Taqlid: What Is Recommended Precaution in a Mujtahid’s Fatwā?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani

Ruling 7

If before or after giving a fatwa on a matter, the most learned mujtahid expresses precaution – for example, he says: ‘An impure (najis) utensil that is washed once in kurr ¹ water becomes pure (ṭāhir), although based on precaution it should be washed three times’ – his follower does not have to perform this precautionary measure [but is recommended to]. This is called ‘recommended precaution’ (al‑iḥtiyāṭ al‑mustaḥabb).

- Ayatullah Sistani, Practical Laws of Islam, Following a Jurist (Taqlid)

1. A quantity of water greater or equal to approximately 384 litres. See Ruling 14.