A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
Rigid, imitative thinking.
This is mostly prevalent among the ignorant masses.
Or among some who affiliate themselves with proselytizing groups.
Or those who are fanatically devoted to specific schools of fiqh.
Those who have confined themselves strictly to the opinions of their school.
Even if some of those opinions contradict explicit and authentic evidence.
As for the one who follows the truth and imitates others in it based on evidence,
Such a person is praiseworthy and rewarded.
The danger of rigid thinking
Is that it makes the person a mere follower and a sycophant,
Disabling the intellect that Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has blessed him with,
So that he might use it to reach the truth and the pleasure of Allah, the Exalted.
Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has condemned the polytheists for their fanaticism,
Just as their forefathers were, in His saying:
"And when it is said to them, 'Follow what Allah has revealed,'
They say, 'Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.'"
“And when it is said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, they say: We follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers were wholly unintelligent and had no guidance?” (2:170)
Also falling under this type of thinking
Is the person of stagnant thinking,
Who relies on the thoughts and innovations of others,
Due to the lethargy and stagnation he is in.
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.