You should tell them that their view that the different schools create a lot of contradictions in Islam is a superficial understanding of Islam. First of all, there were differences of opinion right from the time of the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) and he did not believe such differences in the manner an act is performed as harmful rather he said they were a mercy upon the ummah, so long as the differing opinions had at the back of them some kind of evidence.

For example, after returning from the battle of the trench, he (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) dispatched a group of companions to the jewish tribe of Quraiza, and said to them “let not one of you pray Asr but that he is at Bani Quraiza.” Now, the companions got delayed somewhat during their journey there and Asr time had not only entered as they were travelling,  but it was about to end. The companions halted and some of them said they should pray Asr Salah immediately where they were, as otherwise it would become Qaza. Others insisted that they would only pray it at Bani Quraiza as the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) had told them even if it meant they would have to offer Asr after its time as Qaza. Thus there were two groups amongst the Sahabah with contradictory views. When they again met the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam), they all went to him and narrated what had transpired and asked him to adjudicate between the two parties, as to which group was right. The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) did not reprimand any party amongst them, rather on the contrary he said both of them were right and neither had to repeat their prayer. In other words in this amazing example we see clearly when scholars use their minds to understand some command there is a natural difference that can occur and this is not blameworthy but tolerated, as seen in this incident which is soundly narrated in the books of hadith, including Sahih al-Bukhari.

Furthermore, how sad it is that people out of sheer lack of understanding criticise the four schools, not seeing the immense mercy that lies in them. Those who have come new to Islam should not be so rash in discarding the whole heritage of Islam and the practice of the Ummah for most of her life by the deceptive slogans of the unlearned. For, if the Ummah abandons these four schools, that are so thoroughly codified and preserved in terms of their Usul and Furu (the underlying principles and detailed rulings), on the basis of the false and superficial claim that they cause division, then the outcome of this will be that they will see, as we are beginning to see today, the creation of thousands of pseudo schools, as each person begins to carve out his own Deen from the Holy Qur’an and Sunna. This evil will be inevitable because each person, will deduct rulings from the Qur’an and Sunna, yet not have the skills, nor the mastery over the Islamic sciences coupled with the Taqwa that is required for a proper authentic interpretation of the Deen (which the four Imams had at the optimum level), thus they will come up with weird and bizarre rulings. In other words, we should recognise and appreciate the blessing and mercy that lies in making the Umma adhere to one of the four great Schools.

Furthermore, the culture of allowing any Muslim to pick and choose that has become in vogue in recent times, is opening the doors to allowing people to follow their desires. This has to be so because as I have stated these people neither have the qualifications nor have they attained a high level of the fear of Allah, thus when it comes to them deciding on an issue they will have no criteria to judge what is the right opinion. Thus some will veer towards difficulty to ensure they do not come within the sin of following desires because, incorrectly, it is though that by being very strict somehow absolves one of following his desire. On the other hand, other weaker ones will veer towards whatever is easy. But the truth is in both cases ultimately they will not be following the truth which may lie in between, but will actually be following their desires, which has been forbidden by Ijma and the verse: “So, have you seen him who has taken his desires as his god,” (Sura 43:23).

If one just looks at a sample of the opinions they have concocted, any sane person will say who allowed for this to happen which has lead to our great Deen being made such a mockery? Their target practice on the Deen has given us the example of the fool who said in his own city that I will shorten my prayers because I am travelling to University. which is one mile away! or the Muslim woman who married four men at once, or the example of the infamous Miss Wadud who said women can lead men in prayer, or the example of those who permit killing innocent civilians and call it Jihad. All of them argued using the Qur’an and Sunna, but really were guilty of following their desires. The likeness of these people who believe they too are entitled to interpret the Holy texts is that of two little children told to do surgery to cure a person from a cancer. One of them takes the scalpel and cuts and prods all over the poor patient’s body, severing limbs and chopping up organs, and the other one throws the scalpel away and gives him an aspirin, both feeling they are serving the patient to the best of their ability. The only difference in this example and the case of our brothers and sisters who deem themselves fit to exercise the scalpel of their intellect in interpreting the Deen, is that the children’s example is unlikely to ever occur as any child will have the humility and understanding to say, this is not my field, don’t ask me, go to an expert. Sadly, in something more valuable than a human life, the Deen of the Lord of the World’s, all are supposed to be allowed to exercise their scalpels.

Thus in conclusion the Deen itself tells the Muslims that they must follow the scholars and not pretend to be scholars themselves. Allah ta'ala says in the Holy Qur’an: “Ask the people of remembrance if you know not.” (Sura al-Anbiyaa:7). And to ensure that the evil of following desires is prevented, the scholars gave the Fatwa that it is necessary to follow only one school from any of the four major schools. More details on this can be read in my article: “Taqlid and the falsification of Islamic History.”