Seeking the help of scholars' books in understanding the Book and the Sunnah

Question:
Is it permissible to take from the Book and the Sunnah without referring to the four schools of jurisprudence, when a person is ignorant of many matters of his religion?

Answer:
It is obligatory for people, for every Muslim, and for students of knowledge to take from the Book and the Sunnah, to act according to the Book and the Sunnah, and to benefit from the words of the scholars. One should seek help from the words of the scholars, because the scholars assist, clarify, and explain. So the seeker of truth should take from the Book and the Sunnah, and seek help in understanding them, and in understanding what is emphasized in them from the words of the scholars whom Allah has guided, led, and made beneficial through their writings, their explanations of the hadiths, and their exegeses; so that he may benefit and be of benefit.
As for the general Muslims, they must ask the scholars. They should ask the scholars and strive to find those in whom they hope for good and the attainment of the truth, and those in whom they believe will assist them and issue rulings for them according to the Shari'ah of Allah. Because Allah said: [Surah al-Nahl: 43].
It is narrated from him that when he heard of a group who issued rulings without knowledge, he disapproved of them and said: So the general Muslims ask, and the student of knowledge looks into the evidence from the Book and the Sunnah, and looks into the words of the scholars. Not because their words are the evidence; no, the evidence is the word of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). But the scholars—may Allah have mercy on them—strived before us, were active before us, wrote the books, explained the texts, and clarified; so one seeks help from their words in understanding...