The Ruling on Not Following the Four Schools of Jurisprudence
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Question: A phenomenon has appeared among the youth, which is that they say: We do not follow any of the four schools of jurisprudence, but rather we exercise independent legal reasoning like them, and we act as they acted, and we do not refer to their independent legal reasoning. What is your opinion on this, and what is your advice to these people?
Answer: This statement may be considered objectionable by some people. However, its true meaning is that for one who is truly qualified, it is not obligatory for people to follow anyone in taqlid (following a scholar without knowing his evidence). And whoever says that it is obligatory to follow the four Imams is mistaken, for it is not obligatory to follow them. Rather, one should make use of their words and the words of other Imams of knowledge, and look into their books, may Allah have mercy on them, and the evidence they mentioned, and the successful student of knowledge should benefit from that. As for the unqualified person, he is not fit to exercise independent legal reasoning; rather, he must ask the scholars of Islamic jurisprudence, seek understanding in the religion, and act on what they guide him to, until he becomes qualified and understands the path the scholars took, and knows the authentic and weak hadiths. The means to this are in the terminology of hadith, and the knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, and what the scholars have established in that, so that he benefits from these things and is able to determine the stronger position in matters where people have disagreed.
As for what the scholars have agreed upon, its matter is clear, and no one has the right to contradict it. Rather, the consideration for the scholars of knowledge is in what the scholars have disagreed upon. The obligatory thing in that is to refer the disputed issues to Allah and His Messenger, as Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Nisa: 59] And He the Exalted said: [Surah al-Shura: 10].
As for exercising independent legal reasoning when one is unable to do so, this is one of the great errors. But one should strive with high ambition in seeking knowledge, and exert effort and be discerning, and follow the paths of the scholars of knowledge. These are the paths of knowledge in studying hadith and its principles, Islamic jurisprudence and its principles, the Arabic language and its rules, the Prophetic biography, and Islamic history.
One should make use of these matters to determine the stronger position in issues of scholarly disagreement, while sending blessings upon the scholars of knowledge, and following their good methodology, and making use of their words and their good books, and the evidence and proofs they clarified in supporting what they adopted and refuting what they rejected.
And by that, the student of knowledge will be successful in knowing the truth if he is sincere to Allah and exerts his utmost in seeking the truth, and does not be arrogant. And Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One who grants success.
Answer: This statement may be considered objectionable by some people. However, its true meaning is that for one who is truly qualified, it is not obligatory for people to follow anyone in taqlid (following a scholar without knowing his evidence). And whoever says that it is obligatory to follow the four Imams is mistaken, for it is not obligatory to follow them. Rather, one should make use of their words and the words of other Imams of knowledge, and look into their books, may Allah have mercy on them, and the evidence they mentioned, and the successful student of knowledge should benefit from that. As for the unqualified person, he is not fit to exercise independent legal reasoning; rather, he must ask the scholars of Islamic jurisprudence, seek understanding in the religion, and act on what they guide him to, until he becomes qualified and understands the path the scholars took, and knows the authentic and weak hadiths. The means to this are in the terminology of hadith, and the knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, and what the scholars have established in that, so that he benefits from these things and is able to determine the stronger position in matters where people have disagreed.
As for what the scholars have agreed upon, its matter is clear, and no one has the right to contradict it. Rather, the consideration for the scholars of knowledge is in what the scholars have disagreed upon. The obligatory thing in that is to refer the disputed issues to Allah and His Messenger, as Allah the Exalted said:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِAnd in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِAs for exercising independent legal reasoning when one is unable to do so, this is one of the great errors. But one should strive with high ambition in seeking knowledge, and exert effort and be discerning, and follow the paths of the scholars of knowledge. These are the paths of knowledge in studying hadith and its principles, Islamic jurisprudence and its principles, the Arabic language and its rules, the Prophetic biography, and Islamic history.
One should make use of these matters to determine the stronger position in issues of scholarly disagreement, while sending blessings upon the scholars of knowledge, and following their good methodology, and making use of their words and their good books, and the evidence and proofs they clarified in supporting what they adopted and refuting what they rejected.
And by that, the student of knowledge will be successful in knowing the truth if he is sincere to Allah and exerts his utmost in seeking the truth, and does not be arrogant. And Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One who grants success.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.