Abu Qilabah said: Those who follow desires are misguided; in my opinion, their abode is nothing but Hell. As an example, observe that whoever adopted any (new) statement or matter, his affair reached to killing. Indeed, there are many forms of hypocrisy. Then he recited these verses: "Among them are those who made a covenant with Allah: If He gives us of His bounty, we will surely give charity and be among the righteous." (__QUR_9:75__)

"And among them are those who criticize you concerning the (distribution of) charities. If they are given some of it, they are pleased, but if they are not given any, at once they become angry." (__QUR_9:58__)

"And among them are those who hurt the Prophet and say, 'He is (all) ear.' Say, 'It is an ear of goodness for you.'" (__QUR_9:61__)

So, they differed in their words and gathered upon doubt and denial. Their statements are different, and they deserve to be killed. I do not think their abode is anything but Hell. Hammad said: Then Ayyub, mentioning this hadith, said: By Allah, he (i.e., Abu Qilabah) was among the very intelligent, understanding jurists.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud and Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that they were both sitting when a man came and asked them about something. Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him): Do you know why these people ask me about this thing? He said: Perhaps they want to find out and then leave it? Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) turned towards him and said: Whatever you have asked about, and we have knowledge of it from the Book of Allah, we have informed you of it, or whatever we found in the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), we have told you, and as for the new things you have invented, we do not have the power to give a verdict about them.

Nazzal bin Sabrah said: I was present at every sermon that Sayyiduna Abdullah (Ibn Mas'ud) (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered in Kufa. One day I heard him being asked about a man who gave his wife divorce eight times. He replied: As many as he said have taken effect. Indeed, Allah Almighty has revealed His Book and has explained it. Now, whoever acts according to it, Allah Almighty has made it clear for him, and whoever opposes it—by Allah, we do not have the power to oppose like you (do).

Nazzal bin Sabrah said: I went to Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and a man and a woman came to him with an issue regarding prohibition (i.e., divorce). He said: Indeed, Allah Almighty has made it clear; whoever acts exactly according to this clarification, the ruling is clear, and whoever acts contrary to it, we do not have the power to give a fatwa according to your contrary action.

Ash'ath said: Ibn Sirin would not say anything from his own opinion; he would only say what he had heard.

A'mash said: I never heard Ibrahim say anything about any matter based on his own opinion.

Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "For thirty years, I have not said anything based on my own opinion." Abu Hilal mentioned forty years.

It is narrated from Abdul Aziz bin Rafi that someone asked Ata (may Allah have mercy on him) about something, so he replied «لا أدري» "I do not know." He was asked, "Will you not say anything even from your own opinion?" He said: "I feel shy before Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, that my statement should be followed on the face of the earth."

Imam Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: A man came and asked about something. I said,“Sayyiduna Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says such and such about this.”He said,“What is your opinion?”Sha’bi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Are you not amazed at this man? I told him that Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says this, and he says,“Tell me your opinion,”even though my method (i.e., narrating the opinions of others) is more preferable to me. By Allah, I would rather go around singing songs than express my own opinion.

Imam Sha’bi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Beware of conjecture. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you engage in conjecture, you will surely make the unlawful lawful and the lawful unlawful. Therefore, act upon what has reached you from the preserved traditions of Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) companions.