The Goal of the Muslim

"Our view is that it is upon every Muslim to follow that which Allaah, the Most Perfect, commanded in His Book and in the Sunnah of His Messenger sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam. This is the purity of Islaam and the true reality of faith. No Muslim can ever be displeased with following what comes from Allaah and His Messenger; as He, the Most Perfect, said:

"The only saying of the Believers, when they are called to Allaah and His Messenger sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam to judge between them, is: We hear and we obey. They are the ones that are successful." [Soorah an-Noor 24:51].

And Allaah said concerning the Hypocrites:

"And when it is said to them: Come to what Allaah has revealed and to the Messenger; you see the Hypocrites turn away from you in aversion." [Soorah an-Nisaa 4:61].

As well as other Verses like this.

So following the Book and the Sunnah is obligatory, and it should be made the fundamental goal for every Muslim; this is the path that should be traversed. However, the people are of differing types with regards to understanding and comprehension. So from them is the ignorant one (jaahil) who does not understand the meanings of the Glorious Book and the noble hadeeth ; nor does he have the ability to deduce [rulings] from them; nor can he comprehend what is sought from them. From them is the scholar who has understanding (fiqh) of the Verses and the hadeeth and is aware of what rulings can be deduced from them; he has the ability to deal with the apparent differences between them; and he understands the Arabic language and its ways. And from them are those that are [at a level] between this. They are not ignorant; nor do they have the understanding to derive rulings; nor do they have the ability to understand what is being indicated to by the text; rather, they have some knowledge, awareness, understanding and contemplation. However, they do not reach the level of the scholar and the one who has penetrating insight of the Book and the Sunnah. So these are the levels of the people; and between them there are many varying grades. The scholars call the first type of people muqallidoon, the second type are technically referred to as mujtahidoon, and the third type are technically referred to as muttabi’oon."

Many scholars, however, refer to only two catagories; the mujtahid and the muqallid. And just as the mujtahidoon vary in their levels, then so do the muqallidoon; some being closer to being muttabi’oon than others.

Part 1 : The Four Imaams are from the Best of Scholars
Part 2 : The Issue of Ijtihaad and Taqleed
Part 3 : The Permissible and Prohibited forms of Blind Following
Part 4 : Following a particular Madhhab
Part 5 : Conditions for following a Madhhab

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