Some of the brothers say that it is not permissible to follow a specific school of jurisprudence, meaning following one of the four schools, but rather to act according to the evidence. However, this makes me wonder: they were
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The questioner : Some of the brothers say that it is not permissible to follow a specific school of jurisprudence, meaning following one of the four schools, but rather to act according to the evidence. However, this makes me wonder constantly: the sources of these imams were the Book and the Sunnah. The question is: Is it permissible to follow any of the four schools without being fanatical about them, knowing that I am neither a scholar nor a student of knowledge?
The Shaykh : If a person is unable to extract the ruling himself from the Book and the Sunnah, then he has no choice but to follow a scholar, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[An-Nahl 16:43].
It is well known that a layperson cannot derive the ruling from the evidence because he is a layperson. Therefore, he has no choice but to follow a scholar. In this case, it is obligatory for him to follow the one he considers closest to the truth, due to his extensive knowledge, strength in religion, and trustworthiness.
It is not permissible for a person to follow a scholar based on personal preference, meaning that if he sees an easy and convenient opinion, he follows it, whether it is from so-and-so or so-and-so. This might lead him to follow ten different people in a single day according to his mood. The obligatory course is to follow the one he considers closest to the truth due to his knowledge and trustworthiness.
As for strictly adhering to a specific school of jurisprudence, taking its dispensations and default rulings in all circumstances, this is not permissible. This is because it involves obeying someone other than Allah and His Messenger in an absolute manner. No one is to be obeyed and followed in an absolute manner except Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : If a person is unable to extract the ruling himself from the Book and the Sunnah, then he has no choice but to follow a scholar, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فاسألوا أهل الذكر إن كنتم لا تعلمونIt is well known that a layperson cannot derive the ruling from the evidence because he is a layperson. Therefore, he has no choice but to follow a scholar. In this case, it is obligatory for him to follow the one he considers closest to the truth, due to his extensive knowledge, strength in religion, and trustworthiness.
It is not permissible for a person to follow a scholar based on personal preference, meaning that if he sees an easy and convenient opinion, he follows it, whether it is from so-and-so or so-and-so. This might lead him to follow ten different people in a single day according to his mood. The obligatory course is to follow the one he considers closest to the truth due to his knowledge and trustworthiness.
As for strictly adhering to a specific school of jurisprudence, taking its dispensations and default rulings in all circumstances, this is not permissible. This is because it involves obeying someone other than Allah and His Messenger in an absolute manner. No one is to be obeyed and followed in an absolute manner except Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).