Taqlid: Is Following the Most Learned Mujtahid Necessary? What’s the Proof?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Taqlid: Is Following the Most Learned Mujtahid Necessary? What’s the Proof?

English:

Question #20

What is your opinion concerning the necessity of following the most learned mujtahid? And what is the proof for such an opinion?

Answer #20

If there are several mujtahids who are qualified for issuing fatwās and their fatwās are different, it will be of obligatory caution upon the mukallaf to follow the most learned one unless it is proven that his fatwā is contrary to caution while the other’s agrees with it. The basis for this view is reason and the way rational people behave, because the mukallaf is certain that fatwās of the most learned mujtahid are valid while those of others are possibly valid.

- Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Rules of Taqlid, Conditions of Taqlid