each clause, the
abrogating and abrogated sentences. He should be able to make clear the
meaning of the 'obscure' passages (Mutashabih), to discriminate between
the literal and the allegorical, the universal and the particular.

2. He must know the Quran by heart with all the Traditions and
explanations. {35}

3. He must have a perfect knowledge of the Traditions, or at least of
three thousand of them.

He must know their source, history, object and their connection with
the laws of the Quran. He should know by heart the most important
Traditions.

4. A pious and austere life.

5. A profound knowledge of all the sciences of the Law.

Should any one _now_ aspire to such a degree another condition would be
added, _viz_:--

6. A complete knowledge of the four schools of jurisprudence.

The obstacles, then, are almost insurmountable. On the one hand, there
is the severity of the 'Ulama, which requires from the candidate things
almost impossible; on the other, there is the attachment of the 'Ulama
to their own Imams, for should such a man arise no one is bound now to
listen to him. Imam Hanbal said:--"Draw your knowledge from whence the
Imams drew theirs, and do not content yourself with following others
for that is certainly blindness of sight". Thus the schools of the four
Imams remain intact after a thousand years have passed, and so the
'Ulama recognise since the time of these Imams no Mujtahid of the first
degree. Ibn Hanbal was the last.

The rights of the man who attained to this degree were very important.
He was not bound to be a disciple of another, he was a mediator between
the Law and his followers, for whom he established a system of
legislation, without any one having the right to make any objection. He
had the right to explain the Quran, the Sunnat and the Ijma' according
as he understood them. He used the Prophet's words, whilst his
disciples only used his. Should a disciple find some discrepancy
between a decision of his own Imam and the Quran or Traditions, he must
abide by the decision of the Imam. The Law does not permit him to
interpret after his own fashion. When once the disciple has entered the
sect of one Imam he cannot leave it and join another. He loses the
right of private judgment, for only a Mujtahid of the first class can
dispute the d