Options: Caution, Ijtihād, and Taqlīd 8item What are the limits of acting upon caution with respect to the fatwās of mujtahids? Is it necessary to take into consideration the fatwās of the past mujtahids as well? Is taqlīd an absolute rational issue or is it also grounded on jurisprudential evidence? It is well-known among mujtahids that identifying the subject of a rule is the responsibility of the mukallaf whereas the determination of the rule itself is the duty of the mujtahid. But in many instances we notice that mujtahids give their opinion with respect to the identification of the subject. Is it obligatory to act upon them in this regard? When some individuals who are not well informed are asked whom they follow, they reply: "We do not know" or say: "We follow this or that marji‘" without feeling any obligation to refer to his book on practical laws of Islam and act upon it. What is the rule concerning their actions? My daughter will reach the age of shar‘ī puberty in a few weeks, and consequently, she will have to select a marji‘(to follow). Since she has some difficulties in understanding this matter, kindly advise us about our duty in this regard? In cases where the most learned mujtahid gives a fatwā of obligatory caution, we can refer to the second most learned one. Our question is that if he also calls for obligatory caution, is it permissible to refer to the third most learned one and so on? Please explain this rule. Is it better, in your opinion, to act with caution or to follow a marji‘? Will one be considered a sinner if he is careless in learning the religious rules that he frequently encounters?