Question
Reference Number:: 26269
Title: Adhering to a madhhab when
one knows that other madhhabs have stronger evidence
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Question:
What is the ruling on adhering to a madhhab when it is clear that other madhhabs
have stronger evidence)?
Answer:
Praise be
to Allaah.
If a person adheres to a
particular madhhab, then he finds out that it is
likely that another madhhab has stronger evidence,
this is a serious error. It is not permissible to do that. This is included in
what is mentioned in the aayah (interpretation of the
meaning):
“They (the Jews and
Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allaah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or
unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allaah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of
Maryam (Mary), while they (the Jews and Christians)
were commanded [in the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but One Ilaah (God — Allaah) Laa ilaaha illa
Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He).
Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they
associate (with Him)”
[al-Tawbah 9:31]
This implies turning away
from the guidance of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih
al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah
have mercy on him). (www.islam-qa.com) (Refer
to footnote by Ustaaz, Ahmed Fazel)
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Note by Ustaaz, Ahmed Fazel:
The first part of the Sheikh’s answer ought to read as:
If a person adheres to a given
fiqh view in a particular madhhab,
and then finds that the view of another madhhab has
stronger evidence from the Qur’an, Sunnah or from an analysis approach, then it would be a
serious error for him to denounce the stronger evidence in favour of the opinion
or ruling of the mazhab he follows since he would
then be rejecting the teachings of the Qur’an and hadith. It is not permissible for him to then hold onto the
view expressed in the mazhab when stronger evidence
is found to the contrary.
However, the ability to discern the strengths of the rulings is obviously a scholastic matter and, in many cases, beyond the reach of the common understanding of the general class of people. Therefore, the common people would, in the absence of a proficient scholar, be allowed to follow the mazhab opinion. However, when they are advised to follow a stronger opinion which conforms to the Qur’an and hadith, then they ought to learn the rationality and reasoning relating to the fiqh view to possible extents and then follow the stronger opinion.