What is the ruling on following scholars or rulers in permitting what Allah has forbidden or forbidding what Allah has permitted?

Following scholars or rulers in permitting what Allah has forbidden or vice versa is divided into three categories:

1. The first category: One who follows them, pleased with their sayings and preferring them, and resentful of Allah’s حكم (ruling), is a disbeliever.

2. The second category: One who follows them, pleased with Allah’s حكم and knowing that it is the most righteous, but has a desire within himself (that leads him to follow others), this person is a disobedient one (fasiq) but does not disbelieve.

3. The third category: One who follows them ignorantly, thinking that it is Allah’s حكم, and this is divided into:

One who can know the truth by himself, is sinful.

One who cannot know the truth by himself and follows them for the purpose of imitation (taqlid), bears no blame.