Is it obligatory for every country to adhere to a specific jurisprudential school of thought and teach its rulings without referring to the other schools of thought?

People are divided into two categories: diligent scholars who follow the truth based on evidence, and the common people who are not specialized in Islamic sciences. For the latter, their duty is to ask the people of knowledge, as Allah the Almighty says: (So ask the people of the message if you do not know). Adherence must be to knowledge built upon evidence, not to the veneration of individuals, for infallibility is exclusive to the Prophet alone.

As for scholarly authority, one should refer to two main types of references: 1. Contemporary Authority: This includes jurisprudential councils, Sharia (definition) committees, and specialized scholars who are consulted regarding contemporary issues and new occurrences. 2. Traditional Authority: This refers to the four well-known jurisprudential schools of thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali), which represent the scholarly source relied upon by the majority of people.

Allah's wisdom has preserved the religion through imams whose knowledge people have agreed upon, and this is a kindness from Allah to His servants.

This does not imply fanaticism for a single school of thought. Rather, it means that jurisprudential study should be based on one of the four schools. Nevertheless, one who has reached the rank of ijtihad (definition) (independent reasoning) can adopt what he deems correct, even if it differs from his own school.

It has been stated in scholars' fatwas that adherence to one of the four schools of thought is permissible, but if evidence supports another opinion, then one must follow the evidence. People in this regard are at two extremes and a moderate position: some completely reject adherence to a school, some rigidly adhere to it, while the moderate view permits it and follows the evidence wherever it leads.

It is obligatory for those who lack the ability for istinbat (deduction) to follow whomever their heart feels at ease with. If they are not at ease, they should ask someone else, while emphasizing that the statements of imams are not to be followed in all circumstances, as they may err. Rather, what is to be followed is the truth supported by evidence.