that is merely recommended. If these wordings are authentic, they conclusively establish that these matters are obligatory. If they are not authentic, they cannot overturn an established principle grounded in the Quran and Sunnah. No one may interpret the words of Allah and His Messenger to suit his own school of thought without evidence from their words establishing their intended meaning. Rather, scholars’ statements must follow the words of Allah Most High and His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; the words of Allah and His Messenger do not follow scholars’ statements.

Thus, when scholars disagree over whether something is obligatory, while the Lawgiver’s wording consistently conveys a particular meaning, an established principle derived from the words of Allah and His Messenger cannot be overturned by an opinion disputed among scholars.

Some people, however, are unfamiliar with the views of the scholars. Having grown up knowing only one opinion, they imagine it to be a matter of consensus. For example, someone may imagine that there is consensus that a person who forgoes congregational prayer and prays alone has discharged his obligation. This is not the case. Rather, scholars hold two well-known views on whether such a prayer fulfills the obligation, and there are also two views within Ahmad’s school. A group of his early followers—as al-Qādī Abū Ya‘lā reports from them in Sharh al-Madhhab (Commentary on the School’s Doctrine)—and some of his later followers, such as Ibn ‘Aqīl and others, say:

Whoever performs an obligatory prayer alone without an excuse permitting him to do so is like someone who performs the noon prayer on Friday. If he can subsequently perform it in congregation, he must do so. Otherwise, he bears the sin of his action, just as one who misses the Friday prayer bears its sin. The door to repentance remains open.

This is the view of more than one scholar, and most of the reports transmitted from the early generations—the Companions and their successors—support it.

They have cited as evidence the authentic report that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever hears the call