For this reason, the imams of the Muslims would not declare anything in religion obligatory, recommended, forbidden, or permissible without scriptural evidence from the Quran, the Sunnah, or what these establish. Whatever the Muslims agree upon is truth brought by the Messenger. For his community—praise be to Allah—does not unite upon misguidance, as he himself, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stated:

“Allah has assured you, through your Prophet, that you will not unite upon misguidance.”

Whatever they disputed, they referred back to the Quran and the Sunnah, as the Most High says:

“O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and leads to the best outcome.”

This was the practice of the early generations. One person might have heard a hadith or grasped a meaning that escaped another. The other is also rewarded for exercising independent judgment and bears no sin for what remained unknown to him despite his efforts.

As related in the two Sahīh collections, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When a judge exercises independent judgment and reaches the correct conclusion, he receives two rewards; when he exercises independent judgment and errs, he receives one reward.”

If four people were to pray facing four different directions when the sky was overcast, each according to his own judgment, all would be obeying Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, and each would have discharged his obligation. Yet only one would have correctly faced the Kaaba, and he would receive two rewards.

The Most High says:

“And remember David and Solomon, when they judged concerning the field into which some people’s sheep had strayed by night. We were witness to their judgment.”

“We gave Solomon understanding of the case, and to each We gave sound judgment and knowledge.”

Thus the Most High praised