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 decision of one of the Imams. Theoretically such Mujtahidin may still arise; but, as we have already shown, practically they do not. THE SECOND DEGREE OF IJTIHAD. This degree has been granted to the immediate disciples of the great Imams who have elaborated the systems of their masters. They enjoyed the special consideration of the contemporary 'Ulama, and of their respective Imams who in some cases have allowed them {36} to retain their own opinion.' The most famous of these men are the two disciples of Abu Hanifa, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad bin al Hasan. In a secondary matter their opinion carries great weight. It is laid down as a rule that a Mufti may follow the unanimous opinion of these two even when it goes against that of Abu Hanifa. THE THIRD DEGREE OF IJTIHAD.