Is it permissible to follow different group of Ulama ( having differences in opinion on issues), on issue to issue basis? Will it be termed as following Nafs as in this case I shall be looking for the opinion close to my liking.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The core of Shariah is to obey Allah Ta’āla and go against ones nafs. Almighty Allah says,
وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
Do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah.(Chapter38 Verse 26(
One of the reasons that taqleed (following one particular madhab) is compulsory is to avoid following ones nafs by picking and choosing rulings that suit oneself. It is not permissible to follow different groups having different opinions with the intention to choose the easiest opinion to follow. That is following ones nafs and not following Shariah.
The best way to avoid confusion and the trap of one’s own nafs is to avoid seeking multiple answers in the first place. Instead, one should look for a scholar whose knowledge [‘ilm] and practice [‘amal] you are satisfied with. Don’t just ask every single scholar, rather, seek out the one who is known for his knowledge and is trusted by the general Ulama for his accuracy in fatwas, piety, and is from the Ahl al-Sunnah wa’al Jam’aah. Once you have found such a scholar, stick to him and act according to the fatwas he gives you.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Huzaifah Deedat
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.