Questions submitted to His Honor Sheikh `Abdul`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz from the delegates of the Sudanese newspaper "AlRayah" (The Flag) Mr. Mahdi Ibrahim Muhammad and Mr. Muhammad Waqa` Allah Ahmad ..
Q 1: Do you affiliate to a specific Madhhab (School of Jurisprudence)? What is your approach in deciding Fatawa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) and arriving at the evidences for it?
A: I follow the Madhhab of Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah be merciful to him), but not by way of Taqlid (strictly following a specific School of Jurisprudence). Rather, I employ the principals that he put into practice. As for the debatable issues, my approach is to give preference upon establishing evidence and issue the Fatwa in accordance with that, whether it agrees with the Madhhab of AlHanabilah or not, for truth must be followed.
Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states: O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad ﺻـﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴـﻪ ﻭﺳـﻠﻢ), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.