Is it a condition to know the principles of a school of jurisprudence when adopting one of their terms?

The questioner : Second question, O Shaykh, is it a condition to know the principles of a school of jurisprudence when adopting one of their terms? For example, if we say that the word "disliked" in the Shafi'i school, when used in its absolute sense, means "forbidden," is it a condition that I refer to the principles of the Shafi'i school and look into these principles upon which they based their jurisprudence?

The Shaykh : This varies depending on the student of knowledge. If he is a beginner studying Islam according to a specific school of jurisprudence, the answer is yes, he must refer to their principles. But if he wants to study Islam without being rigidly bound to one school, but rather following the Book and the Sunnah, the answer is no. Is that clear?

The questioner : It is clear, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : However, it is necessary to point out that the issue of "disliked" (makruh), when used in its absolute sense, implies prohibition. This is specific to the Hanafi school, not the Shafi'i school. Among the Shafi'is, it is the opposite: "disliked" means "disliked in a non-prohibitive sense" (makruh tanzihan). And conversely, among the Hanafis, when they use "disliked" in its absolute sense, they mean "disliked in a prohibitive sense" (makruh tahriman). So if a student of knowledge wants to study Islam, as we said, according to one of these two schools, for example, he must know what it means when the Hanafi school says something is "disliked," and what it means when the Shafi'i school says something is "disliked." In addition to this, it must be said that referring to the study of the rules of a school requires extreme precision, because the rules or principles that were established in a school, such as the Shafi'i school, often contradict the Shafi'i school itself. Many of the branches in the Shafi'i school are such that Imam al-Shafi'i's opinion is contrary to them. Therefore, the student of knowledge must be aware that these principles he is studying are the principles of the Imam himself, not the principles of those who came after him. This is a very sensitive point. And peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. This observation is very important, especially in the school of Imam al-Shafi'i. As for the others.