بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khalee [may Allah preserve him] said: It has become common nowadays to reject scholars’ statements (i.e. their sound verdicts) by using statements whose apparent meaning is sound, but those who utter them intend falsehood. “I do not blindly follow”, despite that you find him to be ignorant, lacks understanding in religious matters, and is among those who are greatly in need of Taqlid and following the scholars. There is an ignorant person who needs to make Taqlid. It is incumbent on him to make Taqlid of the scholars. The student of knowledge can determine the correctness of a particular scholar through evidence and then follow that person based on evidence. This is a step higher than Taqlid but below the level of the Mujtahid. Some individuals may claim, “I don’t follow blindly,” but in truth, he is an ordinary person, an evildoer, or a malicious person trying to discredit scholars and distance people from them through these cunning ways. Therefore, the youth should be cautious lest they into the trap of these fools – those who speak ill of the scholars in such a heedless manner.

“I do not blindly follow such and such”. We say to him “Who commands you to blindly follow if you are a student of knowledge?! However, if that scholar about whom you say, “I do not blindly follow him” has truth with him, would it be permissible to reject the truth through this illusion which you call Taqlid and intend falsehood by way of it?! I warn the youth against this despicable behaviour. It has become rife amongst the common people and prevents them from good manners, (sound adherence to) religion, and (good) character. [1]

Read: The Prohibited and Permissible Forms of Taqlid

http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ06&articleID=MNJ060005&articlePages=1

The Methodology of the Salaf Concerning Ijtihad and Taqlid
http://www.spubs.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ06&articleID=MNJ060001&articlePages=1