By Shaykh Mashhoor Hasan Salmaan
A reply to the question: Do you advise a Muslim to follow one of the four madhaahib, using it as a source reference whenever there are conflicting opinions? Does following a madh-hab lead to success? And should a Muslim follow the opinion of other scholars as found in the books (of fiqh) that mentions the various opinions (of the different madhaahib)? 

Thus, whoever calls to following one imaam to the exclusion of the others, and obligates the ummah to follow that particular scholar - from amongst the four Imaams or those before or after them - then this person is misguided, sinful, and innovative. We are not Bakrees, ‘Umarees, ‘Uthmaanees, or ‘Alawees. We are Muslims who submit to the commands of Allaah Azza wa Jal. Hence we do not worship except Allaah, and we do not follow except the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). We ascribe ourselves to Islaam. So the call that it is obligatory to follow only one scholar is misguidance and impermissible, and this is what took place amongst the latter generations of those who adhere to a madh-hab.