Is it permissible to switch from one living religious authority to another?
[AR_ID:2197]
🤖
AI Notice: This translation was generated by AI and is currently awaiting human verification.
1 Answer
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Sistani (may God protect him):
It is not permissible to switch from one religious authority to another unless the second is more knowledgeable. If both are equal in knowledge, the individual has the option to follow either one, except in cases of certain obligations where it is obligatory to combine the rulings. For example, if one authority rules that shortening prayers is obligatory while the other rules that completing them is obligatory, the individual knows they must follow one of them. Similarly, if one authority deems a transaction valid while the other deems it invalid, the individual knows they must refrain from acting on one of the two sides of the transaction.
Source: Official Website + Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Issue 8.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei (may God protect him):
It is strongly recommended not to switch from one living jurist to another unless the second is more knowledgeable or potentially more knowledgeable.
Source: Answers to Questions, Q31.
May you be successful in all good.