Is it permissible to change the religious authority you follow if your authority has not issued a fatwa, but another authority has provided an answer?
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Sistani (may God protect him):
You must follow the most knowledgeable religious authority. Therefore, if you are following the most knowledgeable and they have refrained from issuing a fatwa on a particular issue, it is permissible for you to refer to another authority for that specific fatwa, while still considering the most knowledgeable as the primary reference.
Source: Minhaj al-Salihin - Vol. 1 - Taqlid - Articles 8 + 15
Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Khamenei (may God protect him):
You must follow the most knowledgeable religious authority, and it is obligatory to do so with caution. Therefore, if you are following the most knowledgeable and they have refrained from issuing a fatwa on a particular issue, it is permissible for you to refer to another authority for that specific fatwa, while still considering the most knowledgeable as the primary reference, with caution being obligatory.
Source: The Educational Message - Taqlid - Taqlid (2) - Conditions of the Religious Authority + Taqlid (3) - Methods of Obtaining the Fatwa of the Mujtahid - Following Non-Most Knowledgeable
May you be successful in all good.