a deliberation on the necessity of imitating the most learned

the present article studies the issue of the “necessity of imitating the most learned (a‘lam)”. to this end, while comparing the evidences of the proponents and the opponents of the necessity of imitating the most learned and, explicating the weak points of the former viewpoint, it draws the conclusion that the viewpoint of the permissibility of imitating the master jurist (mujtahid) in general, whether the most learned or not, is free of problem and likely to enjoy more solidity and strength; a view which is contradictory to the generally accepted view.