veiled4allah: madhhabs

This one can be another controversial topic among Muslims. I often feel while reading various things on the issue that people are talking past each other. Sometimes the issue is presented as if there are only two possibilities, the two extremes: either you adhere completely to a madhhab and never depart from any of its rulings, or you (allegedly) derive rulings from the Quran and Sunna yourself. But in fact there's a lot of room between those two.

An ordinary Muslim doesn't have the time to study the Quran and Sunna for themselves and derive rulings, or to develop the expertise necessary to do so. Obviously, therefore, ordinary Muslims need to turn to scholars for guidance. The question then comes in, how do you determine which scholar is best to follow? My personal belief is that Muslims should examine what the range of opinions is on a given issue. If all the scholars are agreed, then there's no need to worry further, go ahead and implement that ruling as best you are able.

But if there's a difference of opinion, Muslims should examine the dalils presented for each side and then go with what they believe is most sound. It is our responsibility, to Allah SWT and to ourselves, to do what we believe and understand to be best in each circumstance. Yes, we are tempted by our nafs to take the easiest course, but we can't let that be an excuse. Our whole jihad in life is to overcome the nafs and obey Allah SWT. If we have examined all the evidence, and have checked our own motivations and we still believe that a scholar other than the one we usually follow is correct in a particular instance, and the scholar that we usually follow is wrong, then I believe that we should go with the other scholar.

Over time, most Muslims will find a scholar or group of scholars or school that consistently gives rulings they believe are sound. But I don't think that Muslims should be expected to keep following that scholar, group of scholars, or school if the scholar is wrong in a particular instance. Instead, we should follow the scholar whom we sincerely believe has the correct ruling, the one that is most sound, and best represents the Quran and Sunna.