Is it obligatory to act by a Scholar's verdict

By Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyah

If a person asks a question and a mufti delivers a verdict, does this ruling become
obligatory to follow for the person who asked the question? And if he doesnt act
according to that verdict is he a sinner?
There are four angles to answer this question:
1: It isnt obligatory for him to stick to this ruling, unless the questioner makes it
obligatory on himself.
2: It is a must for him to act by it, if he starts to proceed by it. In this case he cannot
stop acting by this ruling.
3: If surety appears in the questioner's heart about the verdict and the verdict is
correct, then he must act according to its ruling.
4: If he doesnt find another scholar, then he has to take that scholars verdict. In the
event of such a situation, he should follow that scholar's position and fear Allah to
best of his ability. Indeed this is the best he can do and extreme limit of his
capability.
However, if he finds another scholar and his verdict agrees with the other scholar's,
then this gives that ruling a higher degree to be acted on. If this other scholar's fatwa
contradicts the other scholar's and it becomes clear to the questioner which fatwa is
correct, he should act according to the correct one.
Taken ' Illam Al-Muwaqqe'in an rabbil Alameen 6/ 206) Printed by Dar ibn Jawzi 1
st
edition 1423.
Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle.
Doha , Qatar 1434