Discussion on following a school of jurisprudence, non-affiliation with a school, and Salafism

Question:
Our brother asks and says: Is a person obligated to follow a specific school of jurisprudence? There is a book titled: (Non-affiliation with a school is the most dangerous religious innovation threatening Islamic sacred law). Is non-affiliation with a school a religious innovation? And another book titled: (Salafism is a distinguished and blessed stage, but it is not an Islamic school of jurisprudence). What is your opinion regarding the above? May Allah reward you with good. The two books I mentioned are by a great scholar.

Answer:
Affiliation with a school of jurisprudence is not obligatory. Whoever says that people must follow the school of Ahmad, Malik, or al-Shafi'i is incorrect. The schools of jurisprudence are new; they emerged after the Companions and after the generation after the Companions. Therefore, they are not obligatory for anyone. They are merely the opinions of scholars who became famous, and their opinions were recorded, so these schools became well-known.
So Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him), and Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) are scholars of the same type as al-Thawri, of the same type as al-Awza'i, of the same type as Ishaq ibn Rahawayh. Just as it is not obligatory for us to take the opinions of al-Thawri, Ibn Uyaynah, Ishaq, al-Awza'i, or others, so it is not obligatory for us to take the opinion of Ahmad, Malik, al-Shafi'i, or Abu Hanifa. Rather, we look into matters of scholarly disagreement; we take what of their opinions agrees with the truth, and we leave what contradicts it.
And what the scholars have agreed upon, it is obligatory to take it, and there is no excuse for contradicting it. What they agreed upon, it is obligatory to take it and adhere to it. And what they disagreed upon, it is obligatory to present it to the Book and the Sunnah, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [al-Nisa:59]. So we take what agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, and we leave what contradicts them.
And the statement of whoever says: non-affiliation with a school—if he means that it is not obligatory to affiliate with a school, and it is not required, then he is correct. But if he means that it is not permissible to affiliate oneself, then he is not correct. It is permissible for a person to affiliate himself as being Shafi'i, Hanbali, Maliki, or Hanafi; because he grew up with that, and learned from their scholars... and the like. There is nothing wrong with affiliating oneself; affiliation does not harm. The important thing is that one does not follow blindly and become fanatical. Rather, whenever the truth becomes apparent, he takes it, even if it is in a school other than his own. Fanaticism and blind following are not permissible.
So if the one who says non-affiliation with a school means: that there should be no fanaticism and no blind following, then this is correct. But if he means that it is not permissible to affiliate oneself with these schools of jurisprudence, this contradicts what the people of knowledge are upon and has no basis. The only reprehensible thing is fanaticism for Zayd or 'Amr, even if he says something incorrect, and blind following that is not accompanied by looking into or thinking about the evidence. This is what is prohibited. As for affiliating oneself with a school but contradicting it in what contradicts the truth and taking the truth with whoever is correct in that, that is fine.
As for Salafism, the meaning in it is following the path of the Salaf in the names of Allah and His attributes, and believing in them and passing them on as they came, without distortion of a text's meaning, denial of the divine attributes, asking how an attribute is, or likening Allah to creation. And taking the evidence and not blind following and fanaticism; this is what is intended by Salafism.
So Salafism is the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the path of his Companions. It is the Muhammadan way. If its people have knowledge and insight; because one may claim Salafism while being ignorant. The criterion is the one who perfected the knowledge of the Sunnah, knew the knowledge of the Sunnah, and followed what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions were upon. This is the Salafi who cares about what the righteous Salaf were upon and proceeds on their methodology. He takes the evidence and believes in the verses of Allah and His names and attributes, and proceeds on the methodology of the Salaf in affirming the names of Allah and His attributes, in the manner befitting Allah. He says: The Qur'an is the speech of Allah, revealed and not created. And he says: He will see [Allah] on the Day of Resurrection, and in Paradise the believers will see Him. All of this is truth. All of this is the statement of the righteous Salaf, and it is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions.
So the Salafi is the one who affiliates himself with the Salaf of the Muslim community, who are the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who followed them with excellence. If he is understanding and committed to what the Salaf were upon, then he is truthful. And if he says it with his tongue but does not represent it with his action, he is a liar in his statement. So truthfulness is necessary. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.