Shaykh AlSabuny's saying about imitating the Four Imams that it is among the foremost obligations, is undoubtedly a mistaken generalization, since it is not obligatory to imitate any of the four Imams or anyone else, no matter how knowledgeable they may be. This is because the proper action is to follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah and not to imitate anyone people. Imitation is only tolerated in case of necessity when the person followed is known for their knowledge, virtue, and upright creed, as explained in detail by the eminent scholar Ibn AlQayyim (may Allah be merciful with him) in his book I`lam AlMawaqqi`in. The Imams (may Allah be merciful with them) would deny that any of their views be adopted other than that which was in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Imam Malik (may Allah be merciful with him) said: The view of every one is liable to acceptance and refusal except for that of the one [entombed] in this grave (referring to the grave of the Prophet, peace be upon him). His fellow Imams also uttered sayings to the same effect. Thus, a person who manages to adopt the Qur'an and the Sunnah must not imitate anyone. Yet, in case of controversy, he should assume the saying nearest to the truth. However, a person who can not do so is entitled to ask [religious] scholars, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says,
So ask the people of the Reminder, if you do not know.
He also said: Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah be merciful with him) in spite of his scholastic erudition did not reach the rank of (being qualified to practice) Ijtihad (juristic effort to infer expert legal rulings), and that he was rather restricted in many instances to his Hanbali Madhhab (School of Jurisprudence). A: This saying is debatable and is an apparent mistake, since the sheikh of Islam (may Allah be merciful with him) was one of the most knowledgeable scholars practicing Ijtihad and he had the requirements of Ijtihad. However, his affiliation to the Hanbali Madhhab did not
rule him out of this, since what is meant by this is his agreement with Ahmad in the principles and rules of his Madhhab, and not that he imitated him in what he said without evidence. Rather, he (Ibn Taymiyah) would choose of the opinions, the closest one to the evidence according to what appeared to him (may Allah be merciful with him).