Following one of the four Imaams of Fiqh

Q: Can you please present to me the proofs from the Qur’aan and Hadith that command us to follow one of the four Imaams of Fiqh?

I believe that we are all followers of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Hence Allah Ta’ala obligated us to follow our beloved Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said in his Mubaarak Hadith: “I leave behind two things; the Qur’aan and my Sunnah. As long as you hold firmly to these two; you will never go astray.”

From this Hadith, we understand that in solving our Deeni matters, we should directly refer to the Qur’aan and Hadith. Just as Ulama of the past made ijtihaad, why can't people who have knowledge of Arabic and have studied deen also make ijtihaad today and find solutions in modern day problems through referring directly to the Qur'aan and Hadith?

I do understand that if one is non-conversant in the Arabic language and thus unable to extract Shar‘i laws from the Qur’aan and Hadith, then he should refer to an Aalim of Deen. Why do people insist that every person should follow one of the four mazhabs of Fiqh?

Reading qasr salaah at home

Q: I am staying in a hostel and doing my 1st year college. When I come home for the weekend, I offer salaah as a musaafir by offering 2 rakaats zuhr, 2 rakaats asr, 3 rakaats maghrib and 2 rakaats isha. My house is 177 km away from the hostel. Is it right? How many km should it be for me to be a musaafir?

Participating in the funeral rights of Ismaili family members

Q: I have converted to being a Muslim from an Ismaili (Ismailee) sect and Alhumdulillah, my wife and my children have also converted. I can't thank Allah Ta'ala enough for His guidance and mercy! However, unfortunately none of the other members of my family have accepted the truth. My parents, my sister, my in-laws, and my aunts and uncles are still following the Ismaili sect.

My question is about attending the funeral of these members. Especially attending the funeral of my parents. I know I can't step foot into their place of worship, so what am I to do? Should I stand outside while they do their activity, to give a shoulder to my parents and accompany them to the burial grounds and then leave? Can I take part in the naaaz-e-janaazah? This is something that is of great concern to me and I want to make sure I do the right thing.