Source: http://qa.muftisays.com/?8387
Question ID: #8387
 
Question: Is not sticking to one madhab kufr
I know that muftisays website is of the opinion that is it obligatory for a layman/ordinary muslim to follow one madhab or scholar. However, when I asked another imam they said that there is a difference of opinion and a lot of scholars say that laymen do not have to follow a single madhab/scholar. Will following the opinion of the second scholar be kufr? Will this nullify my islam?
Especially in a scenario where I take an opinion from within a madhab such as some hanafi jurists still say that face is not awrah whereas some say that due to fitnah face must be covered. So if I follow the opinion of those who say face does not need to be covered, will that be kufr?
 
 
Answered by: Ulamaa ID 04 (London)
Date: 11/04/2023 12:42pm

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامداومصليا

It is not Kufr but Haram to follow your desires as choosing one opinion to another for ease and benefit is not permissible.

In the Hanafi Fiqh, the Awrah of the woman is her whole body except face, hands and feet. The Ulamaa mentioned only to cover the face due to Fitna and not because it is Awrah.

It is not Kufr to not wear the Niqab. However, one should see if it is feasible to wear Niqab, especially, in the western society it is difficult for women to observe it due to hostility and being unsafe. Where it is feasible and safe one should observe the Niqab.

اعلم بأ​ن الواجب اتباع ما ترجيحه عن اهله قد علما

قال الشامي : أي أن الواجب علي من أراد أن يعمل لنفسه أو يفتي غيره أن يتبع القول الذي رجحه ع​لماء مذهبه فلا يجوز له العمل أو الإفتاء بالمرجوح الا في بعض المواضع …….. . وكلام القرافي دال علي أن المجتهد والمقلد لا يحل لهما الحكم والإفتاء بغير الراجح لانه إتباع للهوي وهو حرام إجماعا…الخ
(شرح عقود رسم المفتي ١٦-٢١)

And Allah knows best

15 Ramadan 1444/ 06 April 2023
Mufti Qamruzzaman

London, UK
 
www.MuftiSays.com