The Ruling on Following One of the Four Schools of Jurisprudence

Is a Muslim obligated to follow a specific school of jurisprudence among the four, or not?


Answer: He is not obligated; rather, it is permissible for him to follow any of the schools if he wishes. If he is not a student of knowledge who knows the evidence, and he follows one of the four schools of jurisprudence, there is no blame on him. However, he should, and indeed it is obligatory for him, to seek the truth by consulting scholars who are discerning and who, in his view and opinion, are closer to scrupulousness, knowledge, and virtue than others, so that he may seek the truth for his religion. There is nothing wrong with him being a Shafi'i, a Maliki, a Hanbali, or a Hanafi; there is no blame in that. As for the scholar who knows the evidence of the Shari'ah, it is obligatory for him to seek the evidence and act according to the evidence, and not to follow others without knowing their evidence. This is what is obligatory for him, except in cases of pressing need or inability, in which case he should follow the one who, in his opinion and independent legal reasoning, is more knowledgeable than others and closer to the truth than others.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.