Assalaamu'Alaykum,
Brother MRasheed, here lies the difference between you and me. I try to stick with the Pious Salaf (predecessors) in relation to understanding the Deen which conforms to the Qur'an and Sunnah. See the last bit is key. I avoid clinging to one Scholar and just debunking the rest.
If you have read the Publishers Note in Tafsir Ibn Kathir you will see this:
Tafsir al-Qur'an Al-'Azim, which is famous by the title Tafsir Ibn Kathir, by Al-Hafiz Abu Al-Fida' Imad Ad-Din Isma'il bin Umar bin Kathir al-Qurashi Al-Busrawi (d. 774H), is the most popular interpretation of the Qur'an in the Arabic language, and based on Qur'an and Sunnah. This Arabic work spans three thousand and two hundred pages in four volumes. As Darussalam has made a policy to publish only such works which are based on Qur'an and authentic Hadiths...
The Tafsir of the Noble Qur'an which is one of the best Tafsirs that rely on narrations [of Hadiths, the Tafsir of the Companions, etc.].
The Sources for Tafsir
If someone asks about the best methods of Tafsir, we reply that the best method is to explain the Qur'an with the Qur'an itself. What is mentioned in general terms in one place in the Qur'an, is usually explained in another place. When one does not find this easily, he should look to the Sunnah because its purpose is to explain the Qur'an and elaborate upon its meanings...
You see, that's why Ibn Kathir's interpretation is accepted worldwide as it conforms to the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet
.
May I ask, are you well-versed in the Arabic language? Or are you just relying upon the translation of the Qur'an for your modern-day interpretation?
Question:
A group of people fanatically stick to one of the madh-habs or to one of the Scholars, while another group of people totally reject that and instead completely disregard the advice of the scholars and the Imaams. So what is your advice regarding this matter?
Answer:
Yes, both of these groups are upon opposite extremes. Among them are those who go to extremes in blind following (taqleed) to the point that they fanatiacally cling onto the opinions of men even if they contradict the proofs and evidences.
This is condemned, and it eventually results in disbelief, may Allaah protect us from that!
[Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him said: "So whoever clings fanatically onto an individual apart from the Prophet, such as those who fanatically cling onto (the opinions of) Maalik, or Ash-Shaafi'ee or Ahmad or Abu Haneefah, and believes that the opinion of this specific individual is the correct thing that must be followed, apart from the opinion of the Imaam that contradicts him - whoever does this is a misguided ignoramus. Rather, he may even be a disbeliever, for when he firmly believes that the people are obligated to follow one specific individual among these Imaams, apart from the rest, he must be made to repent. So if he repents (then he is absolved), but if not, then he should be executed."
[Majmoo'-ul-Fataawaa: 22:248-249]
The second extreme is the one who rejects the statements of the scholars altogether and does not benefit from them, even if they are in conformity with the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. This is negligence.
The first one is an extremist while the second one is negligent. There is good in the statements of the scholars, not to mention the understanding of the Salaf, the understanding of the Sahaabah, the Taabi'een, the four Imaams and the Fiqh scholars who the Muslim ummah has testified to their understanding of the Religion. One should benefit and use their opinions, however they should not be taken as something indisputable. On the contrary, if one realises that this opinion opposes the evidence, then we are commanded to accept the proof (and not the opinion).
But if this opinion doesn't contradict the evidence from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, then there is no harm in taking and accepting it. And this is not from fanaticism, but rather it is from benefitting, profiting and being guided by the understanding of the righteous predecessors (Salaf as-Saalih). So it is the way towards learning the meanings of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.
And this is the true and moderate opinion: that we accept the opinions of the scholars and Fuqahaa that conform to the evidences from the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and we abandon what opposes the evidence. We also pardon and make excuses for the scholars in their errors, while acknowledging their status and not belittling them. The Prophet said:
"When the judge makes a ruling exerting his judgement, and is correct, he gets two rewards. And when he makes a ruling, exerting his judgement, and is incorrect, he gets one reward."
[Saheeh Al-Bukharee (6919) and Saheeh Muslim (1716)]
And error is forgiven if it occurs from one who has in him all the conditions of Ijtihaad. As for the ignorant one or the newcomer to seeking knowledge, then he cannot do Ijtihaad, and it is not permissible for him to perform Ijtihaad. If he does do Ijtihaad, he is sinning regardless if he is correct or mistaken, because he has done something that he has no right to do.
[Reference: Beneficial Answers to Questions on Innovated Methodologies, by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, Pg 75 - 76]
May Allah forgive me if i have fallen into blind following one person, but with the above ruling Insha'Allaah i haven't fallen into this because i have tried to learn from the Scholars that
conform to the Qur'an and the Sunnah. If you can't accept this, then i wash my hands and free my self from you.
The problem of the Ummah doesn't lie in what you claim to be blind following to being spoon fed by the Scholars, rather it's because we have left the Qur'an and the Sunnah, we don't know what Tawheed is, we haven't established Tawheed in the home so i think its safe to say we won't see Tawheed in the whole Ummah will we? Many Muslims don't know what the correct Aqeedah is and what it conists of, just like me until a short time ago, Alhamdu'Lillaah that i do now to a certain extent. We have left seeking knowledge from the Pious Salaf and sadly with the mindset you have demonstrated it's resulted in travelling in contumacy and ignorance.
If you hadn't realised, i have posted 1 ruling from a Scholar that is alive today, that is Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allah protect him), the rest have passed away which i feel is ensuring that i seek knowledge from the dead as Abdullah bin Masood stated.
If i were to reject these Scholars of the Past where would i lie in terms of my state? Who would i learn the Deen from in this time we live in, filled with innovation, mis-guided sects etc? How would i determine the right from the wrong, when i don't know what the right is or what the wrong is? See that just leads to one point,
i can determine the right and the wrong by being aware of the people that conform to the Qur'aan and to the Sunnah of the Prophet
.
As i stated earlier, if you reject this then i distance my self from you and you can stay living in your contumacy.
May Allah have mercy on me if i have said something incorrect which is far from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah.
Ameen.
EDIT: Just a reminder, this is my reply to my best ability, from what i am aware of, i am still learning and i am still young. Alhamdu'Lillaah.
Walaykum Salaam.