, for a person grows up following the religion of his father, his master, or the people of his town, just as a child follows his parents, his captor, and the people of his town in religion. Once he reaches adulthood, however, he must seek to obey Allah and His Messenger wherever that obedience lies. He must not be among those who, when told, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” say, “Rather, we follow what we found our fathers following.”

Anyone who turns away from following the Quran and Sunnah and obeying Allah and His Messenger, preferring his own customs and those of his father and his people, belongs to the people of ignorance who deserve the threatened punishment. Likewise, anyone to whom the truth with which Allah sent His Messenger becomes clear on a particular question, but who then abandons it in favour of his customary practice, deserves blame and punishment.

As for someone unable to ascertain the ruling of Allah and His Messenger, who follows a person of knowledge and religious integrity on that question, without it becoming clear to him that another person’s view carries greater weight, he is praiseworthy and will be rewarded; he is neither blamed nor punished for this.

If, however, he can examine the evidence and determine which view is stronger, yet shies away from certain questions and instead resorts to following an authority, there is disagreement within Ahmad’s school concerning his case. Ahmad’s explicitly stated position, upheld by his followers, is that such a person is also sinful. This is also the position of al-Shāfiʿī and his followers. It is reported from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan and others that such a person may follow an authority without restriction. Another view permits him to follow someone more learned than himself.

Some have attributed this latter view to Ahmad, as Abū Ishāq mentions in al-Lumaʿ. This attribution to Ahmad is mistaken, however, for Ahmad says this only concerning his companions