Praise be to Allaah.
So long as a Muslim is following the correct evidence (daleel) and has the
desire to follow the Sunnah properly, there is no harm in following any of the Imams when
it comes to rules of fiqh. In the case of the ordinary Muslim (who is not educated in
fiqh), his madhhab (school of thought) is that of the mufti whose knowledge he trusts. But
problems of the worst type occur when people become fanatically devoted to one particular
imam or madhhab, to the extent that they reject the truth or ignore other sound evidence
because of this.
Allaah warns against rejecting the word of the Prophet
(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning):
And let
those who oppose the Messengers commandment (i.e., his Sunnah) (among the sects)
beware, lest some fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, etc.) befall them or a painful
torment be inflicted on them. [al-Noor 24:63]
And Allaah is the source of strength.