What is the ruling on adhering to one of the four schools of thought, and is it permissible to depart from the school, and what are the accredited and organized books and texts for the Hanbali school of thought?

Adhering to one of the four schools of thought (madhahib) is permissible by consensus, provided there is no fanaticism. If evidence clearly contradicts the madhhab, then one must follow the evidence. Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim has clarified that adhering to a madhhab is permissible and involves no harm, and one should adopt what is preponderant based on evidence, regardless of which imams hold that view.

To understand the Hanbali madhhab, it is recommended to begin with foundational texts (mutūn) such as "Al-Umdah" by Al-Muwaffaq, "Dalil al-Talib," or "Zad al-Mustaqni'." "Al-Sharh al-Mumti'" by Ibn 'Uthaymeen is recommended for understanding "Al-Zad." After mastering these foundational texts, the student progresses to larger works such as "Al-Rawd al-Murabbi'" and then "Kashshaf al-Qina'." To learn about the various narrations (riwayat) and viewpoints (wujuh) within the madhhab, one should read "Al-Kafi," followed by "Al-Insaf" and "Al-Furu'." It is also recommended to consult "Al-Madkhal al-Mufassal li Madhhab al-Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal" by Bakr Abu Zayd or "Al-Madkhal" by Ibn Badran.