Is it permissible for a person in a city facing restricted time for Ijtihad to follow another scholar's Ijtihad?
Chapter on Facing the Qiblah
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The general rule is that one must adhere to one's own Ijtihad, even when time is scarce, provided the effort (Ijtihad) remains possible, as Ijtihad is a condition for the validity of the prayer, and such a condition is not waived by time constraint if the effort remains possible. Ahmad's position implies that if a person in a settled area is able to ascertain the Qibla through inquiry or examining prayer niches, they must do so, and if they pray incorrectly without inquiry, they must repeat. This suggests that inquiry is obligatory where possible.
Supporting text
The view of Al-Qadi suggests that the apparent meaning of Ahmad's statement implies that a scholar facing a time constraint can follow another's Ijtihad. This is based on a narration concerning one in a city who performed Ijtihad incorrectly and was told to repeat because he should have inquired. However, this is not correct, as Ahmad's statement primarily indicates that a person in a city, where means to ascertain the Qibla exist (through reports or mihrabs), does not have the right to perform independent Ijtihad when certainty is accessible, unlike a traveler. It does not provide evidence for permitting taqlid among those capable of Ijtihad when time is short, as Ahmad made no distinction between constrained and expansive time, while consensus exists that taqlid is forbidden when time is ample.