The Ruling on Following One of the Four Imams
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Our saying: Four of the imams among the people of the Sunnah and the community are Abu Hanifa, Malik, al-Shafi'i, and Ahmad. These are people of the Sunnah. Is it obligatory to follow one of them? Is there evidence for that?
It is not obligatory to follow any of the creation except Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). As for other people, it is not obligatory to follow them.But some scholars said: The statement of a Companion is a proof and is followed under two conditions: 1/ That it does not contradict an explicit text of the Shari'ah.
2/ And that no other Companion contradicts it.
If it contradicts an explicit text of the Shari'ah, it is known that the text takes precedence over following him. If one Companion contradicts him, the stronger opinion of the two Companions is adopted. As for anyone other than them, it is not permissible.Meaning: It is not obligatory for me to be a Hanbali, a Shafi'i, a Maliki, a Hanafi, or a Thawri.
The questioner: And what about people who are unable to acquire knowledge?The Shaykh: For those who are unable, Allah has commanded them to ask the people of knowledge.He said: [al-Nahl:43], so for the one who does not know, it is obligatory to follow a scholar without knowing his evidence, but whom should one follow?We do not say: You must follow Ahmad, or al-Shafi'i, or Malik, or Abu Hanifa, or Sufyan al-Thawri, or others. Rather, follow the one you see as being closest to the truth.
It is not obligatory to follow any of the creation except Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). As for other people, it is not obligatory to follow them.But some scholars said: The statement of a Companion is a proof and is followed under two conditions: 1/ That it does not contradict an explicit text of the Shari'ah.
2/ And that no other Companion contradicts it.
If it contradicts an explicit text of the Shari'ah, it is known that the text takes precedence over following him. If one Companion contradicts him, the stronger opinion of the two Companions is adopted. As for anyone other than them, it is not permissible.Meaning: It is not obligatory for me to be a Hanbali, a Shafi'i, a Maliki, a Hanafi, or a Thawri.
The questioner: And what about people who are unable to acquire knowledge?The Shaykh: For those who are unable, Allah has commanded them to ask the people of knowledge.He said: