise them and emphasize this advice to them: as long as they have sincerity and zeal for Islam, they should devote themselves to seeking knowledge as much as they are able to do so. After that, perhaps Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will enable them to attain this knowledge and open for them the field of calling people to Allah in truth. Otherwise, one who lacks a thing cannot give it.
In a matter that drew the attention of a scholar from the scholars of Andalusia, namely Ibn Rushd al-Andalusi, who followed the Maliki school of jurisprudence, he gave an example of the scholar who is a mujtahid and the scholar who follows another scholar without knowing his evidence. It is a very beautiful example, and it contains a lesson for whoever takes heed. He said: "The example of the mujtahid and the one who follows another scholar without knowing his evidence is like the example of the seller of sandals and the maker of sandals. The seller of sandals is the one who sells shoes, and the maker of shoes is the one who makes them. He said: A man comes to the seller of sandals and asks for a specific size. We would say that a size means a very rare case: a foot that is large, wide, and short. He looks through the models available to him and does not find this unusual size. He tells him: Goodbye, I do not have it. He goes to the maker of sandals and says: I want a sandal of this size. He says: All right, because he makes them. This is the example of the mujtahid.
The questioner : And the one who follows another scholar without knowing his evidence.
The Shaykh : And that is the example of the one who follows another scholar without knowing his evidence. So where do these people get the answers to questions when they are put to them, especially in those lands?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, we advise them and emphasize this advice to them: as long as they have sincerity and zeal for Islam, they should devote themselves to seeking knowledge as much as they are able to do so. After that, perhaps Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will enable them to attain this knowledge and open for them the field of calling people to Allah in truth. Otherwise, one who lacks a thing cannot give it.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.