and the words of His Messenger.

As for the second—the one whom Allah has granted knowledge but who has not attained the rank of the first—there is no blame upon him if he acts upon general and unrestricted texts and upon what has reached him. However, he must exercise caution and must not neglect to consult scholars more knowledgeable than himself, for he may err. He may be unaware of something that particularizes what was general, qualifies what was unrestricted, or abrogates what he regards as still in force—and he may know nothing of it.

As for the third—the one who possesses no knowledge—he must ask the people of knowledge, because Allah Most High says, “Ask those who possess knowledge if you do not know” 1; and in another verse: “if you do not know * [We sent them] with clear proofs and scriptures” 2. His duty, therefore, is to ask. But whom should he ask? There are scholars in the town