Mu’adh ibn Jabal and Taqleed

Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Abu Dawood have both narrated that when the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa sallam) sent Mu’adh ibn Jabal (radhiallahu anhu) to Yemen (as a governor), he asked him:

“How will you judge if you are asked to do so?”

Mu’adh said: “I will judge according to the Book of Allah.”

The Prophet: “And if you do not find it in the Book of Allah?”

Muadh: “Then I will judge according to the Sunnah of His Messenger.”

The Prophet : “And if you do not find it in the Sunnah of the Messenger, or in the Book of Allah?”