what he knows of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, enjoin it, issue fatwas in accordance with it, and call others to it, rather than defer to the judge. All of this is agreed upon by the Muslims.
If a Muslim, whether a scholar or otherwise, abandons what he knows of the command of Allah and His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in favor of someone else’s opinion, he deserves punishment. The Most High says:
“So let those who oppose his command beware, lest a trial befall them or a painful punishment afflict them.”
If, however, that judge was unaware of this text—as was the case with many of the Companions, the Successors, the four imams, and others who expressed opinions on matters through independent scholarly judgment when a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, contradicted their conclusions—then such people are excused, because they exercised independent scholarly judgment, and:
“Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.”
But whoever knows the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, may not turn away from it to anything else. The Most High says:
“It is not for a believing man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have any choice in their affair. Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has clearly gone astray.”
Whoever follows that with which Allah sent His Messenger will be guided and granted Allah’s support in this world and the Hereafter, as the Most High says:
“We will surely support Our messengers and those who believe, both in the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses stand forth.”
The Most High also says:
“Our word has already gone forth to Our servants, the messengers:
They will surely be given victory,
And Our forces will surely prevail.”
When a calamity befalls a servant, it is because of his sin, not because he follows the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Rather, it is through following the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that